[neverdem]

The total number in dollars of derivatives is somewhere around $550 trillion.

Is that the U.S. tally or the global tally? I've seen the same and similar numbers. This blog suggests it's global.

http://blog.ira-401k-realestate.com/category/the-600-trillion-derivatives/

[org.whodat]

http://www.marketoracle.co.uk/Article6756.html