Thursday, March 10, 2011

Are You Attending the 13th Annual Money Market Expo?

If you are, then we look forward to seeing you next week, March 14 - 16 at the Money Market Expo.

Here are a few details regarding the event:

MMX Location:
The Peabody Hotel,
9801 International Drive,
Orlando, FL 32819.
1.800.732.2639

Registration:  
The Registration desk is located in the Plaza Ballroom Foyer

Monday:
Monday morning marks the beginning of our Investor’s Summit. You must either be registered for the Investor’s Summit, a member of the speaking faculty, or have a complimentary end investors pass to attend. If you would like to add the Investor’s Summit to your registration, an additional charge of $700 will be required.

Registration will open at 8:15 am Monday morning. All attendees will be allowed to attend the iMoneyNet Welcome Reception at 4:30 pm on Monday. If you are not attending the Investor’s Summit and would like to attend the reception, please stop by the registration desk before 4:30 pm to pick up your badge.

Tuesday: 
Our general session will begin Tuesday morning starting with Coffee and Registration at 8:45 am.

Agenda:
There have been a number of changes to the program over the past few months. Please be sure to review the MMX Agenda at a Glance, to appropriately schedule your time onsite.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact jkotsinonos@iirusa.com.

See you there!
The MMX Team

Friday, February 18, 2011

Five World Markets Themes to Ruminate

According to Reuters, these are five motifs to think about in the upcoming week:

  • HEADY STOCKS
  • CHINA CHIMES IN
  • BANKS IN SPOTLIGHT
  • BALANCING INFLATION AND GROWTH RISKS
  • FIGHTING FIRES

What issues or trends do you foresee?

Monday, January 31, 2011

Jamie Dimon - Regulation Needs to Be More Intelligent





Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co., discusses financial regulation and the need for fiscal discipline in the U.S. Dimon speaks with Erik Schatzker on Bloomberg Television's "InBusiness" at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (Source: Bloomberg)


Come to the session titled: Regulatory Roundtable: Understanding What New Regulations are in Store for Money Markets, and When They Will be Implemented at

The 13th Annual Money Market Expo March 14 - 16 2011 Orlando Florida.


This year's MMX is all about turning industry challenges into industry opportunities! Like you, we are responding to changes in the market, and refocusing our efforts to help you succeed in the "new normal." We have new topics, new formats, and a new Investors Summit all designed to demonstrate how your organization can adapt and conquer in the new marketplace. 

Click here to find out more now: Money Market Expo

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Four in Five Companies Could Drop Money Funds if Floating NAV Becomes Reality, AFP Survey Shows

By Brian Kalish of Association for Financial Professionals

Move might add concentration risk to banking system, limit sources of corporate funding

If money market mutual funds (MMFs) are required to shift to a floating net asset value (NAV) reporting structure, as some policy makers have called for, many corporations would drop these funds from their portfolios, according to a survey by the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP). Four out of five organizations that currently include MMFs in their short-term investment portfolios would likely move at least some of these investments to other vehicles if MMFs were to shift to a floating NAV.

In follow-up questions to AFP's recent 2011 Business Outlook Survey, 54 percent of survey respondents indicate that their organizations would shift corporate cash into bank deposits and U.S. Treasury securities and out of money funds if a floating NAV becomes reality. Of those responding, 22 percent would move funds out of MMFs and into non-2a-7 fixed-value investment vehicles, such as offshore money market funds, enhanced cash funds and stable value vehicles. Four percent of survey respondents anticipate their organization would move funds currently in MMFs into other short-term, variable share price investments, such as ultra short bond funds.

These responses represent corporations and other organizations, such as academic institutions, but not banks or financial institutions.

"Where will $2.8 trillion be invested if we move to a floating NAV?" asked Brian Kalish, AFP's finance practice lead. "Many companies would not be able to consider MMFs as viable short-term investment vehicles if the NAV floats because it would put them in violation of their own investment policies."

"If the $2.8 trillion moves into the banking system, we would be trading the diversification that MMFs provide for the increased concentration risk of investing in a very small number of very large banks." Kalish said.

The $2.8 trillion that organizations invest in MMFs also provides a critical source of funding to U.S. businesses through the purchase of commercial paper. A reduction in the balances held in money funds would reduce capital available to purchase commercial paper, which companies utilize to fund their operations and short-term funding needs. Companies would have to find an alternate funding source, or reduce their spending to compensate for funding shortfalls.

AFP members, who are responsible for ensuring that their organizations have enough cash on hand to fund operations, are uniquely positioned to observe the cash flows and investment decisions of their organizations. Since they work in a wide range of industries and in both public and private organizations of varying sizes, their opinions reflect a broad corporate perspective that is both operational and strategic.

----

MMX 2011 is here! Join us at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, FL, March 14-16, for a new Money Market Expo! Click here to learn more.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Warren Buffett Short Term = FAIL

For many people Warren Buffett is a role model. Beginners are wowed by his investment strategies and if they can stand the long term processes are sure to gain success. However many beginners want to get immediate capital gains on their investments which is not really where Warren Buffet’s strategies lead them.





Invest for Long term instead of short term - Say's Warren.

Warren Buffett’s strategy is to invest and hold for long term rather than short term profits. Even if investments have higher gains in short terms periods he will hold those stocks for the long term rather than cashing out quickly. Don’t worry about short term fluctuations and just hold on. He always bases judgment on the overall business not just the stock details. Purchasing into a good business which has strong business management and companies’ financial health is positive strategy to long term gains.

Warren Buffett suggests not to be an active day trader, the active day trader is generally focused on the short term investment rather than the long term gains. So their decisions are based on a quick hit and potential gain. Warren on the other hand see’s the potential on holding on to a stock for the long term.

A key suggestion from Warren Buffet -- “Stay away from leverage”.

So do you agree or disagree with Warren’s strategy? Do you think Short Term Strategies = FAIL?

This year's Annual Money Market Expo is all about turning industry challenges into industry opportunities! Like you, we are responding to changes in the market, and refocusing our efforts to help you succeed in the "new normal." We have new topics, new formats, and a new Investors Summit all designed to demonstrate how your organization can adapt and conquer in the new marketplace. Meet us at the expo to discuss short term and long term strategies. Click Here to learn more

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

AFP Joins Coalition Opposing a Floating NAV for Money Market Funds

By Brian Kalish of Association for Financial Professionals

AFP is joining a broad-based corporate effort to protect the ability of money market funds to operate with a stable $1.00 net asset value (NAV). In a forthcoming comment letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), AFP will repeat its opposition to proposals that could undermine the usefulness of money market funds by requiring them to use a floating NAV.

"American business will lose one its most important sources of short-term funding if money market funds are forced to abandon their stable per-share value," reads the letter.

The comment letter will be signed by AFP along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Financial Executives International (FEI), and the National Association of Corporate Treasurers. All four groups are encouraging their members to join in this effort by signing the letter as individual companies.

Corporate finance professionals depend on money market funds as key instruments for cash management and short-term investing. The stable $1.00 NAV provides key accounting and tax benefits for cash managers, and is required by many companies' treasury policies. Forcing these funds to adopt a floating NAV would gravely harm their usefulness and drive away investors. Shrinking money market funds would harm corporate financing in turn, as these funds purchase approximately one-third of corporate commercial paper.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

MMX 2011 is here!

MMX 2011 is here! Join us at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando, FL, March 14-16, for a new Money Market Expo!

As you have responded to changes in the market, we have responded to meet your evolving needs. We recognize that budgets are tight and your time is valuable, so we are combining our two money fund conferences, MMX and Money Fund Forum, into a single, high-quality, high-impact event. Combining these signature events enables us to offer you all the content and networking opportunities you need for the price of a single conference. Get the most value for your dollar by attending the only money fund event that matters!

The 13th Annual MMX will offer you everything you get from two annual conferences under one roof, and for one price! Our exciting program features new topics, new outlooks, and new solutions to your biggest challenges.

NEW at Money Market Expo:

  • Investors’ Summit: A full day of face-to-face time with Corporate Treasurers discussing their liquidity strategies and the role money markets continue to play in their plans.
  • Stump the Stars! : An interactive panel that allows you to control the conversation. Send topic suggestions before the conference, or come prepared to ask them the hard questions live.
  • Focus on New Products and Future Growth: Discover new money market products, brainstorm ideas to increase your profit despite the low yield environment, and beat competing bank products!
  • Meet investors from: IBM, Global Payments, Racetrac Petroleum, Westlake Chemical, and more