Thesemarkets are described as “money markets” because the assets that are bought and sold are short term—with maturities ranging from a day to a year—and normally are easily convertible into cash. Money markets include markets for such instruments as bank accounts, including term certificates of deposit; interbank loans (loans between

Editorial Note We earn a commission from partner links on Forbes Advisor. Commissions do not affect our editors' opinions or evaluations. A money market fund is a type of mutual fund that invests in cash and low-risk, short-term debt securities. Money market funds are considered one of the least risky investment vehicles available, generating income—usually on par with short-term interest rates—that may be either taxable or tax-exempt, depending on the investments held by the fund. How Do Money Market Mutual Funds Work? Like other kinds of mutual funds, money market funds assemble a portfolio of securities and sell shares to investors, who earn returns from the portfolio in the form of income and capital gains. Money market funds build portfolios of cash and cash equivalents like bankers’ acceptances, certificates of deposit CDs, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, and Treasuries. Generally speaking, there are three main types of money market funds, each of which invests in different kinds of securities. The majority of their investments are in securities, but they also hold cash and cash equivalents. Government money market funds buy short-term government Treasuries. These are mostly notes and bills but may also include bonds and repurchase agreements backed by Treasury notes and bills. Prime money market funds invest in corporate paper, bankers’ acceptances, short-term corporate notes and bank debt securities. Municipal money market funds buy municipal bonds and other debt securities. Earnings are usually exempt from federal income taxes and sometimes also state income taxes. Some money market funds are designed for retail investors while others are only for institutional investors and require high minimum investments. Because money market funds invest in debt instruments, they produce regular income that’s either taxable or tax exempt, depending on the type of security creating the income. Traditionally, money funds have aimed for a net asset value NAV of $1 per share, and any difference between the NAV share price and the earnings on the portfolio’s investments is distributed to fund investors. With all investments, you run the risk of losing money. Money market funds, however, are widely considered one of the safest, lowest-risk and least volatile investment options. Money Market Fund Fees Money market funds charge an annual management fee called an expense ratio. The higher the expense ratio, the lower your returns—and when interest rates are low, expense ratios can really eat into your money market fund earnings. The low interest rates that prevailed for the decade and a half leading up to 2022 drove some fund managers to waive or reposition fees to maintain a zero or positive yield for their funds. Vanguard, for instance, temporarily reallocated the expenses of the Vanguard Pennsylvania Municipal Money Market Fund to other funds within the company. Today, money market fund fees have risen as interest rates have normalized. Money Market Fund vs. Money Market Account What’s the Difference? Though they share similar names, money market accounts are different from money market funds. Money market accounts are a type of savings account offered by banks and credit unions that may provide better APYs and easier access to your money than conventional savings accounts. Unlike money market funds, money market accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC. That means you are guaranteed never to lose money as long as the amount is under your bank’s FDIC coverage maximum, generally $250,000. Contrast this with money market funds, which are investment products that may lose money over time. That said, you might still opt for money market funds over money market accounts if they offer a substantially higher yield. Because they invest in cash and cash-like securities, money market fund risk is minimal. Origin of Money Market Accounts Money market accounts were introduced in the early 1980s to compete with money market funds. Money market funds were established about a decade before to provide more competitive interest rates than bank accounts, whose rates were limited by the Federal Reserve. Because they were investment products, not banking products, money market funds were able to avoid Fed regulation and pay much higher rates of return. By the late 1970s and early 80s, runaway inflation and high interest rates meant that you could earn much better returns in money market funds than in bank savings accounts. As money began flowing out of the banking system and into money market funds, Congress allowed banks to begin offering money market accounts that offered more attractive interest rates to help banks and credit unions compete with money market funds. Given the rates offered by high-yield savings accounts today, be sure to compare rates across money market funds, money market accounts, and high-yield savings products to make sure you’re getting the best rate for your money. Advantages of Money Market Funds Money market funds are generally considered one of the most stable investments—they experience low volatility and are less prone to market fluctuations. Money funds are also more liquid than other investments with similar returns, such as CDs, because they allow you to withdraw cash or buy other investments quickly. Money market funds are well diversified, and because some funds invest in securities whose interest payments aren’t subject to federal taxes and sometimes state taxes, they can provide a tax-efficient income source. Disadvantages of Money Market Funds Because money market funds are investments and not savings accounts, there’s no guarantee on earnings and there’s even the possibility you might lose money. When interest rates are low, money market rates are also low, earning investors very little. Money market funds are not for long-term investing, and even when interest rates are higher, the money in a money market fund typically won’t outpace inflation. “I’ve never had a time in my career when a money market fund had an interest rate higher than inflation,” Bishop says. “It’s a very good short-term place to keep money you need to keep liquid, but you will lose money in terms of the cost of the things you Money Market Fund FAQs What’s the best use of a money market fund? Money market funds are a good place to park cash you’ll need for a short-term goal or an emergency fund since you can access the money quickly. If you’re paying for a wedding in six months, for instance, you wouldn’t want to put the cash in the stock market and risk losing money in a market dip. For longer term goals, you’re better off investing in other vehicles to achieve a return that’s higher than inflation. Are money market funds safe? Money market funds invest in highly stable, short-term debt securities that are very low risk. As investments go, money market funds are generally considered quite safe, although they are not entirely risk free. While money market accounts are FDIC insured up to $250,000 per account, per depositor, there’s no FDIC coverage on a money market mutual fund. Money market fund share prices do fluctuate, so you may have to sell shares for slightly less than you paid for That said, money market fund risk is historically very small. What is the minimum investment for a money market fund? Minimum account requirements vary by fund and may depend on how you invest. For instance, some money market fund minimums range from $500 to $5,000, but there may be no minimum if you’re investing through an individual retirement account IRA or if you set up recurring deposits. How do you buy money market mutual funds? You can buy money market funds in your online brokerage account or directly from a mutual fund firm. When shopping for the right money market fund, make sure you look beyond the rate. “Especially in a low-rate environment, an account with a higher rate might not be the best if it is hard to access,” says Sean Pearson, a certified financial planner with Ameriprise Financial in Conshohocken, Penn. “Keep convenience in
0035% of the Fund’s Net Asset Value for the amount above USD 9 million until USD 15 million. 0.02% of the Fund’s Net Asset Value for any amount above USD 15 million. Fund Manager: Watani Investment Company K.S.C.C. (regulated by Capital Markets Authority) Selling Agent: National Bank of Kuwait S.A.K.P. Custodian and Investment Controller: Along with stocks and bonds, cash and cash-like assets form a critical part of a diversified investment portfolio. As the "asset of last resort," cash is one of the few assets to remain truly safe and risk free during the worst of market crashes. While it can be eroded by inflation, cash is as riskless as assets downside to holding a high cash allocation is opportunity cost. While investors can ensure safety of principal, they won't earn much of a return holding just cash. The solution here is money market funds, which can provide a high degree of stability while earning some steady income. These funds can be easily purchased in most brokerage accounts like any other mutual fund."Money market mutual funds are great investments for short-term, conservative investors," says Nafis Smith, principal and head of taxable money markets at Vanguard. "This is because they typically invest in very liquid securities with the objective of preserving your capital while also providing income at prevailing market rates."The holdings in money market funds tend to be high-quality, short-term debt securities, such as Treasury bonds, certificates of deposit, repurchase agreements and commercial paper. These assets have both a low risk of default and low interest rate sensitivity, which makes them suitable as short-term, low-risk investments. All of these securities tend to be very liquid, meaning they can be bought and sold easily."Money market funds can be a great way to save for short-term goals, like buying a car, a down payment or building your emergency savings," says Sophoan Prak, a certified financial planner and financial advisor at Vanguard. "Generally, if you have a planned expense within one year, a money market fund can be a good investment option for it."For stability, money market funds target a constant net asset value, or NAV, per share of $1, and pay out consistent monthly distributions in the form of interest income. However, it is important to note that while money market funds are low risk, they are not entirely free of risk."Investors should understand the share price of a money market fund can dip below its NAV per share of $1 and have historically done so a few times during extremely volatile markets," says Smith. When this occurs, a money market fund is said to have "broken the buck."That being said, regulations put in place after the 2008 financial crisis have made money market funds much safer. "Industry regulations, such as additional SEC money market reforms in 2016, have helped money market funds better maintain a stable NAV," Prak Federal Reserve interest rate hikes lifting money market yields higher, here's a list of the best money market funds to buy in 2023 Money Market Fund Expense Ratio 7-Day SEC Yield Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund ticker VMFXX 5% Vanguard Municipal Money Market Fund VMSXX Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund VUSXX 5% Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund Investor Shares SWVXX Fidelity Money Market Fund SPRXX Fidelity Government Money Market Fund SPAXX JPMorgan Liquid Assets Money Market Fund MJLXX Vanguard Federal Money Market Fund VMFXX"I like VMFXX for its low fees versus many other money market funds that not only have lower yields, but also higher expense ratios," says Michael Ashley Schulman, partner and chief investment officer at Running Point Capital Advisors. Case in point, VMFXX currently charges a expense ratio, or $11 annually on a $10,000 investment, and has a 7-day SEC yield of 5%. With interest rates at historical highs, VMFXX is now paying competitive yields."VMFXX invests mainly in high-quality and short-term government securities," says Prak. This includes repurchase agreements, which make up around 62% of the fund, followed by various short-term government obligations that comprise the remainder. Investors looking for consistent income may like VMFXX due to its monthly distribution Municipal Money Market Fund VMSXX"One of the benefits of investing in VMSXX is receiving federally tax-exempt interest income," Prak says. For investors with a higher income tax bracket, VMSXX can be a more efficient holding in a taxable brokerage account compared to VMFXX. This is due to the fund's holdings, which are primarily comprised of short-term, tax-exempt fixed-income securities issued by municipal currently charges a expense ratio while paying out a 7-day SEC yield of While this is lower than VMFXX, the after-tax net return can be much better, especially for high-income-bracket investors. From its inception in June 1980 to the end of April 2023, VMSXX has returned an annualized with distributions Treasury Money Market Fund VUSXXFor even greater safety, investors can consider VUSXX, which invests at least of its assets in Treasury bills, cash or repurchase agreements collateralized by Treasury bills. Short of a government default, Treasury bills remain among the most low-risk assets available to investors thanks to their strong credit rating and short maturity, which reduces interest rate most money market funds, the interest income paid on VUSXX moves in lockstep with prevailing interest rates. Thanks to rising rates, this fund is currently spitting out a 7-day SEC yield of 5%, against which it charges a expense ratio. From its inception in December 1992 to the end of April, VUSXX has returned an average of a year with distributions Value Advantage Money Fund Investor Shares SWVXXInvestors looking for an actively managed money market fund with the ability to hold foreign issues can consider SWVXX. Unlike the previous option, this fund also holds high-quality money market instruments from international entities, which include Canadian, Australian and New Zealand banks. SWVXX is categorized as a "prime money market" fund, meaning that it also holds corporate debt SWVXX is paying out a seven-day SEC yield of Due to the higher cost of active management, this fund charges a greater net expense ratio of which may not be desirable for investors seeking the most cost-effective option. From its inception in April 1992 to the end of April, SWVXX has returned an annualized Money Market Fund SPRXXInvestors who use Fidelity as their broker may prefer SPRXX, which like many Fidelity funds charges no transaction fees, carries no minimum required investment and has no sales loads or 12b-1 fees. This fund has been around since January 1989, and as of the end of April has returned an annualized with distributions reinvested. Currently, SPRXX charges a expense ratio against a seven-day SEC yield of SPRXX is like most other money market funds, with a stable NAV per share of $1 and holding a portfolio of certificates of deposit, or CDs, Treasury repurchase agreements, commercial paper and government agency securities. SPRXX has the ability to invest more than 25% of its assets in securities issued by companies from the financial sector and can also hold foreign money market Government Money Market Fund SPAXXInvestors who wish to avoid commercial paper from corporations can opt for SPAXX, which only holds government-issued money market instruments. Currently, the fund's portfolio is largely comprised of government repurchase agreements collateralized by cash, followed by agency-issued floating-rate securities. As with all money market funds, SPAXX targets a stable NAV-per-share price of $ to SPRXX, SPAXX carries a lower risk of breaking the buck due to the higher quality of government-issued securities. Since the fund's inception in February 1990, SPAXX has returned an annualized The fund also charges a expense Liquid Assets Money Market Fund MJLXXInvestors who don't mind holding a higher proportion of corporate notes and commercial paper in exchange for higher yields can consider MJLXX. This fund is concentrated in holdings from the financial services industry, particularly asset-backed commercial paper. MJLXX also holds the usual CDs and bank MJLXX is paying out a seven-day SEC yield of against which it charges a net expense ratio. Since its inception in January 1987, the fund has returned an annualized So far, MJLXX has accrued assets under management of around $ billion. Investors may find this money market fund fairly accessible due to its minimum required investment of $1,000.

Thissub-fund invests mainly in good quality money market instruments and short-term bonds which include bank deposits, government and statutory board securities, certificates of deposit and corporate bonds. Non-SGD denominated investments, if any, will be hedged to SGD. The sub-fund may be suitable for investors seeking for yield enhancement

Investors with a focus on the preservation of capital often seek out fixed-income solutions such as government or low-risk municipal bonds, preferred stocks, traditional bank savings products, or money market mutual funds. Each of these investment vehicles provides a degree of safety from otherwise volatile securities markets in addition to a potential stream of fixed income. Although each strategy has its own merits and drawbacks, a money market fund is a popular choice among risk-averse investors. Read on to find out more about this kind of investment and how you can benefit from these putting your money into this product. Key Takeaways Money market funds invest in highly liquid securities like cash, cash equivalents, and high-rated debt-based funds offer investors liquidity because they're invested in securities with short-term maturities—usually 13 months or they only invest in highly rated securities, money market funds offer a high degree of market funds also offer investors higher yields than traditional savings accounts. What Is a Money Market Fund? A money market fund is a type of mutual fund. It invests in highly liquid vehicles such as cash, cash equivalents, and high-rated debt-based securities. These securities tend to have short-term maturities—usually less than 13 months. Many money market funds hold securities like commercial paper and Treasury bills. Investors purchase units or shares of a money market fund from a mutual fund company or through a broker. Just like other mutual funds, there may be a minimum initial investment amount required to take part in a money market fund. They also come with an expense ratio. This fee is calculated as a total percentage of the fund's asset which covers its administrative and operating expenses. Don't confuse money market funds with money market accounts MMAs. Although they may sound alike, they are different. A money market account is a savings account offered by traditional financial institutions, allowing the account holder to earn interest on the average balance. Because they are intended to act as a savings vehicle, MMAs allow investors limited withdrawals. These accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC, while money market funds are not. Types of Money Market Funds Money market funds are divided into different categories depending on their attributes including their maturities and the classes of securities. For instance, government money market funds invest the majority of their assets in cash and government securities. Treasury funds invest in Treasury bills, bonds, and notes. Another type of money market fund is the tax-exempt fund. These types of funds invest primarily in vehicles that are exempt from federal taxes such as municipal bonds. Benefits of Money Market Funds A money market fund provides investors with an array of benefits that you may not find with other investments. The most common are noted below. Liquidity Money market mutual funds provide investors with liquidity. That's because these funds are invested in securities that mature in short periods of time and can be liquidated for cash. Fund managers invest pooled investor dollars into money market securities including bank certificates of deposit CDs, federal agency notes, high-grade commercial paper, or government treasury issues such as T-bills. Safety Investors who want to park their money in a relatively safe investment may want to consider money market funds. The Securities and Exchange Commission SEC mandates that only securities with the highest credit ratings are available to purchase in money market funds, creating a degree of safety for investors not found in other fixed-income investments. This also helps set them apart from other investments such as stocks which are characterized by a higher degree of volatility. Higher Yields In addition to safety and liquidity, money market funds offer the potential for higher yields than conventional cash equivalents such as savings or money market accounts from a bank or credit union. The objective of a money market fund it to keep its net asset value NAV steadily at $1, resulting in no growth of principal. Despite this, money market funds provide investors slightly higher yields than conventional cash equivalents over time because fund managers can diversify the underlying investments. Although they're considered relatively safe investments, money market funds also come with inherent risks including inflation, credit, and interest rate risks. A Word on Risks Even though they're considered a primarily safe place to put your cash, money market funds do come with their own inherent risks—just like any other investment. A few things investors may want to consider are Inflation Risk This risk occurs when the cash flows from a money market fund drop because of inflation. In other words, inflation cuts down how the money market fund performs. Credit Risk Because they aren't insured by the FDIC like savings accounts and CDs, there's no guarantee that you won't lose your money. Interest Rate Risk This is the risk associated with fluctuating interest rates. Yields share an inverse relationship with interest rates, so when interest rates rise, yields drop and vice versa. complieswith industry-standard regulatory requirements for money market funds regarding the quality, maturity, liquidity and diversification of the fund's investments. The Adviser stresses maintaining a stable $1.00 share price, % Rank in Category is based on total returns which include reinvested dividends and capital gains, if any, and

What Is a Money Market Fund? A money market fund is a kind of mutual fund that invests in highly liquid, near-term instruments. These instruments include cash, cash equivalent securities, and high-credit-rating, debt-based securities with a short-term maturity such as Treasuries. Money market funds are intended to offer investors high liquidity with a very low level of risk. Money market funds are also called money market mutual funds. While they sound similar in name, a money market fund is not the same as a money market account MMA. A money market fund is an investment that is sponsored by an investment fund company. Therefore, it carries no guarantee of principal. A money market account is a type of interest-earning savings account. Money market accounts are offered by financial institutions. They are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC, and they typically have limited transaction privileges. Key Takeaways A money market fund is a type of mutual fund that invests in high-quality, short-term debt instruments, cash, and cash not quite as safe as cash, money market funds are considered extremely low-risk on the investment spectrum. A money market fund generates income taxable or tax-free, depending on its portfolio, but little capital market funds should be used as a place to park money temporarily before investing elsewhere or making an anticipated cash outlay; they are not suitable as long-term investments. How a Money Market Fund Works Money market funds work like a typical mutual fund. They issue redeemable units or shares to investors, and they are mandated to follow the guidelines drafted by financial regulators for example, those set by the Securities and Exchange Commission. A money market fund may invest in the following types of debt-based financial instruments Bankers' Acceptances BA—short-term debt guaranteed by a commercial bank Certificates of deposit CDs—bank-issued savings certificate with short-term maturity Commercial paper—unsecured short-term corporate debt Repurchase agreements Repo—short-term government securities Treasuries—short-term government debt issues Returns from these instruments are dependent on the applicable market interest rates, and therefore, the overall returns from the money market funds are also dependent on interest rates. Types of Money Market Funds Money market funds are classified into various types depending upon the class of invested assets, the maturity period, and other attributes. Prime Money Fund A prime money fund invests in floating-rate debt and commercial paper of non-Treasury assets, like those issued by corporations, government agencies, and government-sponsored enterprises GSEs. Government Money Fund A government money fund invests at least of its total assets in cash, government securities, and repurchase agreements that are fully collateralized by cash or government securities. Treasury Fund A Treasury fund invests in standard Treasury-issued debt securities, such as Treasury bills, Treasury bonds, and Treasury notes. Tax-Exempt Money Fund A tax-exempt money fund offers earnings that are free from federal income tax. Depending on the exact securities it invests in, a tax-exempt money fund may also have an exemption from state income taxes. Municipal bonds and other debt securities primarily constitute such types of money market funds. Some money market funds are targeted to attract institutional money with a high minimum investment amount oftentimes $1 million. Still, other money market funds are retail money funds and are accessible to individual investors as a result of their small minimums. Special Considerations The Net Asset Value NAV Standard All the features of a standard mutual fund apply to a money market fund, with one key difference. A money market fund aims to maintain a net asset value NAV of $1 per share. Any excess earnings that get generated through interest on the portfolio holdings are distributed to the investors in the form of dividend payments. Investors can purchase or redeem shares of money market funds through investment fund companies, brokerage firms, and banks. One of the primary reasons for the popularity of money market funds is their maintenance of the $1 NAV. This requirement forces the fund managers to make regular payments to investors, providing a regular flow of income for them. It also allows easy calculations and tracking of the net gains the fund generates. Breaking the Buck Occasionally, a money market fund may fall below the $1 NAV. This creates a condition that is sometimes referred to with the colloquial term "breaking the buck." When this condition occurs, it may be attributed to temporary price fluctuations in the money markets. However, if it persists, the condition may trigger a moment when the investment income of the money market fund fails to exceed its operating expenses or investment losses. For example, if the fund used excess leverage in purchasing instruments—or overall interest rates dropped to very low levels nearing zero—and the fund broke the buck, then one of these scenarios could lead to a condition where the fund cannot meet redemption requests. If this happens, regulators may jump in and force the fund's liquidation. However, instances of breaking the buck are very rare. In 1994, the first instance of breaking the buck occurred. The Community Bankers Government Money Market Fund was liquidated at $ per share. This was the result of large losses that the fund incurred following a period of heavy investment in derivatives. In 2008, following the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, the venerable Reserve Primary Fund also broke the buck. The fund held millions of the Lehman Brothers debt obligations, and panicked redemptions by its investors caused its NAV to fall to $ per share. The pullout of money caused the Reserve Primary Fund to liquidate. This event triggered mayhem throughout the money markets. To prevent this from happening again, in 2010—in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis—the SEC issued new rules to better manage money market funds. These rules were intended to provide more stability and resilience by placing tighter restrictions on portfolio holdings and introducing provisions for imposing liquidity fees and suspending redemptions. Regulation of Money Market Funds In the money market funds are under the purview of the SEC. This regulatory body defines the necessary guidelines for the characteristics, maturity, and variety of allowable investments in a money market fund. Under the provisions, a money fund mainly invests in the top-rated debt instruments, and they should have a maturity period under 13 months. The money market fund portfolio is required to maintain a weighted average maturity WAM period of 60 days or less. This WAM requirement means that the average maturity period of all the invested instruments—taken in proportion to their weights in the fund portfolio—should not be more than 60 days. This maturity limitation is done to ensure that only highly liquid instruments qualify for investments, and the investor’s money is not locked into long-maturity instruments that can mar the liquidity. A money market fund is not allowed to invest more than 5% in any one issuer in order to avoid issuer-specific risk. However, government-issued securities and repurchase agreements provide an exception to this rule. Advantages and Disadvantages of Money Market Funds Money market funds compete against similar investment options, such as bank money market accounts, ultrashort bond funds, and enhanced cash funds. These investment options may invest in a wider variety of assets, as well as aim for higher returns. The primary purpose of a money market fund is to provide investors with a safe avenue for investing in secure and highly liquid, cash-equivalent, debt-based assets using smaller investment amounts. In the realm of mutual-fund-like investments, money market funds are characterized as low-risk, low-return investments. Many investors prefer to park substantial amounts of cash in such funds for the short term. However, money market funds are not suitable for long term investment goals, like retirement planning. This is because they don’t offer much capital appreciation. Money market funds appear attractive to investors as they come with no loads—no entry charges or exit charges. Many funds also provide investors with tax-advantaged gains by investing in municipal securities that are tax-exempt at the federal tax level and in some instances at the state level, too. Pros Very low-risk Highly liquid Better returns than bank accounts Cons Not FDIC-insured No capital appreciation Sensitive to interest rate fluctuations, monetary policy It's important to keep in mind that money market funds are not covered by the FDIC's federal deposit insurance, while money market deposit accounts, online savings accounts, and certificates of deposit, are covered by this type of insurance. Like other investment securities, money market funds are regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940. An active investor who has time and knowledge to hunt around for the best possible short-term debt instruments—offering the best possible interest rates at their preferred levels of risk—may prefer investing on their own in the various available instruments. On the other hand, a less-savvy investor may prefer taking the money market fund route by delegating the money management task to the fund operators. Fund shareholders can typically withdraw their money at any time, but they may have a limit on the number of times they can withdraw within a certain period. History of Money Market Funds Money market funds were designed and launched during the early 1970s in the They gained rapid popularity because they were an easy way for investors to purchase a pool of securities that, in general, offered better returns than those available from a standard interest-bearing bank account. Commercial paper has become a common component of many money market funds. Previously, money market funds held only government bonds. However, this transition away from only government bonds resulted in higher yields. At the same time, it was this reliance on commercial paper that led to the Reserve Primary Fund crisis. In addition to the reforms that the SEC introduced in 2010, the SEC also implemented some fundamental structural changes to the way they regulate money market funds in 2016. These changes required prime institutional money market funds to float their NAV and no longer maintain a stable price. Retail and government money market funds were allowed to maintain the stable $1 per share policy. The regulations also provided non-government money market fund boards with new tools to address runs. Money Market Funds Today Today, money market funds have become one of the core pillars of the present-day capital markets. For investors, they offer a diversified, professionally-managed portfolio with high daily liquidity. Many investors use money market funds as a place to park their cash until they decide on other investments or for funding needs that may arise in the short-term. The interest rates that are available on the various instruments that constitute the portfolio of a money market fund are the key factors that determine the return from a given money market fund. Looking at historical data is enough to provide sufficient details on how money market returns have fared. During the decade spanning from 2000 to 2010, the monetary policies of the Federal Reserve Bank led to short-term interest rates—the rates banks pay to borrow money from one another—hovering around 0%. These near-zero rates meant money market fund investors saw returns that were significantly lower, compared to those in the prior decades. Further, with the tightening of regulations after the 2008 financial crisis, the number of investable securities grew smaller. Another economic policy in recent years that has had an adverse impact on money market funds is quantitative easing QE. QE is an unconventional monetary policy where a central bank purchases government securities or other securities from the market in order to lower interest rates and increase the money supply. As major economies across the globe—including the QE measures in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, a good portion of the QE money made its way into money market mutual funds as a haven. This migration of funds led to interest rates remaining low for a long duration, and the diminishing of returns from money market funds. Are Money Market Funds Safe? Yes. For the most part, money market funds are among the safest of all investments, with a target value of $1 per share. Money market funds have only dipped below this value "broken the buck" on a small number of occasions associated with financial crises and have quickly bounced back, What Was the First Money Market Fund? The first money market mutual fund appeared in 1971 and was called "The Reserve Fund." Is a Money Market Account the Same as a Money Market Fund? No. A money market fund is a mutual fund investment that holds short-term treasuries and other money market instruments. A money market account is a bank product that credits depositors a rate of interest.

The goal of a money-market fund is to preserve principal while yielding a modest return. • Money-market mutual fund is akin to a highyield bank account but is not entirely risk free. When investing in a money-market fund, attention should be paid to the interest rate that is being offered. Money Market Vs. Capital Market 80 likes

Open-ended fixed income mutual funds that invest in short-term debt securities What are Money Market Funds? Money market funds are open-ended fixed income mutual funds that invest in short-term debt securities, such as Treasury bills, municipal bills, and short-term corporate and bank debt instruments that come with low credit risk and emphasize liquidity. Understanding Money Market Funds Money market securities typically come with maturities under 12 months. The short-term nature of the securities is a way of reducing risk and uncertainty. The selection of money market investments is performed by a fund manager as it should relate to the type of money market fund. Money market funds are not insured by the federal government FDIC, unlike money market accounts, which are insured. Money market mutual fund income is usually in the form of a dividend; it can be taxed or tax-exempt depending on the nature of securities invested in the fund. The funds can be used as a cash management tool in business because of their liquidity and flexibility, hence their popularity. Money market funds were developed and came into use in the 1970s. They are regulated through the Securities and Exchange Commission SEC under the Investment Company Act of 1940 in the United States and Regulation 2017/1131 in Europe. According to the Investment Company Institute, money market funds total $ trillion, as of June 17, 2020, and are distributed as follows Objectives of Money Market Fund Investments Investors take part in money market funds for the following reasons Short-term investment horizon Low conservative risk appetite with preference to low-security volatility High liquidity needs Low returns, which is compensated by low risk Stability and certainty Types of Money Market Funds The Securities and Exchange Commission SEC regulations comprise three categories of money market funds based on the securities in the fund 1. Government The funds invest in about in government-backed securities such as Treasury bills, collateralized Treasury securities, repurchase agreements, and Federal Home Loan securities. They also invest in government-sponsored enterprises GSE securities, such as Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Since government-backed paper is “risk-free,” the funds are considered very safe. 2. Prime They are funds invested in short-term corporate debt instruments, such as commercial paper, corporate notes, and short-term bank securities banker’s acceptances and certificates of deposits. They also include repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements. 3. Municipal tax-free The money market funds are predominantly invested in securities issued by municipalities, which are federal and often state income tax-exempt securities. Other entities also issue securities with tax protection, which the money funds also participate in, such as state municipal. Benefits of Using Money Market Funds 1. Liquidity The redemption of a money market fund usually takes less than two business days, and it is fairly easy to settle brokerage account investment trades. 2. Risk management Money market funds act as a risk management tool, as funds are invested in cash equivalent securities with low risk and high liquidity. 3. Short-term The short-term nature of money market funds ensures a low interest rate, credit, and liquidity risk. 4. Security Money market funds invest in low-risk and high-credit quality securities, ensuring high security. 5. Stability Money market funds are low volatility investments. 6. Convenience Easy access to funds through a checking account linked to an income-yielding money market investment fund. 7. Diversification Money market funds usually hold a diversified portfolio of government, corporate, and tax-free debt securities. 8. Tax exemption Municipal issues in which money market funds invest in are federal and often state income tax-exempt; hence they provide tax-efficient income. Money Market Fund Risks 1. Credit risk Money market securities are susceptible to volatility and are not FDIC-insured, hence the potential to not lose money, however low, is not guaranteed. There exists a probability of loss, although it is generally quite small. There is no guarantee that investors will receive $ per share on the redemption of their shares. 2. Low returns The low returns of money market funds are usually lower than other funds comprising of assets such as stocks and properties. There is a chance that money market returns may also fall below the inflation rate, providing negative real returns to investors inflation risk. Interest rates can also go down further, reducing returns on money market investments. 3. Liquidity fees and redemption gates It involves the imposition of high liquidity fees, fees levied on the sale of shares. Redemption gates require waiting periods before redeeming proceeds from money market funds, normally implemented to prevent a run on the fund in periods of market stress. 4. Foreign exchange exposure This risk is borne by funds that invest in money market instruments across borders that are denominated in other currencies other than the home currency. 5. Environmental changes Changes in economic policies and government regulations can result in an adverse impact on the price of money market securities and their issuers’ financial standing, if they affect interest rates and money supply. Related Readings CFI is the official provider of the global Commercial Banking & Credit Analyst CBCA™ certification program, designed to help anyone become a world-class financial analyst. To keep advancing your career, the additional resources below will be useful Credit Risk Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation FDIC Municipal Bond Credit Analysis Types of Markets – Dealers, Brokers, Exchanges See all wealth management resources

0035% of the Fund’s Net Asset Value for the amount above KD 15 million until KD 25 million. 0.02% of the Fund’s Net Asset Value for any amount above KD 25 million. Fund Manager: Watani Investment Company K.S.C.C. (regulated by Capital Markets Authority) Selling Agent: National Bank of Kuwait S.A.K.P. Custodian and Investment Controller:
Editor's Note This article was updated on June 9, 2023, to include Strive Emerging Markets Ex-China ETF. The number of funds was revised to 27, and a note was added to the first two charts. Over the past few years, the incorporation of environmental, social, and governance factors in investment decisions has become mainstream. As its popularity has risen, however, anti-ESG sentiment has also gathered steam. In a recent study, we took a closer look at some of these funds and what they stand for. One thing is clear Anti-ESG investing is not a help investors navigate what can be a confusing landscape, we subdivided our list of 27 anti-ESG funds into five mutually exclusive categories Anti-ESG, Political, Renouncers, Vice, and oldest funds in this group invest in companies known as “sin stocks” that were traditionally excluded by socially responsible funds. Some invest in companies aligned with politically conservative values. Others are traditional passive funds with anti-ESG proxy voting policies. Only one fund in our sample—Constrained Capital ESG Orphans ETF ORFN—neatly fits into the anti-ESG box by investing in businesses management believes are “orphaned,’ discarded or excluded by ESG-centric mutual funds.” That said, it filed with the SEC to liquidate in June funds employ diverse approaches to portfolio construction, but on average they tend to deliver greater exposure to ESG risk compared with peers based on the Morningstar Sustainability Rating. Nearly half of the funds in our sample have High or Above Average levels of exposure to ESG risk, corresponding to 1 or 2 globes, respectively. For perspective, roughly 30% of the overall fund universe receives these ratings, so anti-ESG funds are disproportionately represented at the higher end of ESG risk Funds Invest in Fossil FuelsAmong other things, high levels of ESG risk in a portfolio commonly match significant involvement in the fossil fuel industry. Morningstar Portfolio Fossil Fuel Involvement measures a portfolio’s exposure to thermal coal, oil and gas, oil sands, shale energy, deep-water production, and Arctic offshore for Vice funds, each anti-ESG fund category carries higher exposure to fossil fuels than the Morningstar US Market Index. Constrained Capital ESG Orphans ETF exhibits the most staggering overweight, but it comes as no surprise that Voter fund Strive Energy ETF DRLL has the highest exposure to the fossil fuel industry. Approximately 97% of the companies in the portfolio earn revenue from fossil fuels. For example, Exxon Mobil XOM accounts for nearly one fourth of Strive Energy ETF’s portfolio. It is also a top 10 holding in Political fund Unusual Whales Subversive Republican Trading ETF KRUZ and in ORFN. Oil and gas giant Exxon Mobil earns a Severe ESG Risk Rating from Morningstar Sustainalytics owing to the likelihood of oil spills across its broad network of pipelines and refineries, as well as its exposure to significant legal and financial liabilities as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of Anti-ESG Funds Deliver Exposure to Environmental and Social Impact for InvestorsWhile metrics like fossil fuel involvement may help an investor assess risks in their portfolio, Morningstar’s Portfolio Impact Metrics help them understand the portfolio’s exposure to revenue associated with positive environmental or social of the five key themes, Climate Action, is concerned with the global effort to curb the Earth’s temperature rise and cope with the unavoidable consequences of climate change. It includes measures to promote clean energy and limit greenhouse gas emissions, among others. On average, each of the categories in our sample has lower exposure to climate action compared with the Morningstar US Market shockingly, many portfolios in our list have high levels of alignment to climate action impact. For instance, 84% of Strive Semiconductor ETF’s SHOC portfolio is involved in climate action impact, a whopping 48-percentage-point overweight relative to the benchmark, followed by Strive 1000 Growth ETF STXG and Strive 500 ETF STRV at 43% and 36%, respectively. Each of the three funds has a major position in Nvidia NVDA, a multinational technology company that contributes heavily to the climate action theme. For example, Nvidia recently launched its Earth-2 initiative to build the world’s most powerful artificial intelligence supercomputer dedicated to predicting climate change. In 2021, the company also disclosed manufacturing energy-efficient GPUs for gaming and professional Closer Look at the Anti-ESG Fund Before It is Liquidated Although Nvidia was a common holding for many anti-ESG funds, the only fund in our sample that neatly fits into the anti-ESG box does not count it among its top 10 holdings. The exhibit above shows ORFN’s top 10 holdings as of March 31, holdings include Exxon Mobil, tobacco firm Philip Morris PM, and defense contractor Raytheon Technologies RTX. In 2021, Exxon Mobil and Chevron CVX posted gains of 86% and 58%, respectively, due to the fossil fuel price surge that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Six stocks in this group carry Severe to High levels of ESG Risk, with Exxon Mobil getting the riskiest rating. As expected, the higher levels of risk in these names can be traced to each company’s high carbon emissions and/or the greenhouse gas emissions of their products and services while in use by author or authors do not own shares in any securities mentioned in this article. Find out about Morningstar’s editorial policies.
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    • capital money market fund