SEC Proposes Amendments to Money Market Fund Rules

The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to propose amendments to certain rules that govern money market funds under the Investment Company Act of 1940. In March 2020, growing economic concerns about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic led investors to reallocate their assets into cash and short-term government securities. Prime and tax-exempt money market funds, particularly institutional funds, experienced large outflows, which contributed to stress on short-term funding markets. The Commission’s proposed amendments are designed, in part, to address concerns about prime and tax-exempt money market funds highlighted by these events. “Together, these amendments are designed to reduce the likelihood of runs on money market funds during periods of stress,” said SEC Chair Gary Gensler.