INFORMATION #2 10-17-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

0.00%30 yr20 yr10 yr7 yr5 yr3 yr2 yr1 yr6 mo3 mo1 mo2.50%2.00%1.50%1.00%0.50% Treasury Yield Curve The finance staff makes sure the city is sufficiently liquid by continually updating our forecast on the anticipated cash flow needs over the next five-year time horizon. We also build in a reserve balance in case of unexpected expenditures; these funds are maintained in money market accounts. We anticipate we will have two large tax settlements each year, along with the regularly-scheduled debt service payments. Over the past couple of years, the search for quality has been the goal. We have avoided commercial paper for close to three years due to concerns over the credit quality issues. In addition, for high quality commercial paper, the yield is several basis points below a short- term CD. The Treasury yield curve has increased in all levels beyond the 1 month term from June 30, 2016. The city has to weigh the opportunity cost to invest in longer term investments or ride the yield curve and reinvest at shorter maturity intervals. Most recent purchases have been credit quality municipals (Muni’s) and certificates of deposits (CDs). Muni’s and CDs have been several basis points over agencies with call features. Investing in shorter-term investments has presented far fewer options since the decline in the commercial paper market. Three-month notes are yielding 0.29% and the 10-year notes are 1.60%. See the graphical illustration below: Cities generally use a short-horizon benchmark such as the two-year Treasury Bill (9/30 – 0.77%, with an increase from 0.58% on 6/31) or some similar measure. Our current portfolio yield is roughly 1.98% which is several basis points over the treasury yield benchmark. This is calculated by taking the yield times the current value for each investment and dividing the resulting amount by the total portfolio value. As investments purchased in earlier years mature, we will be able to replace them and lock into some longer term interest rates, but they may have to be reinvested at lower interest rates as market conditions change.