In addition, the Federal Reserve's internal controls and management practices are closely monitored by an independent inspector general, outside private-sector auditors, and internal management and operations divisions, and through periodic reviews by the Government Accountability Office. All that said, recent developments have understandably led to a substantial increase in the public's interest in the Fed's balance sheet and programs.
BIS Review 131/1999  2  The growth of derivative products contributed to the increase. Last year the Italian market in equity futures ranked second in Europe in terms of trading volume.