Shapiro, SEC on Money Funds
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro gave testimony before a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate yesterday, and briefly mentioned money funds. She said, "The Commission took action to permit investors, for the first time, to access detailed information that money market funds now file with the agency, including their 'shadow NAV' (net asset value). While the SEC uses this information in its real-time oversight of money market funds, public disclosure can provide investors and market analysts with useful insight for their evaluation of funds. We also tightened the quality standards that apply to the funds' investments and are working with our regulatory colleagues to assess the various options for making sure these funds are as safe and resilient in the face of market stresses as investors are led to believe." New Director of the SEC's Division of Investment Management Eileen Rominger added, "Important reforms the Commission adopted in the regulation of money market funds became effective in FY2010 and FY 2011. Included in these amendments was a requirement for money market funds to report their portfolio holdings to the Commission on a monthly basis. The Commission thus has begun more extensive oversight and surveillance of money market funds based on this data. In the coming year, IM plans to continue and expand initiatives to improve its monitoring of money market funds and ability to analyze trends in money market funds' portfolio exposures, liquidity levels and average maturities. Also, IM is considering recommending additional reforms aimed at further improving the regulatory regime for money market funds and lessening their susceptibility to runs. Last year, the President's Working Group on Financial Markets (of which the SEC Chairman was a member) published a report examining various options for additional money market fund reforms. The Division's staff contributed substantial assistance and resources to this effort and continues to consult with their counterparts in the other agencies that comprise the Financial Stability Oversight Counsel (FSOC). The Commission requested comment on the options discussed in this report and will consider the comments received in evaluating additional regulatory reform." See also, ICI's "Money Market Mutual Fund Assets."
