IOSCO reviews money market funds recommendations, events arising from March 2020 market turmoil

International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) has published a diagnostic report analysing the events that occurred in the Money Market Funds (MMFs) sector during the market turmoil in March 2020.

Simultaneously, IOSCO published a thematic review assessing the implementation of selected IOSCO recommendations issued in 2012 to strengthen the resilience of MMFs globally.

The Thematic Review was conducted by the IOSCO Assessment Committee (AC), and is based on IOSCO´s assessment of the legislative and regulatory frameworks of the nine largest MMF domiciles, in relation to the implementation of the 2012 IOSCO recommendations. The participating jurisdictions represent approximately 95percent of the total net assets managed by MMFs worldwide. The assessment under this review is generally based on information as of end of August 2019.

The Diagnostic Report was conducted by the Financial Stability Engagement Group (FSEG) to focus on the effects of the market dislocations related to the COVID-19 events on MMFs and seek to characterize the behavior of MMFs of varying types and of currencies across the main MMF jurisdictions.

Given its considerable size, the MMF industry plays an important role in the real economy by supporting the short-term funding needs of banks and non-financial corporations. In response to the severe stress experienced during the 2008 global financial crisis, IOSCO published recommendations in 2012, aimed at strengthening the resilience of MMFs globally. The recommendations assessed in the Thematic Review focus on valuation; liquidity management; and MMFs that offer a stable Net Asset Value.

The Thematic Review found that the participating jurisdictions have generally implemented MMF reforms in line with the 2012 IOSCO recommendations, taking into account the heterogeneity and specificities of their local MMF markets. Liquidity requirements in most of the assessed jurisdictions are in line with the recommendations for MMFs to hold a minimum amount of liquid assets with some variation on the type of eligible assets and amount. All jurisdictions (except for very limited types of funds in one jurisdiction) systematically require the use of stress tests. In line with the 2012 recommendations, all assessed jurisdictions allow for the use of certain liquidity management tools and require specific pre- or post- sale disclosures to investors regarding the use of these tools.

Nevertheless, the March market turmoil impacted the functioning of the short-term funding markets and led to significant strains in the MMF sector, raising questions about its resilience. Against this backdrop, the Diagnostic Report provides a factual description of events across jurisdictions in March 2020. The Diagnostic Report describes how impacts – driven by a combination of cash needs and “flight-to-safety” behaviors – varied considerably by MMF type, structure and currency. Outflows from MMFs holding primarily non-public, mostly USD-denominated debt were significant. In contrast, the market saw historic inflows into MMFs holding primarily US government instruments.

Central bank interventions in money markets – some of them targeted specifically at MMFs – as well regulatory relief measures introduced by securities and prudential regulators, helped ease the financial strains. All non-government MMFs honored redemptions and none were forced to apply liquidity management tools such as fees, gates or suspensions.

Nevertheless, the March market turmoil highlighted continuing vulnerabilities in certain types of non-public MMFs and the need for further reform. The Diagnostic Report highlights areas that merit further consideration, such as the broader ecosystem and the functioning of the money markets, the behavior of MMF investors and elements of regulatory frameworks that may have played a role in accelerating flows out of certain types of non-public MMFs.