The repo market is pivotal to other financial markets, particularly those in bonds and derivatives, as it is the main source of financing for dealers. Repo, being a collateralised loan provides a secure means of lending and, for borrowers, an economic means of leverage.

Despite the European repo market's importance it is hard to obtain figures on its size. The ICMA surveys are the only authoritative source of data on the size and composition of the European repo market. The surveys are conducted by the ICMA Centre at the University of Reading in the UK, at the request of the European Repo Council (ERC), a body established under the auspices of ICMA to promote and represent banks active in Europe’s repo markets.

Click here to access copies of ICMA's Repo Surveys