Interest rate derivatives (IRD) trading volumes increased in in the first quarter of 2020, driven largely by coronavirus-related market volatility. Despite this increase, however, the share of IRD block trades decreased, especially for fixed-for-floating interest rate swaps (IRS), indicating less liquidity for large-sized trades.
Total capped notional of fixed-for-floating IRS transactions decreased by 16.0% in the first quarter of 2020 versus the first quarter of 2019, while the number of trades with capped notional declined by 8.0% over the same period. The share of IRS trades with capped notional relative to total fixed-for-floating IRS transactions fell to 6.9% in the first quarter of 2020 from 9.5% in the first quarter of 2019.
This report uses data from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation swap data repository. It, therefore, only covers trades that are required to be disclosed under US regulations.
Click on the attached PDF to read the full report.
Documents (1) for IRD Block Trading Activity in the First Quarter of 2020
Latest
Episode 59: Reducing Burdens
As she nears the end of her term as chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority, Verena Ross joins The Swap to discuss progress in simplifying and reducing the burden of EU financial regulation, including transaction reporting. Please view...
CDS Market Dynamics: Record 2025
Global credit default swap (CDS) market activity reached a record $41.8 trillion in 2025, surpassing the previous peak of $38.7 trillion in 2022. Index CDS drove the increase, accounting for 93.3% of total activity and reaching a record $39.0 trillion....
ISDA Letter to CFTC on Public Interest Determinations for Event Contracts
On July 27, ISDA submitted a letter to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) on the CFTC’s proposed rulemaking on public interest determinations for event contracts published in the Federal Register on June 12, 2026. ISDA emphasized the importance...
ISDA Letter to BCBS on RMA Models
On July 24, ISDA wrote to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) to request guidance on how the proposed Risk Mitigation Accounting (RMA) model under International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 9/IFRS 7 should be treated for prudential regulatory capital...
