Holdings of foreign securities amounted to SEK 3 018 billion at the end of 2011. Compared to the previous year, this is a decrease of SEK 289 billion or 9 percent. Holdings of both equity securities and debt securities have decreased.
Portfolio investments consist of shares, mutual fund units and debt securities. During 2011 Swedish holdings of foreign portfolio investments decreased by 9 percent, compared to last year when they rose by 8 percent. The decrease mainly depends on reduced holdings of foreign shares which fell by 13 percent. It is primarily holdings of shares from Europe that are responsible for this. Most of the reduction in value is due to a negative trend on the stock exchange.
As in previous years, the US, Luxembourg and the UK are the countries chosen most by Swedish investors. Holdings in all three of these countries have decreased, however, with the largest fall coming in Luxembourg by as much as SEK 67 billion or 12 percent. The US is still the single largest recipient country for Swedish portfolio investments, despite a fall of SEK 34 billion compared to the year before.
Decreased holdings of foreign government securities
During 2011, investments in money market instruments issued by foreign governments decreased. At the end of 2011, Swedish holdings in these securities amounted to SEK 5 billion. In 2010, the corresponding amount was SEK 17 billion. Holdings of government bonds have also decreased, although not to the same extent.
The Other financial institutions holder sector, which consists mainly of insurance firms and fund management companies, was responsible for just over half of Swedish holdings in foreign portfolio investments. It is mainly holdings of shares and mutual fund units that are dominated by the sector, although Other financial institutions also own the greatest share of debt securities.