Are bonds and fixed-income the same?
Bonds – also known as fixed income – are essentially an IOU. Governments and companies borrow money when they issue bonds, then promise to repay it at the end of the bond's life.
Typically, in a traditional bond, there is a coupon, which may be regarded as the interest you receive for lending your money. The coupons are paid at fixed intervals, quarterly, semi-annually or annually. As this becomes a source of regular income for the investor, bonds are also known as Fixed Income products.
A bond is referred to as a fixed-income instrument since bonds traditionally paid a fixed interest rate (coupon) to debtholders. Variable or floating interest rates are also now quite common.
In finance, government and private fixed income securities, such as bonds and notes, are considered investment grade if they have a low risk of default.
Fixed-income investing is a lower-risk investment strategy that focuses on generating consistent payments from investments such as bonds, money-market funds and certificates of deposit, or CDs.
- Bond funds. ...
- Municipal bonds. ...
- High-yield bonds. ...
- Money market fund. ...
- Preferred stock. ...
- Corporate bonds. ...
- Certificates of deposit. ...
- Treasury securities.
A bond is a debt instrument where the issuer (the borrower) is obligated to pay fixed or floating interest rate and the principal during a fixed period of time. The return of a bond is made up of interest calculated on the basis of the bond's nominal value and of capital gains/losses.
Both bonds and notes pay interest every six months. The interest rate for a particular security is set at the auction. The price for a bond or a note may be the face value (also called par value) or may be more or less than the face value.
Bonds, like Treasurys, can generate income, usually have more modest returns, and can help balance out the volatility of stocks. Bonds are a common asset in a well-diversified portfolio. But keep in mind, bonds are risk-free when held to maturity.
Most of the government bonds are issued as fixed-rate bonds in India. Some common fixed-rate bonds examples include – treasury notes, treasury bonds, etc.
What is considered a good bond?
Investment grade and high yield bonds
Investors typically group bond ratings into 2 major categories: Investment-grade refers to bonds rated Baa3/BBB- or better. High-yield (also referred to as "non-investment-grade" or "junk" bonds) pertains to bonds rated Ba1/BB+ and lower.
An investment grade is a rating that signifies a municipal or corporate bond presents a relatively low risk of default. Bond rating firms like Standard & Poor's (S&P), Moody's, and Fitch use different designations, consisting of the upper- and lower-case letters "A" and "B," to identify a bond's credit quality rating.
Bonds in general are considered less risky than stocks for several reasons: Bonds carry the promise of their issuer to return the face value of the security to the holder at maturity; stocks have no such promise from their issuer.
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.
Although bonds may not necessarily provide the biggest returns, they are considered a reliable investment tool. That's because they are known to provide regular income. But they are also considered to be a stable and sound way to invest your money. That doesn't mean they don't come with their own risks.
Fixed income is an asset class that is a commonly held investment because it helps preserve capital. Fixed-income investments, or bonds as they are commonly known, typically provide a premium above inflation and experience less return volatility compared with shares.
Treasuries are generally considered"risk-free" since the federal government guarantees them and has never (yet) defaulted. These government bonds are often best for investors seeking a safe haven for their money, particularly during volatile market periods.
Treasury Bills, Notes and Bonds
U.S. Treasury securities are considered to be about the safest investments on earth. That's because they are backed by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. Government bonds offer fixed terms and fixed interest rates.
The safest place to put your retirement funds is in low-risk investments and savings options with guaranteed growth. Low-risk investments and savings options include fixed annuities, savings accounts, CDs, treasury securities, and money market accounts. Of these, fixed annuities usually provide the best interest rates.
Bonds are debt instruments. They are a contract between a borrower and a lender in which the borrower commits to make payments of principal and interest to the lender, on specific dates.
Where can I purchase bonds?
Many types of bonds can be bought from a bond broker through full-service or discount brokerage channels. This is similar to the way stocks are purchased from a stockbroker. You can also buy bonds as part of an ETF (exchange-traded fund) or mutual fund.
A bond is simply a loan taken out by a company. Instead of going to a bank, the company gets the money from investors who buy its bonds. In exchange for the capital, the company pays an interest coupon, which is the annual interest rate paid on a bond expressed as a percentage of the face value.
| Face Value | Purchase Amount | 20-Year Value (Purchased May 2000) |
|---|---|---|
| $50 Bond | $100 | $109.52 |
| $100 Bond | $200 | $219.04 |
| $500 Bond | $400 | $547.60 |
| $1,000 Bond | $800 | $1,095.20 |
- Historically, bonds have provided lower long-term returns than stocks.
- Bond prices fall when interest rates go up. Long-term bonds, especially, suffer from price fluctuations as interest rates rise and fall.
More about savings bonds
The interest earned by purchasing and holding savings bonds is subject to federal tax at the time the bonds are redeemed. However, interest earned on savings bonds is not taxable at the state or local level.
