Bonds

Certificates of Deposit are attractive to conservative investors for several reasons. Their safety of principal backed by FDIC insurance, combined with guaranteed interest, allows investors to...

Bonds are debt securities in which an investor purchases a bond from a government or a corporation and holds that bond until it comes due. At that time, the issuer of the bond will pay the...

Cities and states issue bonds to finance expensive long-term projects, usually involving construction of infrastructure or expansion of services. Because states cannot run budget deficits, states...

The federal government borrows money by issuing bonds of various types through the Office of the Public Debt. Most are sold to institutions at regular auctions, but some are sold to individuals...

Thousands of municipal bond issues are traded on the nation's bond markets. Municipal bonds are popular with many investors because they are an investment in their communities and they offer some...

Municipal bonds are fixed-income securities issued by cities and states to fund operations and capital projects. They are favored by investors seeking tax-free income, but they can be a difficult...

There are many ways to invest your money and receive a return on your investment. Banks offer savings accounts that pay interest, which are safe but offer minimal returns. Stocks are more volatile...

Every bond is rated by at least one bond rating company. A bond rating gives investors important information about a bond and its issuer and allows investors to make an informed decision when...

Like stocks, real estate or any other type of investment, investing in bonds comes with risks. Bonds are issued by government entities and corporations to provide the funding needed for everyday...

The bond market in the United States dates all the way back to 1792 when brokers signed the Buttonwood Agreement to trade securities on a regular basis in New York City, which at the time were...

Municipal bonds are one of the more conservative asset classes available to investors. While they do have a place in many portfolios, they have some disadvantages, and investors should discuss...

Junk bonds are bonds that have a rating below investment grade. Many times, junk bonds are dismissed by investors as being bad investments. Dependent on the goals and circumstances of the...

The history of online trading is a recent story of the transformation of the securities business. Online trading has reduced the cost of trading and allowed individuals to participate in trading...

Corporate bonds are notes, usually in denominations of $1000 or $5000, which companies issue to borrow money. The denomination (called the face or par value) is the amount that will be repaid when...

All bonds, regardless of type, trade on the bond market. The bond market is vast, and the United States bond market accounts for more than half of the global market. Bonds are considered to be a...

Anyone who has ever tried to get a mortgage or some other loan might have noticed it costs more for them to get money than it does the federal government or a large bank. These entities pay some...

A bond is essentially a loan, usually for a fixed period of time and often with a fixed rate of interest due to the lender. A Treasury bond (T-bond) is such a loan where the U.S. Treasury...

Inverse bond funds allow investors to profit when bond prices drop due to an increase in bond yields. Most commonly, inverse bond funds will be tied to U.S. Treasury bonds, bills and notes. One of...

Bonds are priced by supply and demand forces, either at auction or on an open market. There are, however, specific factors that influence what investors are willing to pay for bonds, and, of...

It can be difficult for novice investors to understand the different features of bonds and which ones fit their investment objectives. This article shows you how.

New investors often feel most comfortable starting out with bond funds. With the most popular bond funds backed by the U.S. government, it's not hard to see why. Since many people assume bond...