Crane Data Subscribers
Money Fund Assets Rise $46 Billion in Week, Up $215 Billion YTD in '08. ICI's weekly money fund asset totals show an increase of $46.25 billion in the week ended Feb. 6 to a record $3.361 trillion. Retail assets rose $10.17 billion to a record $1.223 trillion, and institutional assets rose $36.08 billion to a record $2.138 trillion. Tax-exempt money funds saw strong inflows, rising $7.69 billion to a record $482.19 billion, as concerns over municipal bond insurers were overwhelmed by attractive yields in the sector. Rate-sensitive institutional money continues to pour into money funds in an attempt to delay the impact of the Federal Reserve's recent rate cuts, while retail money experiences a surge of bonus-related cash, as well as money seeking shelter from a volatile stock market. Year-to-date, money fund assets have risen by $214.9 billion, or 6.8%. Over the past 52 weeks, money fund assets have grown by almost $1 trillion, rising $975 billion, or 40.9%. Money fund yields on average fell from 3.89% to 3.66% over the past week. They should continue lower to around 3.25% over the next 2-3 weeks.
