Money Market Yield
The money market yield is the interest rate earned by investing in securities with high liquidity and maturities of less than one year such as negotiable certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury bills, and municipal notes. However, the money market yield can also be calculated using the bank discount yield as seen in this formula: > Money market yield = Bank discount yield x (Face value/Purchase price) > Money market yield = Bank discount yield / \[1 – (Face value – Purchase price/Face value)\] Where bank discount yield = (Face value – Purchase price)/Face value x (360/Time to maturity) The formula for the money market yield is: > Money market yield = Holding period yield x (360/Time to maturity) > Money market yield = \[(Face value – Purchase price)/Purchase price\] x (360/Time to maturity) For example, a T-bill with $100,000 face value is issued for $98,000 and due to mature in 180 days. The money market yield is closely related to the CD-equivalent yield and bond equivalent yield (BEY). The money market yield is what money market instruments are expected to return to investors. Since money market securities are considered to have low default risk, the money market yield will be lower than the yield on stocks and bonds but higher than the interest rates on standard savings accounts.
What Is the Money Market Yield?
The money market yield is the interest rate earned by investing in securities with high liquidity and maturities of less than one year such as negotiable certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury bills, and municipal notes. Money market yield is calculated by taking the holding period yield and multiplying it by a 360-day bank year divided by days to maturity. It can also be calculated using a bank discount yield.
The money market yield is closely related to the CD-equivalent yield and bond equivalent yield (BEY).
Understanding the Money Market Yield
The money market is the part of the broader financial markets that deals with highly liquid and short-term financial securities. The market links borrowers and lenders who are looking to transact in short-term instruments overnight or for some days, weeks, or months, but always less than a year.
Active participants in this market include banks, money market funds, brokers, and dealers. Examples of money market securities include Certificates of Deposit (CD), Treasury bills (T-bills), commercial paper, municipal notes, short-term asset-backed securities, Eurodollar deposits, and repurchase agreements. To earn a money market yield, it is thus necessary to have a money market account. Banks, for example, offer money market accounts because they need to borrow funds on a short-term basis to meet reserve requirements and to participate in interbank lending.
Money market investors receive compensation for lending funds to entities that need to fulfill their short-term debt obligations. This compensation is typically in the form of variable interest rates determined by the current interest rate in the economy. Since money market securities are considered to have low default risk, the money market yield will be lower than the yield on stocks and bonds but higher than the interest rates on standard savings accounts.
Calculating the Money Market Yield
Although interest rates are quoted annually, the quoted interest may actually be compounded semi-annually, quarterly, monthly, or even daily. The money market yield is calculated using the bond equivalent yield (BEY) based on a 360-day year, which helps an investor compare the return of a bond that pays a coupon on an annual basis with a bond that pays semi-annual, quarterly, or any other coupons.
The formula for the money market yield is:
Money market yield = Holding period yield x (360/Time to maturity)
Money market yield = [(Face value – Purchase price)/Purchase price] x (360/Time to maturity)
For example, a T-bill with $100,000 face value is issued for $98,000 and due to mature in 180 days. The money market yield is:
The money market yield differs slightly from the bank discount yield, which is computed on the face value, not the purchase price. However, the money market yield can also be calculated using the bank discount yield as seen in this formula:
Money market yield = Bank discount yield x (Face value/Purchase price)
Money market yield = Bank discount yield / [1 – (Face value – Purchase price/Face value)]
Where bank discount yield = (Face value – Purchase price)/Face value x (360/Time to maturity)
Related terms:
Bank Discount Rate
The bank discount rate is the interest rate investors earn on short-term money-market instruments like commercial paper and Treasury bills. read more
Bank Discount Basis
Bank discount basis is a convention used when quoting prices for fixed income securities sold at a discount, such as U.S. Treasury bills. read more
Bond Equivalent Yield (BEY)
The bond equivalent yield is a calculation for restating semi-annual, quarterly, or monthly discount-bond or note yields into an annual yield. read more
Certificate of Deposit (CD)
A certificate of deposit (CD) is a bank product that earns interest on a lump-sum deposit that's untouched for a predetermined period of time. read more
Checking Account
A checking account is a deposit account held at a financial institution that allows deposits and withdrawals. Checking accounts are very liquid and can be accessed using checks, automated teller machines, and electronic debits, among other methods. read more
Coupon Equivalent Rate (CER)
The coupon equivalent rate (CER) is an alternative calculation of coupon rate used to compare zero-coupon and coupon fixed-income securities. read more
Default Risk
Default risk is the event in which companies or individuals will be unable to make the required payments on their debt obligations. read more
What Is Discount Yield?
The discount yield is a measure of a bond's percentage return used to calculate the yield on short-term bonds and treasury bills sold at a discount. read more
Face Value
Face value is the nominal value or dollar value of a security stated by the issuer, also known as "par value" or simply "par." read more
Holding Period Return/Yield
Holding period return is the total return received from holding an asset or portfolio of assets over a period of time, generally expressed as a percentage. read more