The capital account measures the difference between sales of assets to foreigners and purchases of assets located abroad. U.S. – owned assets abroad are divided into official reserve assets, government assets, and private assets. These assets include gold, foreign currencies, foreign securities, reserve position in the IMF, U.S. credits and other long-term assets, direct foreign investment, and U.S. claims reported by U.S. banks.

Foreign-owned assets in the U.S. are divided into foreign official assets and other foreign assets. These assets include U.S. government, agency, and corporate securities; direct investment; U.S. currency, and U.S. liabilities reported by U.S. banks.