ISDA’s analysis of credit default swap (CDS) market size and structure reveals that market risk transfer activity (MRTA) in single-name CDS has been steady since 2016. The analysis also shows that the universe of single-name CDS with MRTA remains large. Over 500 names generated MRTA in each quarter over the past five and a half years. At the same time, MRTA is rather concentrated – 27 names account for about 45% of total single-name CDS MRTA. Meanwhile, MRTA in index CDS leveled off in 2016, and has been on an upward trend since the beginning of 2017.

This analysis explores credit derivatives market size from the start of 2014 until the middle of 2019, using data from the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation Trade Information Warehouse.