International investment position

Note to readers: Second quarter 2006

Estimates at market value

As of the first quarter of 2005, total portfolio investment (equities, bonds and money market instruments) are available at market value. Annual market value estimates of foreign direct investment are also available and were released earlier this year. These additional series are part of a multi-year initiative to improve the international investment position information. The following analysis focuses on the book value series, however, and this practice will continue until a full set of market value estimates becomes available.

Currency valuation

The value of assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are converted to Canadian dollars at the end of each period for which a balance sheet is calculated. Most of Canada's foreign assets are denominated in foreign currencies while less than half of our international liabilities are in foreign currencies.

When the Canadian dollar is appreciating in value, the restatement of the value of these assets and liabilities in Canadian dollars lowers the recorded value. The opposite is true when the dollar is depreciating.