Money Market

Money Market is a segment of the financial market where short-term funds are borrowed and lent, usually for periods of less than one year. It is mainly used to manage liquidity and meet short-term financing needs, rather than for long-term investment.

Key characteristics

  • Short maturity: Overnight to under 1 year
  • Low risk & high liquidity
  • Large transaction sizes
  • Lower returns compared to capital markets

Main participants
  • Central banks
  • Commercial banks
  • Financial institutions
  • Corporations
  • Governments

Common money market instruments

  • Treasury Bills (T-Bills): Short-term government securities
  • Commercial Paper (CP): Unsecured short-term corporate debt
  • Certificates of Deposit (CDs): Time deposits issued by banks
  • Repurchase Agreements (Repos): Short-term borrowing using securities as collateral
  • Interbank loans: Loans between banks

Functions of the money market

In short, the money market keeps the financial system running smoothly by ensuring that cash is available where and when it’s needed.

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