The International Capital Markets Association said last week that at the end of 2006, the size of the international bond market, measured in terms of outstanding debt in all currencies, had increased to over $10.5 trillion, a 10.5% increase in the total size of the market at the end of 2005.
Over 49% of 2006's bond issuance was denominated in euros. Euro-denominated debt is now 45% of total outstanding debt. U.S. dollar-denominated debt accounts for 36% and pound-denominated bonds account for about 10%.