Understanding Bond Investments
Bonds are fixed-income securities that represent loans made by investors to borrowers. Understanding bond pricing and yields is essential for fixed-income investing.
Key Bond Concepts
Face Value: The principal amount that will be repaid at maturity.
Coupon Rate: The annual interest rate paid on the bond's face value.
Current Yield: The market interest rate for similar bonds, affecting bond prices.
Yield to Maturity: The total return expected if the bond is held until maturity.
Bond Price Dynamics
Interest Rate Risk: Bond prices move inversely to interest rates. When rates rise, bond prices fall.
Credit Risk: The risk that the bond issuer may default on payments.
Duration: A measure of how sensitive a bond's price is to interest rate changes.