Canada's international transactions in securities, June 2015

Released: 2015-08-17

Foreign investors added $8.5 billion of Canadian securities to their holdings in June, following a $5.5 billion divestment in May. At the same time, Canadian investors acquired $8.6 billion of foreign securities, all non-US instruments.

In the second quarter, Canada's international transactions in securities generated a net outflow of funds from the economy of $4.4 billion, as Canadian investors placed more funds abroad than foreign investors placed in Canada.

Chart 1 
Canada's international transactions in securities, quarterly

Foreign investment in Canadian securities led by money market instruments

Foreign investment in Canadian debt securities was $3.2 billion in June. However, transactions in the month also reflected significant portfolio adjustments by foreign investors, specifically movements of funds between long- and short-term debt instruments. Non-resident investment in the Canadian money market reached a record $12.0 billion, led by acquisitions of private corporate and provincial government paper.

Chart 2 
Foreign investment in Canadian securities

Foreign holdings of Canadian bonds were down by $8.9 billion in June, as non-residents reduced their exposure to both government and corporate instruments. The reduction in holdings of government bonds was all in provincial bonds, with a record divestment of $7.9 billion, largely retirements. This marked a fifth consecutive month of divestment in these instruments.

The remainder of the divestment activity was retirements of private corporate bonds. Foreign investment in federal government and government business enterprise bonds moderated the overall divestment over the month. Canadian short-term interest rates were down by 5 basis points in June, while long-term rates were up by 10 basis points. The Canadian dollar depreciated slightly against its US counterpart in June.

Foreign acquisitions of Canadian shares amounted to $5.3 billion in June and almost completely offset the divestment recorded in May. The Canadian stock market, as measured by the Standard and Poor's / Toronto Stock Exchange composite index, was down by 3.1% at the end of the month.

Canadian acquisitions of foreign securities focus on non-US instruments

Canadian acquisitions of foreign securities reached $8.6 billion in June, led by investment in non-US instruments. On a quarterly basis, Canadian investment in foreign securities amounted to $24.2 billion in the second quarter, the highest such investment in eight years.

Canadian investment in foreign equities was $4.4 billion in June. Canadian purchases of non-US foreign shares amounted to $6.0 billion, the highest such activity since April 2007. A divestment in US shares moderated the overall investment in the month. US stock prices declined by 2.1%.

Canadian investors acquired $4.2 billion of foreign debt securities in June, led by non-US foreign instruments. A decline in Canadian holdings of US Treasury securities partially offset the overall investment in the month. US long-term interest rates were up by 16 basis points in June.

Chart 3 
Canadian investment in foreign securities

Contact information

For more information, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca).

To enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Lauren Dong (613-668-3140; lauren.dong@statcan.gc.ca), International Accounts and Trade Division.