breaking a buck

Breaking a Buck

A situation in which the net asset value of a money market fund drops below $1. Generally, the NAV of a money market fund remains at $1, but it may drop below if the returns on the fund's investments do not cover operating expenses. Breaking a buck occurs when interest rates drop to an unsustainably low level or when the fund has used leverage to make investments. Because money market funds are ordinarily risk-free investments, breaking a buck is relatively uncommon; the first occurrence did not happen until 1994.

breaking a buck

A decline below $1 in the share price of a money market fund. A money market fund share price may break a dollar if a major decline occurs in the value of securities owned by the fund. For example, a corporation may default on commercial paper held by a fund.