Money Markets Flashcards
What does the yield curve show?
Bonds with low maturities have low yields.
Upwards sloping curve, concave and plateaus.
When can a yield curve invert?
Short term interest rates are above long term interest rates- tends to happen with recessions
What are money markets?
Markets in which short-term instruments (MMIs) are traded.
What is meant by short-term instruments?
Less than 1 year of original maturity
What type of markets are these sold on?
Primary and secondary market
Are money market instruments high risk, why?
Low risk because of the short-term nature
Do short term instruments pay coupons? How is interest paid?
No
Interest is paid when the instruments matures
What happens to the market price of a short-term bond over time?
The market price converges on the maturity value of the instrument as maturity approaches
Why does the rate of return and price calculation of bonds differ between countries?
How do we compare these rates?
UK year is 365 compared to US and Europe assume a 360-day year.
i(UK) = i(US) x (365/360)
What two ways do MMIs get their rate of return quoted?
As an interest yield
As a discount rate
Add flashcards for calculation
What are treasury bills?
Securities issued by the governent with initial maturities of 3 months, 6 months and a year.
What are treasury bills issued at?
A discount
What are commercial bills?
Same as TBs but issued by large firms
What are certificates of deposit?
Certificates of ownership of large time deposits. Can be traded.
What are interbank deposits?
Large deposits owned by banks made at other banks for short periods. often over night or a 7 day period
What is a repo?
Repurchase agreement- Sale of a security with a promise to repurchase it in the future at a specified price
Who are the issuers of MMIs?
Banks
Eurobanks and Eurocurrency markets
Corporations
Government
Who are the main holders of MMIs?
Banks
Corporations
Households
Pension funds
How are households holders of MMIs?
Mutual funds/unit trusts that are funds with lots of different assets and you can buy a few shares in them. Diversification is already done for you.
In the event of a general liquidity shortage amongst commercial banks, what does the central bank do?
CB becomes a monopoly supplier of liquidity. Sets price or quantity.
May offer to buy TBs from banks, but as a monopoly buyer, it can set the price that it will pay.
Repos.
What does the CB setting the price of TB do?
Sets the rate of interest at which the CB is providing liquidity