
Money market securities are often misunderstood, but they're actually a type of low-risk investment.
They're typically short-term, with maturities ranging from a few weeks to a few years.
In contrast, other types of securities, like stocks and bonds, can have much longer terms.
For example, some bonds can have maturities of 10, 20, or even 30 years or more.
Definition
Money market securities are short-term debt instruments with maturities of less than a year. They are typically used by companies and governments to raise funds for a short period of time.
Treasury Bills are a classic example of a money market instrument, with maturities ranging from a few weeks to a year. They are issued by governments to raise funds and are considered very low-risk investments.
Commercial Paper is another type of money market instrument, issued by companies to raise funds for a short period of time. It's often used by large corporations to finance their daily operations.
Certificates of Deposit, or CDs, are also money market instruments, offered by banks to depositors who want to earn a fixed interest rate for a short period of time. They are considered very safe investments, but often come with penalties for early withdrawal.
Corporate Bonds, on the other hand, have maturities exceeding one year, making them long-term securities, unlike money market instruments.
Instruments Not Money Market Instruments
Money market instruments are short-term debt securities with maturities of one year or less, but not everything that sounds like a short-term investment qualifies.
Long-term bonds have maturities exceeding one year, often spanning several years or even decades, making them unsuitable for the money market.
Stocks represent ownership in a company, not a debt instrument, and their value is highly volatile and dependent on market factors.
Real estate investments are illiquid and require significant capital outlay, making them a long-term investment with high risk compared to money market instruments.
Derivatives, such as options and futures, are contracts whose value is derived from an underlying asset, and while some may have short-term maturities, their inherent risk and complexity distinguish them from money market instruments.
Not all mutual funds qualify as money market instruments, as many invest in a diversified portfolio including stocks, bonds, and other assets with longer maturities.
Corporate bonds have maturities exceeding one year, making them long-term securities, unlike money market instruments.
Treasury bills, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit are all considered money market instruments because they have maturities of one year or less and are low-risk investments.
Sources
- https://testbook.com/question-answer/which-of-the-following-is-not-a-money-market-instr--61c313a020525e1cc0a6dae6
- https://testbook.com/question-answer/which-of-the-following-is-not-a-money-market-instr--5938f42cee558008d3dece75
- https://www.penghudaily.com.tw/post/which-of-the-following-is-not-a-money-market-instrument2
- https://www.translation-chinese.com.tw/aiseo/which-of-the-following-is-not-a-money-market-instrument1
- https://www.studocu.com/row/messages/question/6509991/which-of-the-following-is-not-a-money-market-securityacommon-stockbnegotiable-certificate
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