Global Securities Lending Revenues Rise As Loan Balances Stay Above $4 Trillion

New industry data released this week confirms that the global securities lending market remains highly active in early 2026. According to lending analytics reports, average global loan balances are holding above $4.2 trillion, while lender-to-broker revenues in February reached approximately $871 million, representing a strong year-over-year increase.

Equities continue to drive the majority of lending activity. Higher balances in equity loans have offset declining borrow fees, suggesting that institutional demand for borrowed shares remains strong. This dynamic often appears during periods when hedge funds are actively running short strategies or relative value trades.

For stock loan desks, rising balances combined with moderate fee levels typically indicate healthy borrow demand across multiple sectors rather than scarcity concentrated in a single security.