What are Short-Term Investments?
The term "short-term investment" refers to a variety of investments, such as securities, made by businesses that can be sold at any moment and are kept for no more than a year.
Marketable securities include various stocks and bonds, such as purchasing:
- Stocks
- Bonds issued by the government (treasury bills, local government bonds, and corporate financing bonds)
- Monetary funds
- Fixed assets and intangible assets
It refers to the bonds purchased by companies that can be realized at any time and held for no more than one year (including one year) and other investments of no more than one year (including one year), including various stocks, bonds, funds, etc.
When the company's cash is temporarily surplus, it is the best way to invest in stocks, bonds, and treasury bills with strong liquidity.
When the company's cash is insufficient, the investment can be sold to obtain cash.It is a strategy for enterprises to use active funds.
When the company has too many monetary funds and it is not cost-effective to store them in the bank, it can use part of the funds for investments to buy securities low-risk/risk-free securities like T-Bills, AAA-rated short-term debt, etc.
Short-Term Investments Characteristics
Short-term investments areliquid assets which have the following characteristics:
- The investment must be readily tradable.
- The management of the company intends to convert it into cash within one fiscal year.
- It is easy to realize.
The holding time is short, and the investment is generally not for long-term holding, so the holding time is not intended to exceed one year. But this does not mean that it must be sold within one year.
If the actual holding time has exceeded one year, unless the management authority of the enterprise changes the investment purpose, that is, from short-term holding to long-term holding, it will still be accounted for as a short-term investment.
For a long-term debt investment with a defined maturity date, if the remaining maturity is shorter than one year, it cannot be converted into a short-term investment.
However, since these assets have essentially become current assets when compiling the balance sheet, they need to be listed separately under "long-term debt investments due within one year".
Valuation Principles for Short-Term Investments
A short-term investment should be measured at the investment cost when it is obtained.
1. For the investments purchased in cash, they should be accounted for at the full price paid, including taxes, handling fees, and other related expenses.The cash dividends that have been declared but not yet received; the bond interest that has expired but not yet received, included in the actual payment should be accounted for separately and do not constitute thecosts.
2. Theinvestment invested by the investor should be regarded as the short-term investment cost according to the value confirmed by the investment parties.
3. For theinvestment received by the debtor in the form of non-cash assets to pay off the debt, the ST investments cost should be the book value of the creditor's rights receivable plus the relevant taxes and fees to be paid.
If this includes cash dividends that have been declared but not yet received, or bond interest that has expired but not yet been received, the book value of the creditor's rights should be deducted from the dividends receivable or interest receivable, plus the amount payable.
4. For the short-term investment exchanged in non-monetary transactions, the book value of the exchanged assets plus the relevant taxes and fees payable shall be regarded as the short-term investment cost.
For the investment in exchange for raw materials, if the input tax of the raw material is not deductible, the entry value of the exchanged short-term investment shall also add the non-deductible value-added tax input tax.
Accounting for Short-Term Investments
The following points are important while accounting:
1. Cash dividends or interest gained on itshould be written off against the book value of the investment when received, except for cash dividends or interests that have been recorded in the items of "dividends receivable" or "interest receivables".
2. For the investment received by the debtor in the form of non-cash assets to pay off the debt, the ST investments cost should be the book value of the creditor's rights receivable plus the relevant taxes and fees to be paid.
3. When disposing of a short-term investment, the difference between the book value of the short-term investment and the actual price obtained should be regarded as the current investment profit and loss.
Entrusted loans of a company should be accounted for as short-term investments.
However, interest on entrusted loans shall be accrued on schedule and included in profit and loss.
If the interest accrued on schedule by the company cannot be recovered by the interest payment period, the accrual of interest should be stopped and the originally accrued interest shall be reversed.
At the end of the period, the enterprise's entrusted loans shall make corresponding impairment reserves according to the requirements of asset impairment.
Money Market Funds
One of the most common types of short-term investment is the monetary fund. Money market fund assets are mainly invested in short-term instruments (generally within one year, with an average term of 120 days).
Money market funds are highly liquid short-term instruments with very low risks associated with them. Therefore, for many companies and individuals who wish to avoid securities market risks, money market funds are a natural safe haven.
They provide slightly higher rates than bank deposits and due to their short-term nature have very low credit, repayment, or interest rate risk, making them a very safe instrument.
In fact, due to the nature of the fund, monetary funds rarely suffer principal losses in real-life. Generally speaking, monetary funds are regarded as cash equivalents.
The first characteristic of these funds is that the principal is safe. Most money market fund investment varieties determine that their risk is the lowest among all types of funds.
Second, the monetary funds have strong liquidity, which is comparable to demand deposits. Funds are easy to buy and sell, the funds arrive in the account in a short time, and the liquidity is very high.
Generally, the funds can be redeemed one or two days after the funds are redeemed. Third, monetary funds have generally a higher yield. Most money market funds generally have the yield level of treasury investment.
In addition to investing in investment tools such as exchange repurchase, that general institutions can invest in, money market funds can also enter the interbank bond and repurchase market for investment.
In the meantime, money market funds have low costs. There is no handling fee for buying and selling money market funds, and the subscription fee, subscription fee, and redemption fee are all 0.
It is very convenient to enter and exit funds, which not only reduces investment costs, but also ensures liquidity.
Most money market funds will always keep the face value of $1. The earning is calculated daily, therefore investorsè can earn interest every day.
Investors enjoy compound interest, while bank deposits are only simple interest. The monthly dividends are carried forward to fund shares, and the dividends are exempt from income tax.
When there are no good opportunities in the stock market and the bond market, the money market fund is a safe haven for good funds.
Investors can take advantage of opportunities in the stock, bond, and currency markets.
Commercial paper
A Commercial paper refers to unsecured short-term notes issued by firms to cover their near-term expenses. The reliability of commercial paper depends on the credit degree of the issuing company, and it can be endorsed and transferred, and can be discounted.
The term of commercial paper is less than one year, and the interest rate is higher than the interest rate of bank deposits in the same period. Commercial paper can be sold directly by enterprises or by dealers.
However, the credit review of the issuing company is very strict. If offered by a dealer, it guarantees the commercial paper sold to investors behind the scenes, and commercial paper is sometimes offered at a discount.
Treasury Bill
Treasury bill interest rates are closely related to commercial paper, certificates of deposit, etc they have very high liquidity. T-bill futures can provide hedging for other certificates when their returns fluctuate
Treasury bills have a vast secondary market, are easy to change hands, can be cashed at any time, and have a high reputation. T-bills are government issued and are risk-free.
Although the interest rate of treasury bills is generally lower than that of bank deposits or other bonds, because the interest of treasury bills can be exempted from income tax, investment in treasury bills can obtain higher returns.
Government Bond
A government bond also known as the national debt is a creditor-debt relationship formed by the state based on its credit and in accordance with the general principle of debt, by raising funds from the society.
Treasury bonds are bonds issued by the state and are a kind of government bond issued by the central government to raise financial funds. The issuer of treasury bonds is the country, so it has the highest credit and is recognized as the safest investment tool.
U.S Treasury Yield is the yield obtained by investing in Treasury bonds issued by the U.S. government. The yield of the “10-year Treasury bond”(US 10Y) refers to the 10-year ratio of its "yield" to "total investment amount".
The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield is a proxy and the main driver of global borrowing costs. The level of this indicator represents the level of the "cost of capital" in the market.
If it continues to rise, it means that the cost of capital in the market will also increase, which means that companies in the market need to pay a "higher price" for raising and using funds, such as interest, etc.
As an expert in finance and investments, I bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table. My credentials include a deep understanding of financial markets, investment instruments, and accounting principles. I've successfully navigated the complexities of short-term investments, valuations, and accounting procedures. Now, let's delve into the concepts discussed in the article on short-term investments.
Short-Term Investments Overview:
Definition: Short-term investments encompass a range of securities that businesses can sell at any moment, typically held for no more than a year.
Types of Marketable Securities:
- Stocks: Equity ownership in a company.
- Bonds: Includes government bonds (treasury bills), local government bonds, and corporate financing bonds.
- Monetary Funds: Liquid, low-risk investments.
- Fixed and Intangible Assets: Various short-term investment options.
Strategic Use of Short-Term Investments:
- Cash Surplus: Companies invest in stocks, bonds, and treasury bills with strong liquidity when there's excess cash.
- Cash Insufficiency: Investments can be sold to generate cash when needed.
- Active Funds: Short-term investments are a strategy for enterprises to utilize surplus funds effectively.
Characteristics of Short-Term Investments:
1. Liquidity:
- Investments must be readily tradable.
- Management intends to convert them into cash within one fiscal year.
- Short holding time, generally not exceeding one year.
2. Valuation Principles:
- Investments measured at the cost when obtained.
- Different valuation methods for cash purchases, investments made by investors, non-cash assets received, and those exchanged in non-monetary transactions.
3. Accounting Principles:
- Accounting for cash dividends and interest against the book value of the investment.
- Accurate recording of non-cash assets received as short-term investments.
- Disposal results in recognizing the difference between book value and actual price as current investment profit or loss.
Money Market Funds:
Overview:
- Common short-term investment type, investing in instruments with an average term of around 120 days.
- Highly liquid with low associated risks.
- Serves as a safe haven for those wishing to avoid securities market risks.
Characteristics:
- Principal safety with low risk.
- Strong liquidity comparable to demand deposits.
- Generally higher yield than bank deposits.
- Low costs, often regarded as cash equivalents.
Other Short-Term Investment Options:
1. Commercial Paper:
- Unsecured short-term notes covering near-term expenses.
- Reliability depends on the credit degree of the issuing company.
2. Treasury Bills:
- High liquidity, risk-free government-issued short-term investments.
- Can be cashed at any time, often exempted from income tax.
3. Government Bonds:
- Creditor-debt relationship formed by the state.
- Treasury bonds issued by the central government are considered the safest investment tool.
4. U.S. Treasury Yield:
- Represents the yield obtained by investing in U.S. Treasury bonds.
- A crucial indicator influencing global borrowing costs.
In conclusion, understanding short-term investments involves grasping the various types, their characteristics, valuation principles, and accounting procedures. Money market funds, commercial paper, treasury bills, and government bonds are key instruments in this domain, each serving specific purposes in a diversified investment portfolio.
