Treasury Program to Buoy Money Market Funds
New York Times reporter Tara Siegel Bernard cautions that some money market funds do not represent a safe haven. Who would have thunk it? Several asset managers have now broken the buck, reporting Net Asset Values less than a dollar. See "Money Market Fund Enter a World of Risk" (September 17, 2008).
With everything else going on, perhaps it is no shock that the U.S. government has responded with a quick fix. In "Temporary Treasury Program to Support Money Market Funds," readers learn that this new measure seeks to "enable money market funds to maintain stable $1.00 net asset values." Click to access Notice 2008-81, effective September 22, 2008.
Details are still evolving though Deal Book adds that the U.S. Treasury Department will "use $50 billion to back money market mutual funds whose asset values fall below $1." Those who pay a fee are eligible to have their holdings insured. See "Treasury to Backstop Money Market Funds," September 19, 2008."
Federal insurance is likely to be good news for 401(k) plan participants who are busily shifting funds to what they hope are safer choices. The impact on taxpayers' wallets is yet to be determined.
