Topic 3 - Money Markets Flashcards
3.01 - What is the money market?
Market (not physical) where short term assets (maturity less than 1 year) are traded.
3.02 - What are the markets called where the maturity is greater than 1 year?
They are the capital or fixed interest markets
3.03 - Why are money markets around the world becoming more integrated?
- Financial deregulation
- Technological change
- Increasing sophistication of market participants
3.04 - What are the two types of money markets?
- Primary money markets - maturities to one year
* Secondary money markets - residual maturities to one year.
3.05 - What is the main function of the money market?
Facilitation of the transfer of short-term funds from those units which are in surplus to those units which are in deficit. ie Investor surplus funds to the borrowers who have a shortfall of funds.
3.06 - What are the other functions of the money market?
- Mechanism by which a country’s government can raise short term funding
- Primary method by which a country’s monetary policy is implemented
- A “determinant” of the country’s interest rate structure (short term)
- The market for short-term international trade.
3.07 - Money is not just a medium of exchange but is also a traded commodity. The Money Market operations comprise of what?
1) Placing of deposits
2) Short-term borrowing
3) Sale and purchase of money market securities
3.08 - Why did the money market evolve?
Money historically became a unit of exchange because it allowed transfer to all parties, and the money market is a safer and reliable way of getting investor’s surplus funds to borrowers.
3.09 - Who is the main intermediary in the transfer of funds?
Banks which accept deposits and then loan out funds to borrowers.
3.10 - How do money market participants profit from partaking?
- Borrowers - do not make a direct profit, however the money market provides a way to achieve their objectives which could in turn be profitable.
- Intermediaries - pay lower interest to investors and charge higher interest to borrowers and therefore make a profit on the difference.
- Investors - profit from investing their surplus funds.
3.11 - Who are the major participants in the money market?
- Central Bank (Reserve Bank)
- Commercial banks
- Investment banks
- Finance companies
- Brokers
- Corporations
3.12 - What is the role of the Central Bank in the money markets?
Controlling role in consultation with Govt to implement policy to achieve Govt’s economic policy objectives of economic growth, external balance, full employment and price stability.
3.13 - How does the Central Bank achieve Govt’s policy objectives in the money market?
By targeting interest rates in the money markets by way of Open Market Operations.
3.14 - How do commercial banks participate in the money market?
- accept deposits and make loans (intermediated finance)
- assist individuals & companies to raise money through direct finance
- Provide a source of financing for Government through the purchase of Government securities
3.15 - How do investment or merchant banks participate in the money market?
- Provide a range of financial services for fees / commissions
- accept fixed deposits and short-term loans
- participate in the interbank Money Market where banks manage liquidity by lending amongst each other.
3.16 - how do Finance companies participate in the Money Market?
- Hire, purchase or lease finance
- Investment and portfolio management
(most activities by finance companies are long term, but the Money Market is still used to manage liquidity and short-term finance).
3.17 - What is the important role that Brokers play in the financial markets?
- They match borrowers with lenders
- Provide the service of anonymity
- Provide a range of other financial services
Note: Brokers are paid fees/commissions
3.18 - What is the major role that Corporations play in the operation of the Money Market?
- Borrow and invest funds in the overnight MM
- Take advantage of overdraft facilities
- Place fixed-term deposits with banks & take out fixed-term loans from banks
- Direct finance - issue commercial bills or promissory notes.
3.19 - What is trade credit?
Trade credit can be an inexpensive source of funding and can often be used to meet at least some of the company’s funding requirements.
3.20 - What does trade credit involve?
Delaying payment to the company’s creditors for as long as possible - within the credit terms offered by the creditor. By the time outstanding invoices need to be paid, additional purchase will have been made, giving the company an ongoing source of finance.
3.21 - What are accruals and what do they provide the business with?
Accruals represent provisioning before a debt is due and payable. Accruing allows the form a spontaneous and interest-free source of finance.
3.22 - What are common items accrued for?
Wages, salaries, long service leave provisions and taxes.
3.23 - What does trade credit and accruals allow the firm to do and what is required?
They allow the firm to use their debt to raise funds, but will need to have accounts receivable documented in order to source these arrangements with a finance company.
3.24 - What are the two options available to allow the firm to raise accounts receivable finance?
- Use of the book debts as security for a loan
* Alternatively the financial institution may ‘purchase’ the firm’s debts outright.
3.25 - If a finance company purchases a company’s debts, the amount of cash payable to the firm will reflect what?
Heavy discounting
- to reflect the time value of the money and
- the credit risk associated with the debt.
3.26 - What are the two categories for instruments used to borrow and lend money in the Money Market?
- Cash products
* Discount securities
3.27 - What are included under the instrument category of cash products?
- Cash (overnight & 7 day cash)
* Loans (overdrafts, fixed term deposits and loans)
3.28 - What are included under the instrument category of discount securities?
- commercial bills (bank bills and non-bank bills)
- promissory notes (commercial paper)
- treasury notes
- certificates of deposit
- repurchase arrangements
3.29 - What are cash products?
Simplest of traded products, based on the borrowing and lending of cash between two parties.
3.30 - What is overnight cash also known as and how does it work?
11am cash, involves:
- deposits and loans are initially made overnight
- deposits and withdrawals must be made by 11am the next day
- rate of interest is reset daily
3.31 - What is 7 day cash also known as and how does it work?
24-hour cash, involves:
- deposit or loan is fixed for 7 days
- after period, money can we repaid or withdrawn (but 24 hours notice is required)
- rate is reset daily after the initial 7 day period.
3.32 - What is meant by the term ‘spread’?
It is the difference between the two prices offered by the bank - this is the profit they make. The investor is always on the disadvantageous side.
3.33 - What are two loan short term options in the Money Market?
- committed loans - the line is available to draw down at all times with a commitment fee payable
- uncommitted loans - the line is available at the discretion of the bank. Fees are lower on this type of loan
3.34 - Which is the most common source of short term finance for business? and why is it detrimental?
The bank overdraft, but it is also most expensive.
3.35 - What are the features of an overdraft?
- credit arrangement offered by bank to overdraw to a limit
- interest charged daily on debit balances
- deposits reduce debit balance / increase credit balance
- overdrafts are repayable on demand
- because banks must keep funds available, they cannot earn an optimal return so interest rate is higher.
3.36 - What are discount securities?
They are financial products offered at a discount to their full value, so instead of interest, the investor will receive the full value when it matures.
3.37 - What is a bill of exchange and what are the two key types?
They are unconditional orders in writing from one person to another to pay on demand or at a future time a sum of money to a specified person.
- Commercial bills
- Trade bills
3.38 - What is a trade bill?
A bill used to facilitate international trade.
3.39 - What is a commercial bill? and what is another common name for a commercial bill?
A bill used simply to borrow money without any connection to international trade. Accommodation bill