Liquid funds

Liquid funds

Investing in liquid mutual funds is a good way to earn higher returns than traditional bank accounts while maintaining a high degree of liquidity. The advantages of liquid mutual funds make them an attractive investment option to investors looking for low-risk, high-liquidity, and higher returns on their short-term investments. However, conducting thorough research and considering all relevant factors before investing in any mutual fund is important. 

What are liquid funds? 

Mutual funds, known as “liquid funds”, invest in highly liquid money market products, including commercial papers, treasury bills, and certificates of deposit. These funds are perfect for investors who wish to make a decent return while temporarily parking their extra cash. 

Understanding liquid funds 

These funds invest in instruments that have a maturity of up to 91 days, which ensures that the investors can easily liquidate their holdings without any significant loss.  

Moreover, such funds offer higher returns than savings accounts. However, it is necessary to consider that these funds are not risk-free and are subject to market fluctuations. Therefore, investors should carefully analyze the fund’s investment objective, portfolio, and past performance before making an investment decision.  

Additionally, investors should diversify their portfolios and not rely solely on liquid mutual funds for their investments. 

Risks of liquid funds 

Liquid mutual funds are considered one of the safest investment options available. However, like any other investment, potential investors should know certain risks associated with liquid mutual funds.  

  • One of the most significant risks is interest rate risk. As interest rates increase, the returns on liquid funds decrease, and vice versa.  
  • Another risk is credit risk, which is the possibility that the security issuer may default on their payments.  
  • There is also reinvestment risk, where the returns on the liquid fund cannot be reinvested at the same rate as before, leading to a lower return on investment.  

Before purchasing liquid mutual funds, investors should carefully assess these risks and, if required, seek advice from a financial advisor. 

Importance of liquid funds 

Liquid funds are an important investment option for those who prefer liquidity and stability. These funds make investments in short-term debt securities such as commercial papers, certificates of deposit and treasury bills.  

The primary objective of liquid funds is to provide investors with high liquidity while preserving their capital. One of the significant advantages of liquid funds is that they provide a higher return than traditional savings accounts with low risk.  

Additionally, they have no lock-in period, meaning investors can redeem their investment any time they require cash. This makes them suitable for short-term goals, emergency funds, and business working capital requirements. Therefore, investors must consider liquid funds an essential part of their portfolio to balance their risk and liquidity needs. 

One real-life example of a liquid mutual fund in Singapore is the DBS money market fund. This fund is managed by DBS bank and invests in high-quality short-term debt instruments that provide stable returns. The fund attempts to preserve capital and provide liquidity with minimal credit and interest rate risk. The minimum investment amount for this fund is SGX 1,000, with a low expense ratio of 0.25%. The DBS money market fund is popular among investors who want higher returns than savings accounts without compromising liquidity. 

Benefits of liquid funds 

  • One advantage of liquid mutual funds is their low-risk profile.  
  • A liquid fund has neither a penalty for early withdrawals nor a lock-in term like a fixed deposit. 
  • Liquid funds adhere to debt taxes. You have the opportunity of indexation when you redeem after three years. Indexation drives up the cost of your purchase. Thus, your profits go off as your purchasing price rises, resulting in lowered tax liability. 
  • In addition, liquid mutual funds offer higher returns than traditional savings accounts and fixed deposits. The returns on liquid funds are usually linked to prevailing market interest rates, typically higher than the interest rates banks offer on savings accounts and fixed deposits. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Examples of liquid funds in the US are the Vanguard Prime money market fund; Fidelity Government money market fund; and Schwab Intelligent Portfolios Sweep money fund. 

Similarly, liquid funds are also gaining popularity in Singapore due to their low-risk nature and high liquidity. Examples of liquid funds in Singapore are the Phillip, LionGlobal SGX money market fund and UOB United SGD funds. 

Investing in liquid mutual funds can be a good option for those who want to park their money temporarily. These funds make investments in debt instruments having a maturity period of up to 91 days, making them highly liquid. This means that investors can easily redeem their units at any time.  

 

 

The primary objective of liquid mutual funds is to provide investors with liquidity, safety, and reasonable returns. The returns these funds generate are relatively lower than other mutual fund schemes but more stable and predictable. Investors can invest in liquid mutual funds as per their investment horizon and financial goals, and they can also easily switch to other mutual fund schemes as per their changing investment needs. 

 

Consider the following factors before investing in liquid mutual funds: 

  • Determine your investing goals, such as whether you want growth or value. 
  • Investors should also evaluate the fund’s past performance and compare it to relevant benchmarks.  
  • Investors should consider the fund’s expense ratio and other fees, as these can significantly impact returns. 
  • Evaluate your risk tolerance 
  • Another factor to consider is the fund’s liquidity and redemption policies. 
  • It’s also important to evaluate the credit quality of the fund’s holdings and any potential associated risks. 

 

  1. What are the advantages of liquid funds? 

Liquid mutual funds offer several advantages to investors, making them a popular choice for short-term investments. One of the main advantages of liquid mutual funds is their high liquidity. Investors can easily redeem their investments at any time, and the proceeds are usually credited to their bank accounts within 24 hours. This makes liquid funds ideal for investors who require quick access to their funds. 

 

    Read the Latest Market Journal

    How to select a unit trust

    Published on Apr 25, 2024 60 

    Navigating the vast world of unit trusts can be daunting. With nearly 2000 funds available...

    Predicting Trend Reversals with Candlestick Patterns for Beginners

    Published on Apr 24, 2024 65 

    Candlestick patterns are used to predict the future direction of price movements as they contain...

    Introduction to unit trust

    Published on Apr 23, 2024 49 

    In the diverse and complex world of investing, unit trusts stand out as a popular...

    Back in Business: The Return of IPOs & Top Traded Counters in March 2024

    Published on Apr 17, 2024 756 

    Start trading on POEMS! Open a free account here! At a glance: Major indices continue...

    Weekly Updates 15/4/24 – 19/4/24

    Published on Apr 15, 2024 76 

    This weekly update is designed to help you stay informed and relate economic and company...

    From $50 to $100: Unveiling the Impact of Inflation

    Published on Apr 12, 2024 165 

    In recent years, inflation has become a hot topic, evoking strong emotions as the cost...

    Japan’s Economic Resurgence: Unveiling the Tailwinds Behind Nikkei 225’s Record Leap

    Published on Apr 11, 2024 91 

    Source: eSignal, Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. In the heart of Japan’s economic landscape, the Nikkei 225...

    Weekly Updates 8/4/24 – 12/4/24

    Published on Apr 8, 2024 112 

      This weekly update is designed to help you stay informed and relate economic and...

    Contact us to Open an Account

    Need Assistance? Share your Details and we’ll get back to you

    IMPORTANT INFORMATION

    This material is provided by Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (“PCM”) for general information only and does not constitute a recommendation, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to invest in any of the exchange-traded fund (“ETF”) or the unit trust (“Products”) mentioned herein. It does not have any regard to your specific investment objectives, financial situation and any of your particular needs. You should read the Prospectus and the accompanying Product Highlights Sheet (“PHS”) for key features, key risks and other important information of the Products and obtain advice from a financial adviser (“FA“) pursuant to a separate engagement before making a commitment to invest in the Products. In the event that you choose not to obtain advice from a FA, you should assess whether the Products are suitable for you before proceeding to invest. A copy of the Prospectus and PHS are available from PCM, any of its Participating Dealers (“PDs“) for the ETF, or any of its authorised distributors for the unit trust managed by PCM.  

    An ETF is not like a typical unit trust as the units of the ETF (the “Units“) are to be listed and traded like any share on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited (“SGX-ST”). Listing on the SGX-ST does not guarantee a liquid market for the Units which may be traded at prices above or below its NAV or may be suspended or delisted. Investors may buy or sell the Units on SGX-ST when it is listed. Investors cannot create or redeem Units directly with PCM and have no rights to request PCM to redeem or purchase their Units. Creation and redemption of Units are through PDs if investors are clients of the PDs, who have no obligation to agree to create or redeem Units on behalf of any investor and may impose terms and conditions in connection with such creation or redemption orders. Please refer to the Prospectus of the ETF for more details.  

    Investments are subject to investment risks including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The purchase of a unit in a fund is not the same as placing your money on deposit with a bank or deposit-taking company. There is no guarantee as to the amount of capital invested or return received. The value of the units and the income accruing to the units may fall or rise. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of the Products. There can be no assurance that investment objectives will be achieved.  

    Where applicable, fund(s) may invest in financial derivatives and/or participate in securities lending and repurchase transactions for the purpose of hedging and/or efficient portfolio management, subject to the relevant regulatory requirements. PCM reserves the discretion to determine if currency exposure should be hedged actively, passively or not at all, in the best interest of the Products.  

    The regular dividend distributions, out of either income and/or capital, are not guaranteed and subject to PCM’s discretion. Past payout yields and payments do not represent future payout yields and payments. Such dividend distributions will reduce the available capital for reinvestment and may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value (“NAV”) of the Products. Please refer to <www.phillipfunds.com> for more information in relation to the dividend distributions.  

    The information provided herein may be obtained or compiled from public and/or third party sources that PCM has no reason to believe are unreliable. Any opinion or view herein is an expression of belief of the individual author or the indicated source (as applicable) only. PCM makes no representation or warranty that such information is accurate, complete, verified or should be relied upon as such. The information does not constitute, and should not be used as a substitute for tax, legal or investment advice.  

    The information herein are not for any person in any jurisdiction or country where such distribution or availability for use would contravene any applicable law or regulation or would subject PCM to any registration or licensing requirement in such jurisdiction or country. The Products is not offered to U.S. Persons. PhillipCapital Group of Companies, including PCM, their affiliates and/or their officers, directors and/or employees may own or have positions in the Products. Any member of the PhillipCapital Group of Companies may have acted upon or used the information, analyses and opinions herein before they have been published. 

    This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.  

     

    Phillip Capital Management (S) Ltd (Co. Reg. No. 199905233W)  
    250 North Bridge Road #06-00, Raffles City Tower ,Singapore 179101 
    Tel: (65) 6230 8133 Fax: (65) 65383066 www.phillipfunds.com