9 min readCash may be King, but it is also going virtual before our eyes. Digital cash used to be the domain of tech innovators and cryptocurrency enthusiasts. But if a pair of tokenized money market mutual funds (MMFs) is any indication, instantaneous movement of cash untethered to market hours may be close to reality. If today’s…
11 min readIntroduction: Higher Rates are Coming to An End Recent comments by Federal Reserve officials indicate that monetary policymakers may soon start lowering short-term rates as inflation and employment data continue to moderate. This shift comes after a period of keeping interest rates more elevated than initially thought. Meanwhile, stockpiles of cash from Covid-era policies continue…
18 min readFinancial markets have closely monitored consumers’ financial health following the COVID-19 pandemic to gauge when the exceptional economic tailwind provided by high levels of household savings would fade. Accounting for roughly two-thirds of GDP, consumer spending was juiced by pandemic era stimulus programs which ballooned household savings. These savings were later depleted as post-stimulus inflation…
10 min readAbstract Changing credit landscapes, more complex financial products, multiple touchpoints with large financial intermediaries, and high profile bank failures are just some of the challenges treasury management professionals and cash managers face in counterparty risk management. An effective counterparty strategy should provide clarity on the counterparties’ credit strength individually and collectively, and have a desired…
15 min readAbstract BBB-rated debt continues to offer new possibilities for cash investors. Although it involves taking on incremental credit risk, allowing purchase of these securities can help alleviate supply shortages while also offering additional return opportunities. Should investors look into adding BBB names to their portfolios, we recommend that they follow these principles. Guiding Principles: Introduction…
12 min readAbstract In a falling interest rate environment, sensitivity related to uninsured deposits and income preservation argues for consideration of cash management vehicles outside of bank deposits and money market funds. While ultra short bond funds (USBFs) hold promise as potential yield enhancing tools, they may exhibit many of the same issues as prime funds, with…
4 min readWhy a separately managed account may be right for you and your cash investment needs. What is an Separately Managed Account? A Separately Managed Account (SMA) is a portfolio of assets that offers customization in investment strategy, approach, and management style. The customization of SMAs allows investors to build a portfolio of securities that is…
9 min readWhat Led to The Bank’s Eventual Closure and What Lessons Cash Investors Can Learn From This to Minimize Portfolio Risk On March 8th, Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) announced a significant balance sheet restructuring and an associated $2.25 billion capital raise to shore up the bank’s financial position after rising rates and significant deposit outflows severely…
18 min readWe identify three themes to watch for cash investors each year. For 2021, we focus on vaccines, ESG and LIBOR replacement. DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT Introduction At the start of each year, we typically name three broad themes that we think will have the greatest potential impact on the short-term debt markets. Our 2020 picks posed…
2 min readA growing number of institutional cash investors seeking higher returns are turning to direct investments in commercial paper. Why? In part because prime money market funds no longer deliver an optimum combination of liquidity, safety and yield as they did in the past. Among other things, the SEC reforms two years ago resulted in a…