Money market

Money markets trade short-term financial instruments, generally with a life up to one year.

Securities are generally quoted on the basis of a simple nominal annual interest rate (or yield) or a simple nominal annual discount rate.

Important short term interest conventions are:

1. For GBP yield instruments: Actual/365 days

So Simple periodic interest = Quoted nominal annual rate x [Actual days]/365

For example a 272 day sterling yield instrument quoted at 4% would pay periodic interest of:

= 4% x 272/365

= 2.9808% per 272 day period

2. For EUR, USD and most other currencies yield instruments: Actual/360 days

So Simple periodic interest = Quoted nominal annual rate x [Actual days]/360

For example a 272 day USD yield instrument quoted at 4% pays periodic interest of:

= 4% x 272/360

= 3.0222% per 272 day period.

See also

• Capital market
• Depo market
• International money market
• Market
• Money market fund
• Money market fund reform: a light at the end of the tunnel?
• Money market lines
• Nominal annual rate
• Simple interest
• Wholesale markets