Chapter 5 - Money Markets Flashcards
Money Markets
refers to the global market place for short-term financial instruments that are highly liquid.
Have a maturity of one year or less
usually debt instruments
Broker Dealer
an entity that trades securities for its own account or on behalf of its customers
Broker: when executing trades on behalf of a customer
Dealer: when executing trades for its own account
Street Name (holding securities)
securities are held in the broker’s name on behalf of the broker’s account. Holding securities in the street name does not affect the rights of the actual owner. allows investors to stay anonymous
Ask price
the price at which the dealer will sell a security
bid price
the price at which the dealer with buy a security
spread
difference between the ask and bid prices
this is the dealers profit
Central Securities Depositories (CSDs)
companies that hold securities to enable book-entry transfer of securities
may provide trade matching along with clearing and settlement
E.g. Depository trust company
Book-entry Security
Book-entry securities are investments such as stocks and bonds whose ownership is recorded electronically. Book-entry securities eliminate the need to issue paper certificates of ownership. Ownership of securities is never physically transferred when they are bought or sold; accounting entries are merely changed in the books of the commercial financial institutions where investors maintain accounts. (INVESTOPEDIA)
Default/ Credit Risk
The likelihood that the payments owed to creditors will not be made under the original loan terms
higher yields are required on more risky instruments to compensate buyers for the risk
Default risk is asses by credit rating agencies Moody’s, S&P, Fitch
Liquidity Risk
the likelihood that a security cannot be sold quickly without incurring a substantial loss in value.
primary determinants of liquidity are marketability and maturity
Interest Rate Risk
involves the uncertainty associated with future interest rate levels
two components: reinvestment risk and price risk
Reinvestment Risk
results from the potential for lower interest rates in the future. After IR drop the proceeds from maturing investments will be reinvested at a lower rate
Price Risk
the potential for an increase in interest rates
refers to changes in interest rates having an adverse impact on the value of a security
Securities with longer maturities have increased price risk as their market values are more responsive to changes in IR
FX Risk
Arises when investors purchase securities in other currencies. There is a risk that the return on the securities will be lower once the investment is converted back sometime in the future
Commercial Paper (CP)
tradable promissory not that represents an unsecured obligation or debt to the issuer
maturity can be overnight to 270 days for publicly traded CP and 397 days for private placement
does not pay interest, instead it is issued at a discount and the facevalue is paid at maturity. thus yield is influenced by the difference between the purchase price and the face value
investment grade CP is highly liquid