Canadians poured $61 billion into U.S. securities in five months: StatCan

The U.S. Department of the Treasury building is seen in Washington, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Canadian investors have looked over the border to grow their money amid a trade war with the United States.

New data from Statistics Canada says investors funneled a massive $61 billion in U.S. securities in the first half of 2025.

Securities include treasury bills, notes and bonds and are considered low risk as they are backed by the U.S. government’s financial health.

The report states investors poured $38.1 billion in U.S. equities and investment fund shares alongside $22.3 in U.S. corporate and government bonds from February to June.

Only $1.3 billion was invested in all other non-U.S. foreign securities combined with bond purchases offsetting divestments in money market instruments and equities.

The agency says over three-quarters of acquisitions occurred in February and March when Canadian households, businesses and government grappled with high levels of uncertainty over Canada’s economic relationship with the U.S.

Canadian investors continued to increase their holdings of U.S. assets, adding $31.9 billion in equities and investment fund shares, government and corporate bonds and money market instruments during July and August.

Foreigners initially reduce exposure to Canadian securities, but demand returns

While Canadians were investing in U.S. portfolio assets, foreign investors were reducing their exposure to Canadian securities.

The agency says foreign acquisitions of Canadian securities declined steadily resulting in a net decrease of $22.4 billion from February to May.

Foreign investors however rekindled their demand for Canadian securities adding $31.9 billion in equities and investment fund shares, government and corporate bonds and money market instruments in the months of July and August.

Net purchases totalled $49.0 billion, more than offsetting the cumulative divestment of $22.4 billion in the first half of the year.

The acquisition of foreign securities by Canadian investors and the divestment in Canadian securities by foreign investors combined generated a net outflow of funds from the Canadian economy totalling $84.7 billion during the first half of 2025.