Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? (2024)

The main factors that impact the prices of fixed-income securities include interest rate changes, default or credit risk, and secondary market liquidity risk. Fixed-income securities are loans made by an investor to a government or corporate borrower. The issuer of the bond agrees to pay a fixed amount of interest on a regular schedule until the maturity date of the bond. At the maturity date, the borrower returns the principal amount to the investor.

The fixed amount of interest is known as the coupon rate, andthe principal amount of the bond is known as the par or face value. There are several different type of fixed-income securities, including U.S. Treasuries, corporate bonds, high yield bonds, and tax-free municipal bonds.

Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? (1)

Changes in Interest Rates

The main risk that can impact the price of bonds is a change in the prevailing interest rate. The price of a bond and interest rates are inversely related. As interest rates rise, the price of bonds falls.This is because investors can obtain bonds with a superior interest rate, which decreases the value of a bond that has already been issued.

On the flip side, current bond holders benefit from a drop in interest rates, as it makes their bonds more valuable withother investors seeking out higher yields of previously issued bonds. Bonds with longer maturities are subject to greater price movement upon interest rate changes since an interest rate change has a larger impact on the future value of the coupon.

Credit or Default Risk

The second main factor is credit or default risk. There is a riskthatthe issuer will go out of business and be unable to pay its interest rate and principal obligations. Issuers of high-yield bonds have more credit risksince there is likely to be a greater risk of default. To compensate investors for this higher risk, such bonds often pay higher interest rates.

Rating agencies provide credit ratings for the issuers of bonds and can help investors gauge the risk associated with certain corporate bonds.

Liquidity Risk

Except for government debt, most bonds are traded over the counter (OTC) and therefore carry a liquidity risk. Unlike the stock market, where investors can easily exit a position, bond investors rely on the secondary market to trade bonds. Investors who need to exit a bond position –to access their invested principal –may have a limited secondary market to sell the bond.

Also, due to the thinner market for bonds, it can be difficult to get current pricing. Bonds vary so much in their maturities, yields and the credit rating of the issuer that centralized trading is difficult. However, FINRA introduced the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine(TRACE)in 2002, which now requiresall broker-dealers to report OTC bond trades, thereby increasing transparency in the bond market.

Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? (2024)

FAQs

Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? ›

The main factors that impact the prices of fixed-income securities include interest rate changes, default or credit risk, and secondary market liquidity risk. Fixed-income securities are loans made by an investor to a government or corporate borrower.

What are the factors of fixed-income? ›

Factors That Affect Prices of Fixed Income Securities
  • Interest Rate Risk. The market price of a bond is inversely affected by interest rate movements. ...
  • Market Risk. ...
  • Credit Risk. ...
  • Default Risk. ...
  • Reinvestment Risk. ...
  • Prepayment Risk. ...
  • Capital Structure (Source of Repayment) ...
  • Take-away.

What are the determinants in selecting fixed-income securities? ›

Fixed-income investments are subject to various other risks including changes in credit quality, market valuations, liquidity, prepayments, early redemption, corporate events, tax ramifications and other factors. Lower-rated securities are subject to greater credit risk, default risk, and liquidity risk.

What factors impact the risk of a fixed-income security such as a bond )? ›

Fixed income risks occur due to the unpredictability of the market. Risks can impact the market value and cash flows from the security. The major risks include interest rate, reinvestment, call/prepayment, credit, inflation, liquidity, exchange rate, volatility, political, event, and sector risks.

Which of the following types of risk has the greatest effect on fixed-income securities? ›

The type of risk that has the most effect on owners of fixed-income securities is interest rate risk. This is because fixed-income securities, such as bonds, are subject to changes in market interest rates.

What are the features of fixed income securities? ›

The basic features of a fixed income security include:
  • Issuer: Bonds can be issued by:
  • Maturity: Also known as a bond's tenor.
  • Par value: The principal amount that is repaid to bond holders at maturity; also known as face value, maturity value or redemption value.
  • Coupon rate and frequency:
  • Currency denomination:

What are the four factors affecting fixed capital? ›

Ans : There are many factors affecting fixed capital. Some include diversification, joint ventures, growth prospects, and production techniques. Ans : Some of the factors that affect working capital include the nature of the business, operating efficiency, availability of raw materials, and competition level.

What the key attributes of a fixed-income security are? ›

The basic features of a bond include the issuer, maturity, par value (or principal), coupon rate and frequency, and currency denomination. Issuers of bonds include supranational organizations, sovereign governments, non-sovereign governments, quasi-government entities, and corporate issuers.

Which of the following is the common feature of fixed-income securities? ›

Fixed-Income securities provide investors with a stream of fixed periodic interest payments and the eventual return of principal at maturity. Bonds are the most common type of fixed-income security. Different bonds have different term lengths depending on how long the issuer wishes to borrow for.

What factors distinguish fixed-income securities from equities? ›

A share of ownership in a corporation usually without any guarantee of a fixed return is known as equity. In contrast, debts which guarantee a specified return over a specified period of time is known as fixed-income security.

What is the main risk associated with fixed-income securities? ›

This effect is usually more pronounced for longer-term securities.) Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

What are the defining elements of fixed-income securities? ›

1.1 Overview of a Fixed-Income Security

Three important elements that an investor should know when investing in fixed-income securities are: A bond's features. Legal, regulatory, and tax considerations. Contingency provisions.

What are the fundamentals of fixed-income? ›

Fixed income broadly refers to those types of investment security that pay investors fixed interest or dividend payments until their maturity date. At maturity, investors are repaid the principal amount they had invested. Government and corporate bonds are the most common types of fixed-income products.

How does it affect fixed-income securities? ›

The main factors that impact the prices of fixed-income securities include interest rate changes, default or credit risk, and secondary market liquidity risk. Fixed-income securities are loans made by an investor to a government or corporate borrower.

What is the disadvantage of fixed-income securities include? ›

Fixed-income securities typically provide lower returns than stocks and other types of investments, making it difficult to grow wealth over time. Additionally, fixed-income investments are subject to interest rate risk.

What are the two greatest risks for the owners of Treasury securities? ›

Like all guaranteed financial instruments, Treasuries are vulnerable to both inflation and changes in interest rates.

What are the 4 roles of fixed income? ›

The stability, defense, diversification, and consistent income that fixed income may be able to offer can make a huge difference for investors who know how to use it.

What are the basics of fixed income? ›

Fixed income is a class of assets and securities that pay out a set level of cash flows to investors, typically in the form of fixed interest or dividends. Government and corporate bonds are the most common types of fixed-income products.

What factors of production are fixed? ›

Fixed factors are those that do not change as output is increased or decreased, and typically include premises such as offices and factories, and capital equipment such as machinery and computer systems.

What factors determine income? ›

The level of education, training, and experience that is required to do a particular job ❖The level of demand that exists for the type of labor you are skilled/trained/educated to provide ❖The number of others who have similar or better skills who can compete for the job ❖How good you are at what you do ❖How long you ...

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