Latest news with #moneyMarketFunds
Bloomberg
23-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Goldman Sachs, BNY to Record Money Market Funds on Blockchain
Bank of New York Mellon Corp. and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. are collaborating to use blockchain technology to maintain an ownership record of money market funds. The so-called tokenization of real world assets has been promoted heavily as one of the most viable use cases for blockchains, the distributed ledger technology that underpins most cryptocurrencies. BlackRock Inc., Franklin Templeton, and KKR & Co. all have announced efforts to tokenize certain parts of their funds. Mckinsey estimated the tokenization market could swell to $2 trillion by 2030 in a report published last year.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Investors Rush to Pour Cash Into $7.4 Trillion US Money-Market Fund Industry
(Bloomberg) -- The rush of cash into the US money-market funds is showing few signs of slowing as it secured a record $7.4 trillion in assets. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Investors have poured more than $320 billion into the funds so far this year, according to Crane Data LLC, making it one of the biggest benefactors of the Federal Reserve's current monetary policy. That's something of a surprise for those on Wall Street who'd gone into 2025 assuming officials would lower interest rates and sap the attractive returns offered by the industry. '$7 trillion can easily be $7.5 trillion in 2025,' said Deborah Cunningham, chief investment officer for global liquidity markets at Federated Hermes. 'Five-percent-plus rates were nirvana, four-percent-plus is still very good — and if we dip down into the high threes, that's quite acceptable as well.' The average simple seven-day yield is now 3.95% for government funds and 4.03% for prime, an 8 basis point spread, according to Bank of America Corp. It's a compelling backdrop as some 600 participants gather at the annual Crane's Money Fund Symposium, which kicks off Monday in Boston. Money funds have seen their coffers swell in recent years, notably in early 2020 for their haven appeal and again as the Fed's rate-hiking cycle boosted yields. Even as the Fed pivoted to cutting rates last year, assets continued to rise, with these funds typically slower to pass along the effects of lower rates when compared to banks. Households have been a key driver of the inflows. Since the Fed started raising rates in March 2022, total assets under management in US money funds have swelled by roughly $2.5 trillion, and retail investors have accounted for about 60% of that, Investment Company Institute data show. Data from ICI exclude firms' own internal money funds, unlike Crane Data, which tracks the money market industry. Inflows have continued even as the industry sees some investors embrace alternatives, such as ultra-short funds in the fixed income or equities, Cunningham said. Overall, though, it's a far cry from the exodus of cash from money-market funds that some on Wall Street had forecast. 'It's not surprising asset levels have held on and grown,' said Michael Bird, senior fund manager at Allspring Global Investments. 'Even if the Fed picks up its easing campaign this year, rates will still be relatively high.' The Fed last week laid out forecasts for two quarter-point rate cuts this year, aligning with market pricing. Although the risk that conflict in the Middle East drives up oil prices and causes a resurgence in inflation remains an uncertatinty, traders see a quarter-point reduction as likely in September and all but guaranteed by October. Given that interest-rate backdrop, money-market funds are trying to extend the weighted-average maturity — known as WAM — of their holdings as long as possible to capture elevated yields. Fund managers have also adjusted holdings to compensate for the effects of debt-ceiling drama. While Wall Street strategists largely expect the government to raise the debt limit as part of the reconciliation process by late of July or early August, some funds have put more cash toward repurchase agreements — loans collateralized by Treasuries or agency debt — as an alternative. Still, 'the expectation is when the debt ceiling gets resolved, there will be a significant increase in bill issuance, which helps yields,' Bird said. 'Uncertainty is helping our product.' Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Investors Rush to Pour Cash Into $7.4 Trillion US Money-Market Fund Industry
(Bloomberg) -- The rush of cash into the US money-market funds is showing few signs of slowing as it secured a record $7.4 trillion in assets. Bezos Wedding Draws Protests, Soul-Searching Over Tourism in Venice One Architect's Quest to Save Mumbai's Heritage From Disappearing NYC Congestion Toll Cuts Manhattan Gridlock by 25%, RPA Reports Investors have poured more than $320 billion into the funds so far this year, according to Crane Data LLC, making it one of the biggest benefactors of the Federal Reserve's current monetary policy. That's something of a surprise for those on Wall Street who'd gone into 2025 assuming officials would lower interest rates and sap the attractive returns offered by the industry. '$7 trillion can easily be $7.5 trillion in 2025,' said Deborah Cunningham, chief investment officer for global liquidity markets at Federated Hermes. 'Five-percent-plus rates were nirvana, four-percent-plus is still very good — and if we dip down into the high threes, that's quite acceptable as well.' The average simple seven-day yield is now 3.95% for government funds and 4.03% for prime, an 8 basis point spread, according to Bank of America Corp. It's a compelling backdrop as some 600 participants gather at the annual Crane's Money Fund Symposium, which kicks off Monday in Boston. Money funds have seen their coffers swell in recent years, notably in early 2020 for their haven appeal and again as the Fed's rate-hiking cycle boosted yields. Even as the Fed pivoted to cutting rates last year, assets continued to rise, with these funds typically slower to pass along the effects of lower rates when compared to banks. Households have been a key driver of the inflows. Since the Fed started raising rates in March 2022, total assets under management in US money funds have swelled by roughly $2.5 trillion, and retail investors have accounted for about 60% of that, Investment Company Institute data show. Data from ICI exclude firms' own internal money funds, unlike Crane Data, which tracks the money market industry. Inflows have continued even as the industry sees some investors embrace alternatives, such as ultra-short funds in the fixed income or equities, Cunningham said. Overall, though, it's a far cry from the exodus of cash from money-market funds that some on Wall Street had forecast. 'It's not surprising asset levels have held on and grown,' said Michael Bird, senior fund manager at Allspring Global Investments. 'Even if the Fed picks up its easing campaign this year, rates will still be relatively high.' The Fed last week laid out forecasts for two quarter-point rate cuts this year, aligning with market pricing. Although the risk that conflict in the Middle East drives up oil prices and causes a resurgence in inflation remains an uncertatinty, traders see a quarter-point reduction as likely in September and all but guaranteed by October. Given that interest-rate backdrop, money-market funds are trying to extend the weighted-average maturity — known as WAM — of their holdings as long as possible to capture elevated yields. Fund managers have also adjusted holdings to compensate for the effects of debt-ceiling drama. While Wall Street strategists largely expect the government to raise the debt limit as part of the reconciliation process by late of July or early August, some funds have put more cash toward repurchase agreements — loans collateralized by Treasuries or agency debt — as an alternative. Still, 'the expectation is when the debt ceiling gets resolved, there will be a significant increase in bill issuance, which helps yields,' Bird said. 'Uncertainty is helping our product.' Luxury Counterfeiters Keep Outsmarting the Makers of $10,000 Handbags Is Mark Cuban the Loudmouth Billionaire that Democrats Need for 2028? Ken Griffin on Trump, Harvard and Why Novice Investors Won't Beat the Pros The US Has More Copper Than China But No Way to Refine All of It Can 'MAMUWT' Be to Musk What 'TACO' Is to Trump? ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Reuters
06-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
U.S. money market fund inflows surge on caution over tariffs
June 6 (Reuters) - U.S. money market funds witnessed huge inflows in the week ended June 4 as investor caution over a rise in U.S. tariffs on steel imports, uncertainties over President Donald Trump's trade disputes with China and a crucial employment report on Friday, boosted demand for safer investment avenues. According to LSEG Lipper data, U.S. investors bought a net $66.24 billion worth of money market funds during the week, registering their largest weekly net purchase since December 4, 2024. At the same time, riskier equity funds faced a net $7.42 billion worth of weekly outflows, sharply higher than approximately $5.39 billion worth of net disposals in the prior week. The small-cap segment witnessed a net $2.99 billion worth of drawdowns, the highest for a week since April 30. Outflows from multi-cap, mid-cap and large-cap funds stood at $2.13 billion, $1.05 billion and $962 million, respectively. Sectoral funds, meanwhile, experienced a minor $136 million worth of inflows with investors adding a net $1.15 billion into tech, and $309 million into consumer staples, while withdrawing nearly $1.16 billion from financials. Weekly net inflows into U.S. bond funds, meanwhile, cooled to a four-week low of $4.8 billion during the week. Despite the weaker demand in the broader segment, the short-to-intermediate investment-grade funds turned popular, grossing a net $3.98 billion- the highest since November 2024- worth of inflows during the week. Inflation-protected funds and general domestic taxable fixed income funds also attracted a significant $634 million and $505 million, worth of inflows.
Forbes
31-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Is Your Broker Gouging You? Use This Guide To The Best Buys In Money Markets
Brokerage firms are short-changing customers with their money-market funds, says one angry commentator. Gosh. These brokers deliver a lot of terrific service for free (custody, trading, research). How are they supposed to pay for it all? Instead of grousing, do this: Accept the fact that the brokerage has to cover its costs, but arrange your affairs so that some other customer picks them up. This survey shows you how to side-step expensive money funds. The path to low-cost portfolio management has two elements. First is to set up your finances so that the cash in your transaction accounts, where you can't avoid high management fees, is kept to a minimum. The second is to shuttle excess cash in and out of some other safe, liquid investment, one with a low management fee. The transaction accounts, for paying bills, receiving direct deposits and settling securities trades, might have $10,000 most of the time and more than that only when there's a need. The low-fee account might have $100,000 most of the time. If you do business at Vanguard, that low-fee account could be a Vanguard mutual fund. Anywhere else, you have to be creative, because the money market fund on offer is going to be expensive. Instead of using a Schwab or Fidelity money fund for the $100,000, buy shares in an exchange-traded fund that behaves like a money fund but has a much lower expense ratio. You have to keep an eye on the balance in the transaction account. When it needs feeding, sell some of the ETF shares (or Vanguard fund shares) a day ahead. When the trade settles the following day, move cash into the transaction account. At some institutions you'll be juggling three pots of money: a brokerage account where you hold the ETFs and other shares; a 'settlement fund' that handles proceeds of stock sales and payments for shares bought, and a 'cash management' account that does your everyday banking. It's a shame that you have to juggle at all, but the brokers evidently hope that you won't have the patience for the transfers and so will leave idle cash in places where they can help themselves to a chunk of the interest. If you are inattentive, you will have too much in a settlement account with a disappointing yield or too much in a cash management account with a terrible yield. Not even Vanguard is above such mischief. It sells low-cost money funds, but the one you want most if you live in a high-tax state, Vanguard Treasury Money Market, cannot be used as your settlement fund for securities trades. (Why is it in Vanguard's interest to force you to pay state income tax? I'm waiting for an answer from the company.) Vanguard's cash management account has a 3.65% yield, which, at a time when Treasury bills yield 4.35%, is equivalent to a money market fund with a very stiff management fee. Let's assume you have wised up to moving cash into the brokerage account and want to deploy it. Where are the best deals? Here's what Vanguard has to offer in low-cost money-market mutual funds: For most Vanguard investors, the Treasury fund is the best choice, although the three funds with municipal paper might be useful to taxpayers in the highest federal bracket. Muni funds, it should be noted, have very volatile yields. A month ago they were paying a percentage point more. Everyone not banking at Vanguard needs to use an ETF to hold large cash balances. Here are the best ones: You can get in and out of a Vanguard mutual fund with no sales fee. In an ETF you're going to get hit with a bid/ask spread of a penny or two a share. Except over a short holding period, the trading cost is likely to be less consequential than the management fee. ETFs are a tiny bit riskier than money funds, since shifts in the yield curve can move their prices. This is a fair bet for you: Rate changes are as likely to make you a few extra cents a share as to lose you money. If the risk bothers you, sort the table on the duration column and select a very short-term portfolio. Now that you have optimized the yield from cash, ponder this question: Do you maybe have too much of it? I see three fallacies that lead savers to make this mistake. Fallacy #1: The bucket strategy. This one, oh so popular with financial planners, goes like this: Once you are retired, you need to have two years of spending in a cash bucket. That way, they tell you, you will not be forced to sell stocks at an inopportune time. To which I respond: Great. Now tell me when the opportune times to sell stocks will occur. Fallacy #2: The rainy-day kitty. This is the advice given to younger people. Put six months of spending into a bank account to cover emergencies. You could get laid off. I agree that a reserve fund, ideally outside your 401(k), is a great idea. But it doesn't have to be in cash equivalents. It could be invested in stocks and bonds. Their liquidity is high. You get next-day settlement. Instead of six months of spending in a CD, set aside 12 months of spending in ETFs. That gives you more protection and a better shot at living well later. Fallacy #3: The dry-powder notion. Instead of putting 100% of your stock money in stocks, you invest 80%, leaving money to deploy after a crash. This might work for Warren Buffett, who's sitting on a lot of cash at Berkshire Hathaway. But how confident are you that you can identify a market low? Did you buy stock in March 2009, during the financial crisis? Did you buy in March 2020, in the pandemic? If you didn't, maybe it's time to give up on the idea you can time the market. MORE FROM FORBES
