1.48 USD trillion
Total daily traded volume submitted to CLS
Down 4.3% from USD1.55 trillion in April 2020

Masami Johnstone
Head of Information Services

“Following a period of wide-scale volatility and increased trading activity during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, average daily traded volumes in CLSSettlement – our payment-versus-payment settlement service – have now stabilized at significantly lower volumes as compared to the same period last year. In May 2020, we saw traded volumes of USD1.48 trillion, representing a decline of 4.3% compared to April 2020, and a decline of 8.5% compared to May 2019.”

“During May 2020, average daily traded volumes were lower across all instruments. FX spot volumes were down by 4.5%, FX swap volumes were down by 9%, and forward volumes were down by 19.6%.

Compared to April 2020, the month of May did see an increase of 1.6% for spot volumes, but FX swap and forward volumes were down 5.6% and 14%, respectively. The decline in forward volumes was the result of the lower outright forward volume of USD363 billion at the end of May, representing a 36% decline compared to the end of April.”

“Despite the ongoing situation, we have continued to deliver all our services effectively.”

* Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout the document may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the exact figures.