Investing in bonds. What is a bond? Why do companies issue them?
|
|
- Barbra Dennis
- 7 years ago
- Views:
Transcription
1 Investing in bonds Investing in bonds is now much easier for private investors thanks to the launch in 2010 of the London Stock Exchange's retail bond market (ORB). A by-product of the credit crunch is that cashstarved companies and yield hungry investors have helped create a new market for non-bank finance and bond issuance has picked up as smaller- and medium-sized companies diversify their funding requirements. As with any novel investment, the need to understand the basics of what is on offer is more important than ever, particularly as corporate bonds are often confused with term-limited cash savings accounts which often go by the same name. Hopefully, this guide will give you enough tips on the basics of trading in bonds to build a durable portfolio and avoid some of the pitfalls of an asset class which hasn't featured much in the UK investment landscape for some decades. What is a bond? Why do companies issue them? A bond is the issued debt of a governments or companies which can be openly traded on the market. It offers a promise to pay a fixed level of annual interest via a set coupon and, if held to maturity, investors are returned 100 per cent of their capital. Bonds are used by investors as a stable source of income and to balance off the volatility risk of shares within a portfolio. Many professional investors will do nothing other than trade bonds, with varying levels of credit quality and sensitivity to interest rates and inflation opening up interesting trading opportunities. Companies like to issue bonds because they allow longer repayment times than are usual with bank debt. This helps with capital planning and means large amounts of money can be raised for basic funding without diluting existing shareholders. Interest (coupon) payments are also tax deductible. Why are bonds popular? The basic reality is corporate bonds have rapidly become an important source of income for investors who have been battered by low interest rates, with their consequent impact on cash deposit accounts and annuity rates. Bonds offer stable income and a guaranteed return of all your capital as long as the issuer remains solvent. At the same time, the stock market has proved to be a miserable store of value with share prices stuck in a decade-long trading range punctuated by a series of crashes. In such circumstances, investors cannot be blamed for finding alternatives. The other structural factor is the credit squeeze imposed by the banks in the wake of the credit crunch is forcing smaller- and medium-sized companies to seek alternative sources of funding. The squeeze takes the form of higher arrangement fees for loans, larger charges of not using arranged banking facilities and more stringent debt covenants. The spread over gilts for bank debt has widened considerably, meaning banks are earning well in excess of their cost of funding. The other common complaint is that banks will not generally lend longer than four or five years, whereas retail bonds last two or three years longer on average.
2 Accessing the market has become a lot easier in the past year or so, particularly now that execution only brokers are able to source bonds as standard, although you may have to ring up and place the order. The main market-makers and order-takers are Killik & Co, Collins Stewart and Investec. Price updates are available on the London Stock Exchange's website but Investec is helping to put together a "live" index of retail bond prices which should give investors an over-view of which direction the retail market is headed. Part 1: What are the risks There are three main risks with bond buying, only one relates to the quality of the bond. Macroeconomic factors such as inflation and changes in interest rates will affect the value of bonds during their lifetime. If inflation and/or interest rates rise, then bond yields tend to fall. Conversely, a low interest rate/inflation environment such as we have at the moment will squeeze yields as investors bid up prices. The specific risk to a bond is the underlying solvency of the issuer. This can affect all bonds but is more of an issue in the high-yield junk bond market where a careful appraisal of a company's financial position is definitely needed. Also, unlike cash deposit accounts, which are confusingly also called "bonds" by some high street lenders, corporate bonds are not covered by the asset protection scheme, so investors should be particularly aware of "downside risk", basically the factors that could stop a bond being redeemed. Advantages of bonds over shares The main advantage over shares is stable capital value over a fixed period of time. As long as the entity issuing the bond stays solvent you will get your money back. Shares are inherently unstable by comparison, with average values almost unchanged over the past 10 years, which masks steep declines in certain sectors. Can you tell if bonds are good value? After the crash in 2008, many bonds issued by rock-solid companies ended up trading far below par, offering investors the once-in-a-generation opportunity of significant capital appreciation on top of massive income yields. Apart from this exceptional event, identifying mispriced bonds with a single proven formula is difficult when the returns on the asset are determined well in advance. Corporate bonds tend to look good value when other assets are either over-valued (like share prices in 2007) or if a sudden dash for safety pushes up the value of safe-haven assets such as US Treasuries, Bunds, or Gilts. Currently, the yields on government debt have reached record lows - yields on ten-year gilts have fallen from 4 per cent in 2009 to just 1.5 per cent now (2012). This is due in no small part to the fact that central banks have become the biggest buyers of government paper through money printing. In this scenario, the 3 percentage yield over gilts that most high-grade corporate bonds attract looks good value. However, new issues will start to reflect the low interest rate environment as corporate bonds track the gilt market. In this scenario, bonds with payouts linked to inflation start to appreciate in value and, in fact, inflation-linked bonds have been one of the best performing asset classes over the past two years.
3 Part 2: Building a model portfolio Now let's consider how to pick bonds and organise a stable portfolio. Portfolio theory for fixed income is slightly different from equities as there is little need to match or exceed the returns made by the rest of the market. Bond returns are measured in advance if they are bought at par, however, a bondholder will need to smooth out the fluctuations in capital which can occur when bonds move towards maturity. That is where the "bond ladder" method of organising a portfolio comes into its own. How to construct a ladder portfolio: Rungs - Determining the duration of a bond portfolio involves dividing your available capital by the maximum number of years you wish to hold the bonds i.e. 100,000/10 years = 10 bonds of 10,000 each. Carefully planning the redemption dates means each year 10 per cent of your holding could in theory come up for renewal. The advantage of this system is that it smoothes out the interest rate risk over the lifetime of the portfolio by taking advantage of any potential change in rates. In the UK, for instance, interest rates can only rise from current levels in the medium term, so making the ladder longer will boost your returns as interest rates rise and yields increase. Bonds in your portfolio will be useful as you approach retirement. There is no hard and fast rule about how great a proportion of your portfolio should be made up of bonds. The most commonly quoted rule is that after 50 years old, the proportion should be upped by one percentage point a year until retirement in order to guarantee a stable income without risking the volatility of shares. In theory, that could mean 65 per cent of your liquid assets will be bonds. Part 3: Understanding the basic terms Accrued interest - Interest earned by the seller of a bond when it is sold before its redemption date. Bearer bonds - The money launderer's investment of choice before the US government cracked down on them in the early 1980s. Callable bonds - Often a feature of permanent interest bearing shares (PIBS), rather than corporate bonds, the issuer can recall the bond on a mandatory basis. Call date - When a bond is due to be redeemed. Coupon - The annual, or semi-annual, interest payment expressed as a percentage of a bonds nominal 100p value. Covenants - An indication of the level of legal protection bondholders receive if a company goes bust. Senior debt means holders are higher up the creditor pyramid and covenants will be stronger than subordinated debt. Credit-rating - Designations used by ratings services to give relative indications of credit quality, usually a ranging between AAA and BBB-. Double-barrelled bond - A bond is said to be "double-barrelled" when it is secured by the pledge of two or more sources of payment.
4 Downside risk - The possibility that a bond s rating will be lowered because of an issuer's worsening financial condition. Gilts - UK government debt, so-called because of the gilt edging that was used to frame the old bond certificates. High yield - Debt with either no credit rating or thought to be junk. Investment grade - This is debt issued by blue chip companies with a credit-rating between AAA and BBB. Linkers - Corporate bonds with payouts linked to inflation. Examples include index-linked gilts, TIPS, and some types of corporate bonds. Par - Equal to 100p. PIBS - Permanent interest bearing shares (PIBS) share many characteristics of bonds but are junior debt instruments issued by financial institutions. They carry a higher risk of default but also bigger coupons. Piece - The minimum denominations in which bonds can be purchased. This is usually 1 for gilts and 100 for UK corporate bonds. TIPS - Treasury Inflation Protected Securities is the US equivalent of inflation-linked gilts. Unsecured bond - A bond not secured by collateral. Yield - The yield equals the coupon divided by the price of the bond. Yield curve - The relationship between yield and maturity among bonds of different maturities but of the same credit quality. Part 4: Understanding the tricky bits The hardest part of bond trading is calculating your return if you buy and sell bonds before the redemption date, particularly when it comes to working your accrued interest. This is particularly important for investors who are into "stagging," ie. rolling capital into each new issue accruing interest along the way, leading ultimately to a decent total return on the original capital investment if the bonds are traded before redemption. Anecdotal evidence suggests some investors have made returns of up to 24 per cent in 2012 using this method. This can be complicated so I've included a basic guide to calculating accrued interest: If a bond pays an annual coupon of 8 per cent, the bond holder will receive an interest payment of 80 each year for a 1,000 nominal holding in that bond. However, if the bond holder chooses to sell the bond halfway through the year, he will have accrued six months of interest ( 40) which will be received by the buyer of the bond who gets the full coupon amount of 80 at the end of the annual coupon period. To compensate for this at the time of settlement of the bond trade, the bond buyer pays the accrued interest by paying the "dirty" price.
5 If we assume that the bond trades at par, the "clean" price would be 100, so the dirty price, reflecting the 40 per 1,000 nominal, will therefore be 104. The formula to calculate the accrued interest per 100 is: Accrued interest = Actual days between previous coupon and sett. date x coupon Interest actual days in coupon period Our debt pyramid below illustrates how some types of debt are higher up the payment order. Part 5: Importance of the prospectus The prospectus is the document which sets out the entire case for the offering. It is a legal document and must include the basic features of the bond. Things to look out for in a prospectus: 1) Covenants: Understanding the covenants on a bond is important because it defines your legal protection and your place in the debt hierarchy. For example, a recent St Modwen bond was senior unsecured which meant bondholders were high up the pyramid for repayment but without a claim on the company's physical assets. 2) The coupon level and when it is paid: this is either annually or semi-annually.
6 3) Financial covenant: this relates to undertakings the company makes to manage its financial position in a certain way. St Modwen, for example, pledged to keep its net debt at 75 per cent of its net assets. 4) Negative pledge: This means a company won t create new bonds at better terms without including existing bond holders. 5) Redemption clauses: this allows a company to redeem bonds early in case of major changes in tax law, for example. Before investing in bonds remember the following check list: 1) Make sure your bonds are capital gains tax friendly. This should be clearly stated in the prospectus. 2) Compare the yield with what a company has already issued on the market. Sometimes subscribing to an issue at par is better than paying a premium for a bond with a bigger coupon in the secondary market. 3) Check the company s ability to pay. The income sheet doesn t need to be stellar, just solidlooking. 4) Make sure you understand your place in the creditor pyramid. Being secured against assets is the best protection, but this is usually reserved for bank debts. 5) Be prepared to invest actively if inflation and interest-rate risks increase. Learn to space out redemption dates so you have reasonable access to funds. 6) Remember you ll always get at least your capital back, which is more than can be said for shares.
Bonds are IOUs. Just like shares you can buy bonds on the world s stock exchanges.
Investing in bonds Despite their names, ShareScope and SharePad are not just all about shares. They can help you with other investments as well. In this article I m going to tell you how you can use the
More informationReview for Exam 1. Instructions: Please read carefully
Review for Exam 1 Instructions: Please read carefully The exam will have 20 multiple choice questions and 5 work problems. Questions in the multiple choice section will be either concept or calculation
More informationMaturity The date where the issuer must return the principal or the face value to the investor.
PRODUCT INFORMATION SHEET - BONDS 1. WHAT ARE BONDS? A bond is a debt instrument issued by a borrowing entity (issuer) to investors (lenders) in return for lending their money to the issuer. The issuer
More information- Short term notes (bonds) Maturities of 1-4 years - Medium-term notes/bonds Maturities of 5-10 years - Long-term bonds Maturities of 10-30 years
Contents 1. What Is A Bond? 2. Who Issues Bonds? Government Bonds Corporate Bonds 3. Basic Terms of Bonds Maturity Types of Coupon (Fixed, Floating, Zero Coupon) Redemption Seniority Price Yield The Relation
More informationCHAPTER 9 DEBT SECURITIES. by Lee M. Dunham, PhD, CFA, and Vijay Singal, PhD, CFA
CHAPTER 9 DEBT SECURITIES by Lee M. Dunham, PhD, CFA, and Vijay Singal, PhD, CFA LEARNING OUTCOMES After completing this chapter, you should be able to do the following: a Identify issuers of debt securities;
More informationRISK EQUITIES BONDS PROPERTY INCOME SPIN-FREE GUIDE TO BONDS
INVESTING RISK EQUITIES BONDS PROPERTY INCOME SPIN-FREE GUIDE TO BONDS Contents Explaining the world of bonds 3 So what are bonds? 3 Understanding the risks 4 Three words you need to know 4 Understanding
More informationBonds, in the most generic sense, are issued with three essential components.
Page 1 of 5 Bond Basics Often considered to be one of the most conservative of all investments, bonds actually provide benefits to both conservative and more aggressive investors alike. The variety of
More informationInvestors Chronicle Roadshow 2011. Trading Bonds on the London Stock Exchange
Investors Chronicle Roadshow 2011 Trading Bonds on the London Stock Exchange Agenda How do bonds work? Risks associated with bonds Order book for Retail Bonds London Stock Exchange Website Tools 2 How
More informationANALYSIS OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES
ANALYSIS OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES Valuation of Fixed Income Securities Page 1 VALUATION Valuation is the process of determining the fair value of a financial asset. The fair value of an asset is its
More informationUnderstanding Fixed Income
Understanding Fixed Income 2014 AMP Capital Investors Limited ABN 59 001 777 591 AFSL 232497 Understanding Fixed Income About fixed income at AMP Capital Our global presence helps us deliver outstanding
More informationTRADING BONDS ON THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE A GUIDE FOR PRIVATE INVESTORS. The new electronic order book for retail bonds
TRADING BONDS ON THE LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE A GUIDE FOR PRIVATE INVESTORS The new electronic order book for retail bonds Contents Introduction 3 What are bonds? 3 Bond basics 4 Types of bond issuer 5 Bond
More informationHigh-yield bonds. Bonds that potentially reward investors for taking additional risk. High-yield bond basics
High-yield bonds Bonds that potentially reward investors for taking additional risk Types of high-yield bonds Types of high-yield bonds include: Cash-pay bonds. Known as plain vanilla bonds, these bonds
More informationChapter 9 Bonds and Their Valuation ANSWERS TO SELECTED END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS
Chapter 9 Bonds and Their Valuation ANSWERS TO SELECTED END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS 9-1 a. A bond is a promissory note issued by a business or a governmental unit. Treasury bonds, sometimes referred to as
More informationBOND - Security that obligates the issuer to make specified payments to the bondholder.
Bond Valuation BOND - Security that obligates the issuer to make specified payments to the bondholder. COUPON - The interest payments paid to the bondholder. FACE VALUE - Payment at the maturity of the
More informationCHAPTER 6: FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES: FEATURES AND TYPES
CHAPTER 6: FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES: FEATURES AND TYPES Topic One: The Fixed-Income Marketplace 1. Overview. A. Investing in a fixed-income security is like holding an IOU. An investor (lender) loans a
More informationU.S. Treasury Securities
U.S. Treasury Securities U.S. Treasury Securities 4.6 Nonmarketable To help finance its operations, the U.S. government from time to time borrows money by selling investors a variety of debt securities
More informationHow To Invest In Stocks And Bonds
Review for Exam 1 Instructions: Please read carefully The exam will have 21 multiple choice questions and 5 work problems. Questions in the multiple choice section will be either concept or calculation
More informationINTERACTIVE BROKERS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR BOND TRADING
INTERACTIVE BROKERS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT FOR BOND TRADING THIS DISCLOSURE STATEMENT DISCUSSES THE CHARACTERISTICS AND RISKS OF TRADING BONDS THROUGH INTERACTIVE BROKERS (IB). BEFORE TRADING BONDS YOU SHOULD
More informationHow To Value Bonds
Chapter 6 Interest Rates And Bond Valuation Learning Goals 1. Describe interest rate fundamentals, the term structure of interest rates, and risk premiums. 2. Review the legal aspects of bond financing
More informationBond Mutual Funds. a guide to. A bond mutual fund is an investment company. that pools money from shareholders and invests
a guide to Bond Mutual Funds A bond mutual fund is an investment company that pools money from shareholders and invests primarily in a diversified portfolio of bonds. Table of Contents What Is a Bond?...
More informationIntroduction to Convertible Debentures
Introduction to Convertible Debentures Intro to Convertible Debentures March, 2009 Convertible debentures are hybrid securities which offer advantages of both bonds and equities. Like ordinary bonds they
More informationJanuary 2008. Bonds. An introduction to bond basics
January 2008 Bonds An introduction to bond basics The information contained in this publication is for general information purposes only and is not intended by the Investment Industry Association of Canada
More informationExam 1 Morning Session
91. A high yield bond fund states that through active management, the fund s return has outperformed an index of Treasury securities by 4% on average over the past five years. As a performance benchmark
More informationFNCE 301, Financial Management H Guy Williams, 2006
REVIEW We ve used the DCF method to find present value. We also know shortcut methods to solve these problems such as perpetuity present value = C/r. These tools allow us to value any cash flow including
More informationBonds and preferred stock. Basic definitions. Preferred(?) stock. Investing in fixed income securities
Bonds and preferred stock Investing in fixed income securities Basic definitions Stock: share of ownership Stockholders are the owners of the firm Two types of stock: preferred and common Preferred stock:
More informationInvesting in Bonds - An Introduction
Investing in Bonds - An Introduction By: Scott A. Bishop, CPA, CFP, and Director of Financial Planning What are bonds? Bonds, sometimes called debt instruments or fixed-income securities, are essentially
More informationRisks of Investments explained
Risks of Investments explained Member of the London Stock Exchange .Introduction Killik & Co is committed to developing a clear and shared understanding of risk with its clients. The categories of risk
More informationWealth Management Education Series. Cultivate an Understanding of Bonds
Wealth Management Education Series Cultivate an Understanding of Bonds Wealth Management Education Series Cultivate an Understanding of Bonds Managing your wealth well is like tending a beautiful formal
More informationInvestments GUIDE TO FUND RISKS
Investments GUIDE TO FUND RISKS CONTENTS Making sense of risk 3 General risks 5 Fund specific risks 6 Useful definitions 9 2 MAKING SENSE OF RISK Understanding all the risks involved when selecting an
More informationTransact Guide to Investment Risks
Integrated Financial Arrangements plc Transact Guide to Investment Risks Integrated Financial Arrangements plc A firm authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority INTRODUCTION Transact operates
More informationProblems and Solutions
Problems and Solutions CHAPTER Problems. Problems on onds Exercise. On /04/0, consider a fixed-coupon bond whose features are the following: face value: $,000 coupon rate: 8% coupon frequency: semiannual
More informationTraditionally pension schemes invested in four main asset classes: Shares (Equities or Stocks), Bonds, Property and Cash.
Asset Classes Traditionally pension schemes invested in four main asset classes: Shares (Equities or Stocks), Bonds, Property and Cash. Shares (also called Equities or Stocks) are shares bought in quoted
More informationCHAPTER 8 INTEREST RATES AND BOND VALUATION
CHAPTER 8 INTEREST RATES AND BOND VALUATION Answers to Concept Questions 1. No. As interest rates fluctuate, the value of a Treasury security will fluctuate. Long-term Treasury securities have substantial
More informationManaging the Investment Portfolio
Managing the Investment Portfolio GSBC Executive Development Institute April 26, 2015 Portfolio Purpose & Objectives Tale of Two Balance Sheets o Components of Core Balance Sheet Originated loans Retail
More informationFUNDING INVESTMENTS FINANCE 238/738, Spring 2008, Prof. Musto Class 6 Introduction to Corporate Bonds
FUNDING INVESTMENTS FINANCE 238/738, Spring 2008, Prof. Musto Class 6 Introduction to Corporate Bonds Today: I. Equity is a call on firm value II. Senior Debt III. Junior Debt IV. Convertible Debt V. Variance
More informationTerminology of Convertable Bonds
Bellerive 241 P.o. Box CH-8034 Zurich info@fam.ch www.fam.ch T +41 44 284 24 24 Terminology of Convertable Bonds Fisch Asset Management Terminology of Convertible Bonds Seite 2 28 ACCRUED INTEREST 7 ADJUSTABLE-RATE
More informationCHAPTER 7: FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES: PRICING AND TRADING
CHAPTER 7: FIXED-INCOME SECURITIES: PRICING AND TRADING Topic One: Bond Pricing Principles 1. Present Value. A. The present-value calculation is used to estimate how much an investor should pay for a bond;
More informationInvestor Guide to Bonds
Investor Guide Investor Guide to Bonds threadneedle.com Introduction Why invest in bonds? Although your capital is normally considered safe in a traditional deposit account, low interest rates have eroded
More informationShares Mutual funds Structured bonds Bonds Cash money, deposits
FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND RELATED RISKS This description of investment risks is intended for you. The professionals of AB bank Finasta have strived to understandably introduce you the main financial instruments
More informationUnderstanding Bond Calls: What it Means for Your Cash Flow
Understanding Bond Calls: What it Means for Your Cash Flow February 17, 2016 Interest rates have been falling, contrary to all the news reports that have reported rising interest rates for the last eight
More informationVALUATION OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES. Presented By Sade Odunaiya Partner, Risk Management Alliance Consulting
VALUATION OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES Presented By Sade Odunaiya Partner, Risk Management Alliance Consulting OUTLINE Introduction Valuation Principles Day Count Conventions Duration Covexity Exercises
More informationCHAPTER 8 INTEREST RATES AND BOND VALUATION
CHAPTER 8 INTEREST RATES AND BOND VALUATION Solutions to Questions and Problems 1. The price of a pure discount (zero coupon) bond is the present value of the par value. Remember, even though there are
More informationChapter 6 Interest rates and Bond Valuation. 2012 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. 4-1
Chapter 6 Interest rates and Bond Valuation 2012 Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. 4-1 Interest Rates and Required Returns: Interest Rate Fundamentals The interest rate is usually applied to
More informationCHAPTER 14: BOND PRICES AND YIELDS
CHAPTER 14: BOND PRICES AND YIELDS PROBLEM SETS 1. The bond callable at 105 should sell at a lower price because the call provision is more valuable to the firm. Therefore, its yield to maturity should
More informationBOND ALERT. What Investors Should Know. July 2013 WWW.LONGVIEWCPTL.COM 2 MILL ROAD, SUITE 105
BOND ALERT July 2013 What Investors Should Know This special report will help you understand the current environment for bonds and discuss how that environment may change with rising interest rates. We
More informationValuation of debt instruments
Valuation of debt instruments Csaba Ilyés 1 and László Lakatos 2 Last decade in Hungary the securities market developed very rapidly. During this period the amount of securities increased by more than
More informationMacquarie Significant Investor Visa Funds
Macquarie Significant Investor Visa Funds Managed funds frequently asked questions For licensed financial advisers and licensed migration agents only only What does an investment in a managed fund entitle
More informationinvestor s guide CORPORATE BONDS
investor s guide CORPORATE BONDS i CONTENTS What are Corporate Bonds? 1 Basic Bond Terms 2 Types of Corporate Bonds 5 Bond Market Characteristics 7 Understanding the Risks 8 Understanding Collateralization
More informationAn Attractive Income Option for a Strategic Allocation
An Attractive Income Option for a Strategic Allocation Voya Senior Loans Suite A strategic allocation provides potential for high and relatively steady income through most credit and rate cycles Improves
More informationTopics in Chapter. Key features of bonds Bond valuation Measuring yield Assessing risk
Bond Valuation 1 Topics in Chapter Key features of bonds Bond valuation Measuring yield Assessing risk 2 Determinants of Intrinsic Value: The Cost of Debt Net operating profit after taxes Free cash flow
More informationHow To Compare Fixed Annuities And Bonds
Fixed Annuities vs Bonds A fixed annuity is a contract between an insurance company and one or more individuals, in which individuals make premium payments over the course of an accumulation period. The
More informationhttp://www.investopedia.com/university/bonds/ Thanks very much for downloading the printable version of this tutorial.
Bond Basics Tutorial http://www.investopedia.com/university/bonds/ Thanks very much for downloading the printable version of this tutorial. As always, we welcome any feedback or suggestions. http://www.investopedia.com/contact.aspx
More informationInterest Rates and Bond Valuation
Interest Rates and Bond Valuation Chapter 6 Key Concepts and Skills Know the important bond features and bond types Understand bond values and why they fluctuate Understand bond ratings and what they mean
More informationA guide to investing in hybrid securities
A guide to investing in hybrid securities Before you make an investment decision, it is important to review your financial situation, investment objectives, risk tolerance, time horizon, diversification
More informationChapter 4 Bonds and Their Valuation ANSWERS TO END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS
Chapter 4 Bonds and Their Valuation ANSWERS TO END-OF-CHAPTER QUESTIONS 4-1 a. A bond is a promissory note issued by a business or a governmental unit. Treasury bonds, sometimes referred to as government
More informationMEDICAID ELIGIBILITY MANUAL, VOLUME III REVISED 11-01-96 PAGE 6280
REVISED 11-01-96 PAGE 6280 G. INVESTMENTS Other common investment vehicles include stocks and CONTRACTS bonds and contracts refer to promissory notes, loans and property agreements. 1. Stocks Shares of
More informationCHAPTER 14: BOND PRICES AND YIELDS
CHAPTER 14: BOND PRICES AND YIELDS 1. a. Effective annual rate on 3-month T-bill: ( 100,000 97,645 )4 1 = 1.02412 4 1 =.10 or 10% b. Effective annual interest rate on coupon bond paying 5% semiannually:
More informationAnswers to Review Questions
Answers to Review Questions 1. The real rate of interest is the rate that creates an equilibrium between the supply of savings and demand for investment funds. The nominal rate of interest is the actual
More informationMULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question.
ECON 4110: Sample Exam Name MULTIPLE CHOICE. Choose the one alternative that best completes the statement or answers the question. 1) Economists define risk as A) the difference between the return on common
More informationFederated High Income Bond Fund II
Summary Prospectus April 30, 2016 Share Class Primary Federated High Income Bond Fund II A Portfolio of Federated Insurance Series Before you invest, you may want to review the Fund s Prospectus, which
More informationA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Jargon Buster Contents listed alphabetically: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) Extra payments you can make in additional to your main occupational
More informationClick Here to Buy the Tutorial
FIN 534 Week 4 Quiz 3 (Str) Click Here to Buy the Tutorial http://www.tutorialoutlet.com/fin-534/fin-534-week-4-quiz-3- str/ For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialoutlet.com Which of the following
More informationHow To Invest In Bonds On Asx
Understanding Bonds ASX. The Australian Marketplace Disclaimer of Liability Information provided is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial product advice. You should obtain independent
More informationInvestment insight. Fixed income the what, when, where, why and how TABLE 1: DIFFERENT TYPES OF FIXED INCOME SECURITIES. What is fixed income?
Fixed income investments make up a large proportion of the investment universe and can form a significant part of a diversified portfolio but investors are often much less familiar with how fixed income
More informationINVESTMENT DEALERS. A Question & Answer Guide to Bond Investing Q&A BOND INVESTING
INVESTMENT DEALERS A S S O C I AT I O N O F C A N A DA A Question & Answer Guide to Bond Investing Q&A BOND INVESTING 1 Table of Contents SECTION 1 BOND BASICS What is a Bond?... 1 How do bonds differ
More informationUnderstanding Hybrid Securities. ASX. The Australian Marketplace
Understanding Hybrid Securities ASX. The Australian Marketplace Disclaimer of Liability Information provided is for educational purposes and does not constitute financial product advice. You should obtain
More informationequity loans explained State money, interest-free for five years
help TO buy Your guide to the latest government-backed scheme Produced by In association with equity loans explained State money, interest-free for five years easy access How to apply INTROducTION The
More informationChapter 5: Valuing Bonds
FIN 302 Class Notes Chapter 5: Valuing Bonds What is a bond? A long-term debt instrument A contract where a borrower agrees to make interest and principal payments on specific dates Corporate Bond Quotations
More informationStructured Products. Designing a modern portfolio
ab Structured Products Designing a modern portfolio Achieving your personal goals is the driving motivation for how and why you invest. Whether your goal is to grow and preserve wealth, save for your children
More informationAMP Capital Understanding Fixed Income a glossary
AMP Capital Understanding Fixed Income a glossary Welcome to our educational series Understanding Fixed Income a glossary About fixed income at AMP Capital As one of the largest and most experienced fixed
More informationModule 1: Corporate Finance and the Role of Venture Capital Financing TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF FINANCE Module 1: Corporate Finance and the Role of Venture Capital Financing Alternative Sources of Finance TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.1 Short-Term Debt (Short-Term Loans, Line of
More informationInterest Rates and Bond Valuation
and Bond Valuation 1 Bonds Debt Instrument Bondholders are lending the corporation money for some stated period of time. Liquid Asset Corporate Bonds can be traded in the secondary market. Price at which
More informationSaving and Investing. Chapter 11 Section Main Menu
Saving and Investing How does investing contribute to the free enterprise system? How does the financial system bring together savers and borrowers? How do financial intermediaries link savers and borrowers?
More informationUS TREASURY SECURITIES - Issued by the U.S. Treasury Department and guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government.
Member NASD/SIPC Bond Basics TYPES OF ISSUERS There are essentially five entities that issue bonds: US TREASURY SECURITIES - Issued by the U.S. Treasury Department and guaranteed by the full faith and
More informationUNDERSTANDING PARTICIPATING WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE
UNDERSTANDING PARTICIPATING WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE equimax CLIENT GUIDE ABOUT EQUITABLE LIFE OF CANADA Equitable Life is one of Canada s largest mutual life insurance companies. For generations we ve provided
More informationFidelity Emerging Markets Fund 14 Fidelity Europe Fund 12 Fidelity Far East Fund 3,10 Fidelity Global Fund 1,14 Fidelity Global Disciplined
Simplified Prospectus dated October 29, 2015 Fidelity Funds Series A, Series B, Series F and Series O units (unless otherwise indicated) Equity Funds Canadian Equity Funds Fidelity Canadian Disciplined
More informationInvestment trusts and companies
Investment trusts and companies INVESTMENT TRUSTS AND COMPANIES Investment trusts and investment companies can provide an excellent way to achieve a diversified portfolio of shares within one simple investment.
More informationChapter 07 Interest Rates and Present Value
Chapter 07 Interest Rates and Present Value Multiple Choice Questions 1. The percentage of a balance that a borrower must pay a lender is called the a. Inflation rate b. Usury rate C. Interest rate d.
More informationFixed Income Strategy
Patrick McCluskey, Senior Fixed Income Strategist Fixed Income Strategy May 23, 2016 A Guide to Investing in Community Bank Preferred Stock What is Preferred Stock? Preferred stock is a perpetual fixed-income
More informationBonds and Yield to Maturity
Bonds and Yield to Maturity Bonds A bond is a debt instrument requiring the issuer to repay to the lender/investor the amount borrowed (par or face value) plus interest over a specified period of time.
More informationUnderstanding a Firm s Different Financing Options. A Closer Look at Equity vs. Debt
Understanding a Firm s Different Financing Options A Closer Look at Equity vs. Debt Financing Options: A Closer Look at Equity vs. Debt Business owners who seek financing face a fundamental choice: should
More information6 % Information booklet. Retail Bond Offer fi xed to December 2020. The Paragon Group of Companies PLC. www.paragon-group.co.uk/group/retail-bond
Information booklet The Paragon Group of Companies PLC 13 February 2013 6 % Retail Bond Offer fi xed to December 2020 Lead Manager and Offeror Canaccord Genuity Limited Authorised Offerors Barclays Stockbrokers
More informationA guide to investing in cash alternatives
A guide to investing in cash alternatives What you should know before you buy Wells Fargo Advisors wants to help you invest in cash alternative products that are suitable for you based on your investment
More information1 YOUR GUIDE TO INVESTMENT-LINKED INSURANCE PLANS. Contents. Introduction to Investment-Linked Insurance Plans (ILPs) How ILPs Work
Contents 02 Introduction to Investment-Linked Insurance Plans (ILPs) 07 How ILPs Work 11 Insurance Protection 12 Investment Returns 14 Fees and Charges 15 Key Questions to Ask & Documents to Note 18 Dispute
More informationPositioning Fixed Income for Rising Interest Rates
Positioning Fixed Income for Rising Interest Rates Investment Case: High-Yield Bonds Hedged with U.S. Treasuries Market Vectors Investment Grade Floating Rate ETF Designed to hedge the risk of rising interest
More informationMONEY MARKET FUND GLOSSARY
MONEY MARKET FUND GLOSSARY 1-day SEC yield: The calculation is similar to the 7-day Yield, only covering a one day time frame. To calculate the 1-day yield, take the net interest income earned by the fund
More informationChapter 10. Fixed Income Markets. Fixed-Income Securities
Chapter 10 Fixed-Income Securities Bond: Tradable security that promises to make a pre-specified series of payments over time. Straight bond makes fixed coupon and principal payment. Bonds are traded mainly
More informationBalanced fund: A mutual fund with a mix of stocks and bonds. It offers safety of principal, regular income and modest growth.
Wealth for Life Glossary Aggressive growth fund: A mutual fund that aims for the highest capital gains. They often invest in smaller emerging companies that offer maximum growth potential. Adjustable Rate
More informationFLOATING RATE BANK LOANS: A BREAK FROM TRADITION FOR INCOME-SEEKING INVESTORS. Why does the bank loan sector remain so attractive?
FLOATING RATE BANK LOANS: A BREAK FROM TRADITION FOR INCOME-SEEKING INVESTORS Bank loans present a compelling income opportunity and a portfolio diversifier that provides protection against traditional
More informationShort-Term and Long-Term Investments Options
Slide 1 Slide 2 Short-Term and Long-Term Investments Options Slide 3 Module Objectives After completing this module you should be able to: Identify which saving instruments can help develop short-time
More informationinvestor s guide BOND BASICS
investor s guide BOND BASICS CONTENTS What Are Bonds? 1 Why Invest in Bonds? 1 Key Bond Investment Considerations 2 How to Invest 13 Investment Strategy Considerations 17 For More Information 19 Glossary
More informationExam 1 Sample Questions
Exam 1 Sample Questions 1. Asset allocation refers to. A. the allocation of the investment portfolio across broad asset classes B. the analysis of the value of securities C. the choice of specific assets
More informationImportant Information about Investing in Bonds
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated Important Information about Investing in Bonds Baird has prepared this document to help you understand the characteristics and risks associated with bonds and other fixed
More information24JAN201216220219 SIMPLIFIED PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 18, 2015
No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about these securities and it is an offence to claim otherwise. Your simple guide to investing in Dynamic Funds. DYNAMIC TRUST FUNDS Dynamic
More information20. Investments 4: Bond Basics
20. Investments 4: Bond Basics Introduction The purpose of an investment portfolio is to help individuals and families meet their financial goals. These goals differ from person to person and change over
More informationHow To Understand The Risks Of Financial Instruments
NATURE AND SPECIFIC RISKS OF THE MAIN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The present section is intended to communicate to you, in accordance with the Directive, general information on the characteristics of the main
More informationNew Issuer: China Merchants Land Limited
New Issuer: China Merchants Land Limited China Merchants Land has picked Bank of American Merrill Lynch, DBS, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China as joint global co-ordinators, joint lead managers
More informationUntangling F9 terminology
Untangling F9 terminology Welcome! This is not a textbook and we are certainly not trying to replace yours! However, we do know that some students find some of the terminology used in F9 difficult to understand.
More informationA guide to investing in unit investment trusts
A guide to investing in unit investment trusts What you should know before you buy Wells Fargo Advisors wants to ensure that you are investing in the products that best suit your financial situation, investment
More information