What the Big Bond Market Rally Means for Public Funds Investors
Last week’s big decline in interest rates feels a lot more real than the similar move at the beginning of the year. If so, what does it mean for public funds investors? The rally in bond prices boosted the returns on our 1–3-year model portfolio ahead of cash returns for the first time in several […]
New Research Report Details the Role of State-Sponsored Local Government Investment Pools as the Foundation of a $900 Billion Industry
A new research report by the Public Funds Investment Institute details the role of state treasurer-sponsored local government investment pools as a foundation of the $900 billion industry that provides money market-like investments to state and local governments. State treasurers in 32 states offer these funds and their assets total nearly $700 billion. Local-sponsored LGIPs with an estimated $200 billion […]
Uncertainty Ahead: Growth of Public Sector Investment Portfolios Slows, Liquidity Expands
• There are signs that the robust growth in state and local government investment portfolios in recent years is ending even as high interest rates generate strong internal portfolio growth. The recently-released Federal Reserve’s Financial Accounts report showed state and local government assets grew only 0.6% in the quarter ended March 31, 2024 and 4.3% […]
When the Tail Wags the Dog: A Word of Caution Related to Investing in CP and CDs
Commercial paper and negotiable certificates of deposit make up a minor portion of the universe of short-term securities held by public agencies, money market funds and other institutional investors. But because the market for CP/CDs has suffered from disruption during periods of market stress, it has the continued focus of prudential regulators. This is highlighted […]
What’s Good Is Good
Five months into the year, preferred investment strategies for public funds investors are performing quite well, thank you. Our updated Dashboard, with all of these details and a summary of the Security and Exchange Commission’s Money Fund Statistics is here. The cash strategy concentrates investments in LGIPs or money funds. Maximum flexibility and liquidity are […]
Bank Regulation Meets Toxic Workplace Charges
Last week two Congressional committees responsible for the nation’s financial services held six hours of oversight hearings with leaders of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. In normal times these hearings would have focused on the significant and controversial Basel III Endgame rules proposed […]