─ It was the second straight quarter with record positive net transactions in foreign bonds, says Malcolm Svensson Rothmaier, economist at Statistics Sweden.

The quarter in brief

During the first quarter of 2026, insurance and occupational pension companies' holdings in shares and participations decreased4 percent to SEK 5,975 billion.

─ The quarter ended with geopolitical uncertainty which weighed on equity indices globally, says Malcolm Svensson Rothmaier.

In the quarter the net transactions to shares were SEK +45 billion and +65 billion to foreign bonds, the highest in the series that dates to the beginning of 2019.

─ There were an outflow of SEK 25 billion from Swedish housing credit institutions bonds in the quarter while it has flowed in SEK 136 billion in foreign bonds during the past three quarters. The Swedish krona exchange rate was generally strong in 2025 and started 2026 strong before the uncertainties in the Middle East additionally took off. Such things as rates- and exchanges rates expectations could affect the allocation between Swedish and foreign bonds, says Malcolm Svensson Rothmaier

Life insurance and occupational pension companies

Increase in foreign bonds: Bonds denominated in other currencies than the crown increased 14 percent during the quarter to SEK 460 billion.

Non-life insurance companies

Increase in foreign bonds: Bonds denominated in other currencies than the crown increased 16 percent during the quarter to SEK 115 billion.

─ Both for life and non-life insurance companies the stock values of bonds denominated in crowns decreased during the quarter while it increased with double digit percentages in foreign currency, says Malcolm Svensson Rothmaier.