2 min readExecutive Summary The FSP, ARRA, and the flurry of new programs and details in February may not provide the immediate shot in the arm financial markets were looking for, but some of the programs should have substantive, long-lasting positive attributes that could certainly provide a tug in the right direction in the current credit market…
2 min readExecutive Summary As risk averse cash investors slowly move away from an aggressively conservative strategy, we take a look at two developing trends that investors may be considering and some potential pitfalls. Emerging Trends: Bank Deposit Accounts Prime Money Market Funds We think that the credit market has probably exited the free-fall phase and has…
2 min readExecutive Summary Investment Considerations: Government Sponsored Enterprises Government Money Market Funds FDIC TLGP Guaranteed Debt Foreign Government Guaranteed Debt Beware Certain “Industrial” Credits Institutional cash investors found themselves in a pickle when the market’s desire for safety made treasury securities and treasury money market funds inaccessible. However, when the default option is no longer an…
3 min readExecutive Summary The concurrent use of commingled and separate accounts may help in optimizing corporate cash management. Among corporations, separate account management has a limited following – about 20% in separate account management vs. 76% in money funds and 22% in other funds. Six Advantages of Separately Managed Accounts: Tailored Risk Management Transparency Higher Return…
2 min readExecutive Summary A. Recent market turmoil uncovered rising systemic risks among money market funds: Regulatory rules failed to adequately address investment risks Defending the constant $1 share value became more difficult Money funds as commingled vehicles have inherent drawbacks B. Key factors in money market fund selections: Focus on the wherewithal of the funds’ sponsors…
3 min readRecent credit market events have stress-tested corporate cash portfolios more than at any time I can recall in my 28-year investment career. These events are shocking in scope and have threatened our financial system in ways not seen since the Great Depression. Because it’s so easy to “lose sight of the forest” in this unprecedented…
3 min readIn light of this week’s failed vote on the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP), we wanted to share some credit considerations with you. Companies may want to evaluate non-2a-7 bank money market deposit accounts (MMDA’s) with balances greater than $100,000, the FDIC coverage limit per bank (the FDIC insurance limit may increase to $250,000 if…
3 min readExecutive Summary Institutional cash investors continue to face uncertainties and difficult choices in ultimately obtaining liquidity despite the latest liquidity announcements. Interests of institutional investors have taken a back seat in these settlements. The distinction between retail and institutional investors seems arbitrary and illogical. To avoid their own reputational risk, we think that the secondary…
3 min readIntroduction In a move to restore confidence in the U.S. mortgage market, President George W. Bush signed into law on July 30th, a housing rescue bill that includes a provision for the U.S. Treasury Secretary to inject capital into Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSEs) through direct stock or debt purchases.. The birth of the so called…
2 min readThe Aftermath of a Crisis The credit market crunch that started in August 2007 has had a widespread impact on the treasury community’s liquidity management practices. Unlike in any previous market downturns, this credit market crisis started with a popular cash investment vehicle, asset-backed commercial paper, and continued with a system-wide shutdown of another, auction…