Current account and capital flows · Canada
Canada Foreign Securities Purchases
The Canada Foreign Securities Purchases measures money flowing between Canada and the rest of the world: trade, income and transfers (current account), or investment in and out of the country.
- Importance
- Medium
- Released
- Monthly
- Next release
- Currency
- CAD · Canadian dollar
- Central bank
- The Bank of Canada
Latest figures
The latest release for AUG, published on 16 October 2026, came in at C$-17.31B.
| Released | For | Actual | Consensus | Previous |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Oct 2026 | AUG | C$-17.31B | C$23.59B | C$20.64B ® |
| 17 Sep 2026 | JUL | C$20.65B | C$28.64B | C$41.25B ® |
| 17 Aug 2026 | JUN | C$40.83B | C$15B | C$8.8B ® |
| 17 Jul 2026 | MAY | C$7.9B | C$15.21B | C$46.91B ® |
| 16 Jun 2026 | APR | C$46.91B | C$8.16B | C$4.4B ® |
| 15 May 2026 | MAR | C$4.62B | C$11.4B | C$5.84B ® |
| 17 Apr 2026 | FEB | C$6.17B | C$23.81B | C$46.79B ® |
| 18 Mar 2026 | JAN | C$46.73B | C$4.72B | C$-5.84B ® |
| 17 Feb 2026 | DEC | C$-5.57B | C$14.27B | C$15.96B ® |
| 16 Jan 2026 | NOV | C$16.33B | C$24.61B | C$46.62B |
| 17 Dec 2025 | OCT | C$46.62B | C$21.84B | C$31.32B |
| 17 Nov 2025 | SEP | C$31.32B | – | C$23.61B ® |
Why it matters
A current-account deficit must be financed by foreign capital, which makes a currency vulnerable when investors turn cautious; a surplus country lends to the world. Capital-flow data show whether foreigners are buying the country's bonds and shares. Tourism and remittances are large sources of foreign currency for some economies.
How it is calculated
The balance of payments records every transaction with non-residents: goods, services, income, transfers (current account) and investment (financial account); the two mirror each other.
Current account = trade balance + primary income + secondary income
Current account + capital account + financial account ≈ 0What changes mean
- A deficit above about 4–5% of GDP is often seen as a risk for emerging-market currencies.
- Large foreign purchases of local bonds support the currency.
Higher than expected: A larger surplus or stronger inflows than expected tend to support the Canadian dollar.
Lower than expected: A larger deficit or weaker inflows than expected tend to weigh on the Canadian dollar.
A short history
Balance-of-payments accounting was standardised by the International Monetary Fund after 1945; current-account crises shaped events from the 1990s emerging-market crises to the euro debt crisis.
Questions
What is the Canada Foreign Securities Purchases?
The Canada Foreign Securities Purchases measures money flowing between Canada and the rest of the world: trade, income and transfers (current account), or investment in and out of the country.
What was the latest Canada Foreign Securities Purchases?
C$-17.31B for AUG, published on 16 October 2026 (consensus C$23.59B, previous C$20.64B).
When is the next Canada Foreign Securities Purchases?
On Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 13:30 UTC.
Educational content only, not investment advice. Figures are the published results as recorded by our calendar; market reactions described are typical, not guaranteed.