The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is planning to allow certificates of deposit (CDs) and commercial paper (CP) with residual maturities of 60 days or less on the exchange platform.

This step is seen as a precursor to the mark to market (MTM, revaluing assets at current worth) requirements for mutual funds (MFs), to be implemented from Day 1. Last week, Sebi brought down the threshold for MTM of debt securities by MFs to 60 days from 91 days.

Sebi wants to take it to Day 1. At present, it is difficult to draw yield curve maturities below 60 days. In the normal course, the short-term yield curve has to be upward sloping. But, since prices are not transparent, we have a flat yield curve.

A CD is a time deposit with a bank. CDs are generally issued by commercial banks and can be bought through brokerages. They bear a specific maturity date, a specified interest rate and can be issued in any denomination, much like bonds.

CP is a short-term debt instrument issued by companies. These, typically, bear coupons marginally higher than that of CDs. At present, in the absence of transparent pricing in the over-the-counter (OTC) market, it is difficult to decipher a fool proof valuation mechanism for these instruments. If it's on an exchange platform, prices can be seen by everyone and it will be easier to draw a curve.