Money Market Funds: Measures to improve stability and liquidity

Briefing 17-07-2017

Money Market Funds (MMFs) are a type of collective fund that invest in short-term debt and provide financing for financial institutions, corporations and governments. During the financial crisis their liquidity and stability were challenged, which prompted the Commission to propose a regulation on MMFs, in 2013. Its proposal aimed to improve their ability to weather stressed market conditions, mainly through establishing a capital buffer, introducing conditions on portfolio structure, addressing over-reliance on external credit rating agencies and improving their internal risk management, transparency and reporting. The final text lays down rules and common standards to ensure that MMFs have a stable structure and improved liquidity, that they invest in diversified assets of a sufficiently high credit quality, and are able to deal with unexpected redemption requests. It was approved by the EP in April 2017 and by the Council in May. Third edition. The ‘EU Legislation in Progress’ briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. To view earlier editions of this briefing, please see: PE 589.826, October 2016.