Balance of payments, first half of 2021
Holdings in foreign portfolio assets increased
Statistical news from Statistics Sweden 2022-01-27 8.00
Swedish holdings in foreign portfolio assets increased in the first half of 2021. At the end of June 2021, total holdings amounted to SEK 8 094.2 billion, which is an increase of 23 percent compared with the end of 2020. Holdings in shares, funds and long-term debt securities increased, while holdings in short-term debt securities noted a slight decrease.
Portfolio assets consist of foreign shares, investment fund shares, and long-term and short-term debt securities.
Swedish holdings in shares amounted to SEK 4 574.6 billion at the end of June 2021, up by 20 percent compared with the end of 2020. Swedish investors’ largest holdings are in US shares, amounting to SEK 2 127.5 billion at the end of June 2021, equivalent to 47 percent of total Swedish holdings of foreign shares. The United Kingdom accounted for the second largest holdings in foreign shares, SEK 358.8 billion, and Switzerland was in third place at SEK 212.1 miljarder in holdings.
Holdings in funds amounted to SEK 2 118.6 billion at the end of June 2021, up by 33 percent compared with the end of 2020. Luxembourg remains the single largest country for Swedish holdings in foreign investment fund shares, accounting for SEK 1 180.6 billion at the end of June 2021, which is 26 percent more than at the end of 2020.
Holdings in debt securities increased
Sweden’s holdings in debt securities abroad amounted to SEK 1401.1 billion at the end of June 2021, up by 15 percent compared with the end of December 2020. Holdings in long-term debt securities amounted to SEK 1 366.7 billion, while holdings in short-term debt securities amounted to SEK 34.4 billion. At the end of June 2021, shares accounted for 57 percent, investment funds accounted for 26 percent and debt securities accounted for 17 percent of Sweden’s total holdings.
Although the levels of Sweden’s total holdings at the end of June 2021 are higher compared with the end of 2020, the distribution of the different types of securities is almost the same.
Debt securities issued in US dollars increased
Holdings in debt securities were dominated by the currencies US dollars, euros, and Swedish kronor. Swedish investors’ holdings in debt securities issued in US dollars amounted to SEK 433.8 billion at the end of June 2021, up by 15 percent compared with the end of December 2020. Swedish holdings in debt securities issued in Swedish kronor amounted to SEK 418.7 billion at the end of June 2021, while holdings issued in euros amounted to SEK 335.4 billion.
Definitions and explanations
This item of statistical news is based on the reporting of the Coordinated Portfolio Investment Survey (CPIS), carried out on the initiative of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and to which numerous countries submit results biannually. CPIS reporting includes holdings in portfolio assets with the rest of the world and forms part of the international investment position in Sweden. Sweden has taken part in this survey since 2001. Assets in the first six months of the year are measured at the end of June, and in the second half of the year, assets are measured at the end of December.
As of the publication on the first six months of 2021, new data sources have been used for the compilation of Swedish portfolio investment abroad. This data was previously collected via questionnaire survey, but is now collected directly from the database on securities holdings (VINN).
For further information, see: New data sources for statistics on securities (scb.se)
What are portfolio assets?
Trading and holdings in securities are grouped under the concept of portfolio investments, which includes shares, investment funds and debt securities. To be defined as a portfolio investment, the ownership share must be below 10 percent of the votes; if the ownership share is above 10 percent, it is defined as a direct investment.
Statistical Database
More information is available in the Statistical Database
Feel free to use the facts from this statistical news but remember to state Source: Statistics Sweden.