Fitch Ratings published "​U.​S. Money Fund Exposure and European Banks: Eurozone Rises for Fifth-​Straight Month". The report'​s release says, "U.​S. prime money market fund (​MMF) exposure to Eurozone banks rose for the fifth consecutive month although exposures remain well-​below previous levels, according to Fitch Ratings. As of end-​November 2012, Eurozone bank allocations accounted for 13.​7% of total U.​S. MMF holdings, an 8% increase on a dollar basis since end-​October 2012. During the same period MMF allocations to German and French banks increased by 26% and 6%, respectively. Despite these recent increases, MMF exposure to Eurozone banks remains 60% below end-​May 2011 levels. Fitch believes a return to end-​May 2011 eurozone exposures in the near term is unlikely, particularly given European banking supervisors' efforts to limit banks' use of short-​term USD funding. New Basel liquidity rules will likely also discourage banks' use of short-​term wholesale funding. These regulatory pressures could constrain the future issuance of shorter-​term bank debt, which has historically been an important asset class for MMFs. The proportion of European and Eurozone exposure in the form of repos rose slightly, indicating a preference for secured exposure that might signify lingering MMF risk aversion to the sector. Aggregate repo exposure continues to represent about 20% of total MMF assets. The 15 largest exposures to individual banks, as a group, comprise approximately 42% of total MMF assets, with only one Eurozone bank within the top-​15."

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