
Money market ETFs offer a low-risk investment option for those looking to earn a return on their cash while minimizing potential losses.
They provide instant liquidity, allowing investors to quickly sell their shares if needed.
Money market ETFs invest in a variety of low-risk assets, such as commercial paper, treasury bills, and certificates of deposit.
These investments typically have very short maturities, ranging from a few weeks to a few months.
By investing in a money market ETF, you can diversify your portfolio and earn a return that's generally higher than a traditional savings account.
What Are ETFs?
An exchange traded fund, or ETF, is a 'basket' of securities that trades on an exchange just like a stock does.
ETFs are designed to track a specific market index, sector, or asset class, and they're traded throughout the day, unlike mutual funds which are only priced once a day.
Money market ETFs, in particular, invest in short-term and typically low-risk securities, aiming to preserve capital and generate slightly more income than a savings account.
They invest in securities like treasury bills, investment-grade corporate bonds, and commercial paper, all of which are very low risk and short-term.
These ETFs are not designed to generate massive returns, but rather prioritize capital preservation and maintain sufficient liquidity to meet redemptions.
Here are the three categories of money market funds:
Getting Started
You can start investing in money market ETFs in just a few minutes by creating a live account.
To begin, you'll need to select your IG ISA or Share Dealing Account. This will give you a platform to manage your investments and make informed decisions.
Don't worry if you're new to investing - you can open a demo account to build your confidence and get a feel for the process.
To start investing, simply research your money market ETF opportunity and consider how to diversify your portfolio and manage risk. This will help you make informed decisions and minimize potential losses.
You can invest a lump sum or set up a regular instalment to fund your account, making it easy to get started.
Monitoring your position is also crucial to ensure your investments are performing as expected.
Here are the key steps to get started:
- Create your live account in minutes
- Select your IG ISA or Share Dealing Account
- Research your money market ETF opportunity
- Invest a lump sum or set up a regular instalment
- Monitor your position
Pros and Cons
Money market ETFs have both advantages and drawbacks to consider. They are generally very low risk, as they invest in high-quality assets. This makes them a great option for short-term investments.
One of the biggest benefits of money market ETFs is their liquidity. They are highly liquid, making it easy to get your money out when you need it. In fact, they are becoming increasingly popular as a way to earn a good return on a short-term investment.
Here are some of the key pros of money market ETFs:
- Low risk profile
- Liquidity
- Returns better than keeping cash in a bank account
- Contemporary pricing
- Diversification
On the other hand, money market ETFs also have some drawbacks. They can be less accessible than bank accounts, which are open 24/7. Additionally, they are not covered by the same level of insurance as bank accounts.
Pros

Money market ETFs have a lot to offer, and let's start with the pros. They have a low risk profile, which is a big advantage for investors who want to minimize their risk. This is because they're invested in very high-quality assets.
One of the benefits of money market ETFs is their liquidity. They're highly liquid, making them perfect for short-term investments. In fact, they're becoming more popular because earning a good return on a short-term investment can be tough.
Money market ETFs often generate a better return than keeping cash in a bank account. This is a major perk for investors who want to make the most of their money. And, as an added bonus, these ETFs have contemporary pricing, meaning their assets mature quickly and are constantly being replaced with newer, more up-to-date assets.
Money market ETFs also offer diversification, which can help reduce your own risk profile. This is because they typically diversify their investments, spreading the risk across different assets. Here are some specific benefits of money market ETFs:
- Low risk profile
- Liquidity
- Returns better than keeping cash in a bank account
- Contemporary pricing
- Diversification
Cons of ETFs
ETFs may not be the best choice for everyone, and here are some reasons why.
One of the main drawbacks is accessibility - they're only available when the stock market is open, whereas bank accounts are open 24/7.
This means you can't access your money at any time, which can be a problem if you need to make a withdrawal.
Money market ETFs are also not protected by the £85,000 FSCS protection, which is a safety net for bank accounts.
However, they are covered by European-wide legislation, which provides some level of protection.
Another con is that money market ETFs are not suitable for long-term investments, as they don't offer high capital appreciation.
This means if you invest for a long time, you may not see a significant increase in your investment.
These ETFs are also sensitive to short-term interest rate fluctuations, which can see the value of your investment fall.
If the rate offered by the ETF is lower than the inflation rate, then the purchasing power of your capital will fall.
While the risk is very low, it's still possible for one of the bond issuers or the issuers of the certificates of deposit to default.
This is rare, but not unheard of, and it's something to consider before investing.
Some money market ETFs are also based on overseas currencies, which can leave you exposed to currency effects.
This can be positive in some cases, but it's something to be aware of before investing.
Specific ETFs
The Lyxor Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF C-GBP has a total expense ratio of 0.1% and £705 million of assets under management.
Let's take a look at some specific money market ETFs. The Xtrackers II EUR Overnight Rate Swap UCITS ETF 1C has a significant amount of assets under management, with €10,013. It's also listed in EUR and has an accumulating distribution.
The Lyxor Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF C-GBP has a relatively low amount of assets under management, with £807. It's listed in GBP and has an accumulating distribution.
Here are some of the money market ETFs listed, along with their assets under management and currency:
Investment Options
When choosing an investment option, it's essential to consider your goals and risk tolerance. There are several types of ETFs to consider, including money market ETFs and actively managed cash-like & short-term bond ETFs.
Money market ETFs can provide a low-risk investment option with the potential for higher yields than traditional savings accounts. They often have a low expense ratio, with some as low as 0.08%.
If you're new to investing, you may want to consider opening a demo account to build your confidence. This will allow you to practice investing without risking real money.
Some popular money market ETFs include Xtrackers II EUR Overnight Rate Swap UCITS ETF 1C, PIMCO US Dollar Short Maturity UCITS ETF Dist, and Lyxor Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF C-EUR.
Here are some key characteristics of these ETFs:
Actively managed cash-like & short-term bond ETFs can also be a good option for investors looking for a low-risk investment. These ETFs are actively managed, which means the fund manager will try to beat the market by making tactical decisions about the portfolio.
Some popular actively managed cash-like & short-term bond ETFs include PIMCO Enhanced Short Maturity Active ETF, PGIM Ultra Short Bond ETF, and JPMorgan Ultra-Short Income ETF. These ETFs have a range of characteristics, including AUM, YTD total return, yield, and expense ratio.
Here are some key characteristics of these ETFs:
Ultimately, the best investment option for you will depend on your individual circumstances and goals. It's essential to do your research and consider your options carefully before making a decision.
Xtrackers II GBP Overnight Rate Swap ETF 1D
The Xtrackers II GBP Overnight Rate Swap UCITS ETF 1D is a straightforward investment option. It aims to track the performance of a deposit earning interest at the rate of SONIA.
Launched in 2007, this ETF has a long history of stability. At the time of writing, it had £75 million of assets under management.
The fund is 100% invested in government bonds, with the lion's share held in GBP. This means it's a relatively low-risk investment.
In terms of fees, the Xtrackers II GBP Overnight Rate Swap UCITS ETF 1D is very competitive, with an all-in-fee of just 0.1%. This is a significant advantage for investors looking to minimize costs.
The ETF has a significant portion of its assets allocated in the United Kingdom, with 86% of assets held domestically.
Understanding ETFs
ETFs are a type of investment that's designed to track an underlying asset, such as a stock or bond index.
They're a popular choice for investors because they offer a way to diversify a portfolio and potentially earn higher returns than traditional savings accounts.
In the case of money market ETFs, they invest in low-risk securities with excellent credit ratings.
Money market ETFs tend to sport returns that are closely aligned to the overnight rate, which is a higher than usual rate of interest offered to large, prestigious, and secure financial institutions.
The overnight rate is based on the base rate set by the central bank within the ETF's target market, such as the Bank of England in the UK or the Federal Reserve in the US.
The key concept to understand is that a money market ETF is almost as stable as a pure cash account and rarely fluctuates significantly in value.
This is due to the unique combination of high-quality assets and short maturities, which means they're barely buffeted by changes in the base rate.
It's worth noting that ETFs do not qualify for the £85,000 FSCS protection limit that applies to UK bank accounts.
However, money market ETFs are regulated by European Union legislation that ensures your assets are ring-fenced should your ETF provider enter administration.
Investment Performance
Money market ETFs offer a range of investment options, but their performance can vary significantly. The Lyxor Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF C-GBP has delivered a 5-year return of 17.40%.
The top-performing funds in the list are mostly accumulating funds, which means they reinvest dividends to grow the investment. This strategy can be beneficial for long-term investors.
Here's a brief overview of the top 5 performing funds:
These funds have consistently delivered strong returns, making them attractive options for investors seeking stable and secure investments.
Leaderboard
The leaderboard is a great way to see how different investment funds are performing. The top fund on the list is the Xtrackers II EUR Overnight Rate Swap UCITS ETF 1C, with an impressive AUM of 10,013.
This fund is followed closely by the PIMCO US Dollar Short Maturity UCITS ETF Dist, with an AUM of 2,962. It's worth noting that the PIMCO fund is distributing, meaning it pays out dividends regularly.
The Lyxor Smart Overnight Return UCITS ETF C-EUR is another top performer, with an AUM of 2,161. It's also an accumulating fund, meaning it reinvests any dividends it receives.
Here's a list of the top 5 funds on the leaderboard, ranked by AUM:
The leaderboard is a useful tool for investors to compare the performance of different funds. By looking at the AUM and distribution status of each fund, investors can get a sense of which funds are growing quickly and which ones are paying out dividends regularly.
Growth of $10,000
Hypothetical investment results can be misleading.
The growth of a hypothetical $10,000 investment is often used to illustrate investment performance, but it's essential to remember that these results are not actual performance.
These hypothetical results assume reinvestment of dividends and capital gains, which can lead to exaggerated growth.
Fund expenses, including management fees and other expenses, are deducted from the investment, but the actual impact of these fees can be difficult to quantify.
Simulated results may differ from actual performance due to the risks and limitations inherent in hypothetical performance data.
Hypothetical trading does not involve financial risk, but it's a far cry from the real-world experience of investing.
There are frequently differences between simulated performance results and the actual results subsequently achieved by any particular fund.
Portfolio Management
Portfolio management is crucial for investors seeking to maximize returns and minimize risk with money market ETFs.
Money market ETFs are designed to track a specific market index, such as the Barclays US 1-3 Year Government/Credit Bond Index, which has a 0.12% expense ratio.
These ETFs typically hold a diversified portfolio of short-term debt securities, providing liquidity and low risk.
The average duration of money market ETFs is around 1-3 years, which means they are less sensitive to interest rate changes.
Investors can use money market ETFs as a cash substitute or as a short-term investment option to earn a higher return than traditional savings accounts.
A popular money market ETF is the Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF, which has a 0.06% expense ratio and a 1.17% yield.
Fees and Costs
Some money market ETFs have expense ratios as low as 0.04%, such as the iShares Short Treasury Bond ETF.
These low fees can add up over time, saving you thousands of dollars in costs.
The Vanguard Short-Term Bond ETF, for example, has an expense ratio of 0.07%.
This is significantly lower than the average expense ratio for a money market fund, which is around 0.5%.
Investors should carefully review the fees associated with a money market ETF before investing.
News and Updates
BlackRock is launching two money market funds in exchange traded fund wrappers, following in the footsteps of Texas Capital Bank.
These new funds, iShares Prime Money Market and iShares Government Money Market ETFs, will adhere to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Rule 2a-7 to ensure a high-quality rating and minimal credit risk.
Texas Capital’s Government Money Market ETF charges 0.20 per cent, which is higher than BlackRock’s closest existing ETFs.
Follow the Topics
If you want to stay up-to-date on the latest news and updates, following the topics in this article can be a great way to do so. Here are some of the key topics covered:

Financial services are a major focus of this article, with discussions on the latest trends and developments in the industry. BlackRock Inc is also a key player, with its innovative approaches to ETFs making headlines.
Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are a type of investment vehicle that allows you to diversify your portfolio. Joe Morris has written extensively on this topic, providing valuable insights and analysis.
Here are some of the key topics covered in this article:
- Financial services
- Exchange traded funds (ETFs)
- BlackRock Inc
- ETF Hub
- Joe Morris
Latest News
BlackRock has filed to launch two money market funds in exchange traded fund wrappers. These funds will adhere to strict requirements to ensure a high-quality rating and minimal credit risk.
The new iShares Prime Money Market and iShares Government Money Market ETFs will invest in securities maturing in 397 days or less, with some exceptions. They will also maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of 60 days or fewer and a dollar-weighted average life of 120 days or fewer.

Texas Capital's Government Money Market ETF charges a fee of 0.20 per cent. This is higher than BlackRock's closest existing ETFs, which levy fees of 0.05 per cent and 0.09 per cent.
BlackRock's new ETFs will follow in the footsteps of Texas Capital Bank's rollout of the industry's first 2a-7 ETF, the Texas Capital Government Money Market ETF. This fund was launched in September.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do money market ETFs pay interest?
Money market ETFs pay interest through "interest dividends" that are distributed to investors, which are treated as interest for tax purposes.
Do money market ETFs pay dividends?
Money market ETFs typically do not pay dividends, as they aim to maintain a stable net asset value and focus on preserving capital. However, some may distribute interest income or other earnings to investors.
Sources
- https://www.ig.com/en/trading-strategies/what-are-money-market-etfs-and-how-can-you-invest-in-them--241210
- https://www.dividend.com/active-etfs-channel/active-money-market-etfs-take-center-stage/
- https://www.ft.com/content/144ea1bc-b7b6-43e1-a8d3-c7f7df674c3e
- https://www.ucits-etfs.com/money-market-etfs/
- https://www.blackrock.com/ca/investors/en/products/239414/ishares-premium-money-market-etf
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