A Word on Vanguard Money Market Funds

In an encouraging sign after the news of the Reserve Primary Fund breaking the buck yesterday, Vanguard Funds came clean today on the state of their money market funds. Their release dated today on their website says:

The recent bankruptcy filing by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and widespread turbulence in the financial markets have prompted a number of questions about the impact on Vanguard funds, including money market funds.

Vanguard is confident in the stability of its money market funds, all of which are managed with the objective of maintaining a stable net asset value of $1 a share. Vanguard continues to manage its money market funds very conservatively and with extreme prudence, focusing on high quality, short-term money market instruments.

All of the investments in our money market funds are closely examined by our Fixed Income Group's highly skilled and experienced credit analysts. Analysts assess the quality of each underlying issuer through in-depth credit analysis and do not rely on agency credit ratings.

Our largest money market fund is Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund, which currently holds more than half of its assets in U.S. Treasury and federal agency securities. In addition, Prime Money Market Fund has no exposure to money market instruments issued by securities dealers, including Lehman Brothers. It also has no exposure to securities of AIG, the insurance concern that is being supported by loans from the federal government.

Holdings of Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund (as of 8/31/2008)
U.S. Treasury: 36%
U.S. Agency: 17%
Certificates of deposit: 32%
High-quality commercial paper: 14%
Repurchase agreements: 1%