Author: David Schwartz J.D. CPA
Treasury Secretary J. Lew still sees money market funds and tri-party repo as unfinished business in the nation's quest to control risks to financial stability. In May 21, 2013 testimony before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Lew delivered the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC) annual report to Congress. Secretary Lew summarized the conclusions and recommendations made by the FSOC in its third annual report, assessing significant financial market and regulatory developments, potential emerging threats to financial stability, and recommendations to strengthen the financial system. Among the conclusions, Secretary Lew testified that FSOC remains very worried about the risks posed by wholesale funding markets, particularly, money market funds and tri-party repo. Despite the long list of rules, regulations, and structural changes already implemented in other areas, money market fund tri-party repo regulations are still a work in progress. According to Lew, this leaves the financial system still very vulnerable to destabilizing fire-sales in the money fund and tri-party repo markets. Such events can rapidly cross borders and economies, and wreaking havoc on fragile economic recoveries.