Notionals for rates ETDs rise 26% in Q1

Confidence in rate hikes is on the rise, but the jury’s out on how fast

Exchange-traded derivatives (ETDs) for interest rates reached $82.3 trillion notional in the first quarter – the highest in nine months, though still well below March 2020 volumes, data from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) shows. 

The figure as of March 31 marked 25.7% growth since end-December – the fastest quarterly jump in three years and the second-largest change in more than a decade.

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Growth was driven by a surge of open interest in short-term options, which at $49.5