Term Of The Week – What Is A Money Market?

Network of banks, discount houses, institutional investors, and money dealers who borrow and lend among themselves for the short-term (typically 90 days). Money markets also trade in highly liquid financial instruments with maturities less than 90 days to one year (such as bankers’ acceptance, certificates of deposit, and commercial paper), and government securities with maturities less than three years (such as treasury bills), foreign exchange, and bullion. Unlike organized markets (such as stock exchanges) money markets are largely unregulated and informal where most transactions are conducted over phone, fax, or online. Long-term borrowing and lending markets are called capital markets.