Yankee Market

Definition

The Yankee Market refers to the U.S. financial market, where foreign companies and governments issue their securities, such as bonds and stocks, in U.S. dollars. These issuances are primarily aimed at American investors but attract international investors as well. Yankee bonds, for example, are debt securities issued by foreign entities in the U.S. market.

Phonetic

The phonetic pronunciation of the keyword “Yankee Market” is: /ˈyangkē ˈmärkət/

Key Takeaways

1. Yankee Market refers to a marketplace where foreign companies issue bonds and equities denominated in U.S. dollars and are sold to U.S. investors.
2. The primary purpose of issuing Yankee bonds and stocks is to get access to U.S. investors and utilize the larger U.S. capital market for raising funds at competitive interest rates, usually lower than their home country’s interest rates.
3. Investing in the Yankee Market allows American investors to diversify their portfolios by investing in foreign firms and helps foreign firms receive funds to support their operations and expansion.

Importance

The Yankee Market plays a significant role in the global business and finance landscape as it offers non-US entities the opportunity to issue and trade debt securities, such as bonds, in the American market. By attracting international issuers, it enhances the diversity of investment opportunities available to American investors, fostering financial market growth and international cooperation. Furthermore, foreign organizations benefit from accessing the sizable and liquid US capital market, which potentially provides them with lower borrowing costs, flexible structuring, and a broader investor base. Consequently, the Yankee Market’s importance lies in promoting cross-border investments, facilitating efficient capital allocation, and contributing to the development and stability of the global financial system.

Explanation

The Yankee Market primarily serves the purpose of providing foreign entities access to the U.S. capital market, which is often regarded as the largest and most liquid financial market globally. This market enables non-U.S. companies and governments seeking to diversify their investor base and raise capital to issue debt securities, colloquially known as “Yankee bonds.” The proceeds are primarily used for business expansion, infrastructure development, or other growth-driven purposes, allowing foreign issuers to benefit from the broad array of investors and competitive rates prevailing in the U.S. market compared to their domestic markets. Furthermore, by raising funds in U.S. dollars, these issuers also mitigate any potential foreign exchange rate risk while servicing debt on their capital investments. The Yankee Market also offers advantages to U.S. investors who can participate in these debt issuances by foreign entities without the need to venture into overseas markets. Through such investments, American investors can capitalize on a variety of bonds associated with varying levels of risk, returns, and maturities, while enjoying the benefit of diversification in terms of geographical and industry exposure, and potentially higher yields compared to domestic bonds. This opportunity to invest in foreign companies or governments through the well-regulated U.S. market provides an additional layer of protection and reduces the investors’ operational risks associated with investing directly in international financial markets.

Examples

The term “Yankee Market” refers to the U.S. investment market, specifically the market for foreign entities issuing securities in the United States. Here are three real-world examples of Yankee Markets in business/finance: 1. Toyota’s Yankee Bond Issuance:In 2018, Toyota Motor Corporation issued a series of Yankee bonds in the U.S. market. The Japanese automaker raised a total of $1.75 billion from this issuance. Toyota tapped into the Yankee Market to diversify its sources of funding and to take advantage of the favorable borrowing costs in the U.S. market. 2. British Petroleum’s (BP) Yankee Bond Offering:In 2017, British energy giant BP issued $2.5 billion worth of Yankee bonds in the United States. The company opted to take advantage of the favorable financing conditions and low interest rates in the U.S. market to raise funds for its ongoing projects and corporate purposes. 3. Belgian Yankee Certificate of Deposit:In 2012, the Kingdom of Belgium Treasury issued a Yankee certificate of deposit, worth $1 billion, in the U.S. market. The offering allowed the Belgian government to diversify its funding sources and reach a broader base of investors while maintaining its credit rating.These examples demonstrate how various entities, including corporations and governments, leverage the Yankee Market to access U.S. investment markets to raise capital and diversify funding sources.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Related Finance Terms

• Foreign Issuer
• Yankee Bond
• U.S. Securities Market
• SEC Registration
• Currency Risk

Sources for More Information

• Investopedia
• Wikipedia
• WallStreetMojo
• eduCBA