CNBC Says MMFs Attractive Again
CNBC writes "Rising interest rates have made this investment attractive again". The article says, "Retirees, rejoice: Rising interest rates are providing a much-needed boost to money market fund yields. Five years ago, yields on Vanguard's Prime Money Market Fund (VMRXX) were in the neighborhood of 0.06 percent. Today, the yield on this $12.7 billion fund is 1.84 percent. Meanwhile, one-year certificates of deposit through online banks are touting rates as high as 2.25 percent. Money market funds are mutual funds that invest in U.S. Treasury bills and commercial paper. They aim to maintain a net asset value of about $1 per share." The piece explains, "You can thank the Federal Reserve's recent move to increase interest rates: The Fed has increased overnight interest rates six times since 2015. Additional rate hikes this year are likely. That also means conditions are just right for conservative investors who are hoping to squeeze some more yield out of their 'safe money'.... If rates continue to rise, money market funds will be a compelling story, where you can get close to 2 percent on cash." Finally, it adds, "Amid low interest rates, investors have turned to short-term bond funds for yields that will beat money markets, but advisors warn against placing money you might need immediately in those investments."
