bonds

Why rising interest rates means lower bond prices

Bond yields are monitored by equity investors as it can impact the share market and reflect the direction of the economy. However, higher interest rates mean lower bond prices for bond holders. It is a confusing concept to understand so here is a simplified explanation. How bonds work A bond is a fixed income product where an investor lends money to a corporate or government organisation over a period of time. These firms issue bonds to raise money to use …

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Bond Basics

Bond yields are closely followed by share market investors as they have an impact on interest rate movements. In this article we discuss what a bond is and the difference between a bond price and bond yield. Definition A bond is essentially a loan. These products can be issued by a government or a corporation. When governments or companies want to raise money, they can do so by issuing bonds. When an investor buys a bond, they are lending money …

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Bonds Simplified

Companies can raise capital through a debt or equity raising. In the stock market we buy shares which are essentially equity in a company. Shareholders own a small portion of the company through their stock holdings. Equity investors hope to make a capital gain when they sell at a higher price than when they brought it. They may also receive dividend income from holding these shares. Bonds are debt instruments and are structured differently. In this article we simplify how …

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What are the safe havens for investors?

In times of extreme volatility, investors are looking to put their money in “safe havens” to protect their capital. The term safe haven in investing means an asset class where it has a higher chance of maintaining its value compared to riskier assets. In this article we will list some of the common safe havens. Government Bonds Yields on Government Bonds have recently fallen. This means that the price of bonds has gone up reflecting the increased demand. Investors are …

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What do low treasury bond yields indicate?

Successful share market investors will also keep an eye on bond yields. This is because it is an indication on how investors perceive the economy. Yields on US treasury bonds have recently fallen to historical lows, so what does this say about how investors perceive the state of the economy? Inverse relationship Bond prices and bond yields move in opposite directions. When investors flock to take positions in bonds, this causes bond prices to rise as demand increases. However, it …

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