Between 1970 and 2019, all AAA-rated municipal bonds made all required interest and principal payments to investors. Only 0.08 percent of AAA-rated corporate bonds defaulted within a five-year period during the same time period. 2 We can observe from these figures that higher rated bonds are less likely to default. When a bond fails, what […]

Bonds issued by the US government with a maturity of 30 years are known as 30-year Treasuries. Treasury bills, notes, and Inflation-Protected Securities are some of the other securities issued by the US government (TIPS). 30-year Treasury bonds pay interest every two years until they mature, at which point they pay the face amount of

The US Treasury Department borrows on a regular basis to pay for the federal government’s debt. From $8.68 trillion in 2006 to $17.35 trillion in 2013, the US public debt has more than doubled. Treasury bills, notes, and bonds, also known as “treasuries,” account for almost two-thirds of the debt. The Treasury Department auctions these

NS&I Premium Bonds are a type of savings account that you can deposit money into (and withdraw at any time), with the interest rate determined by a monthly prize draw. You buy £1 bonds, and each one has an equal chance of winning, so the more you buy, the better. When are premium bonds drawn

So, if you bought a $1,000 bond with a 10% semi-annual coupon, you’d get $50 (5 percent x $1,000) twice a year for the next ten years. Bonds pay simple interest (i.e., no compounding), therefore the holder of such a bond could expect to receive $1,000 in interest and the $1,000 principal amount paid for

For example, if you put $1,000 into a 10-year bond with a 4% coupon rate, the issuer will give you a $40 coupon (interest) payment each year. Most bonds are paid twice a year, so you’ll get two $20 checks. Do bonds make monthly payments? Bond funds often own a variety of separate bonds with

When rates go below zero, investors stop paying the issuer. The difference between the purchase price and the bond’s par value is known as the premium. The yield will be negative if the premium exceeds the income the investor will get throughout the holding period. You’d have a negative yield if you agreed to lend

Municipal bonds are worth considering if your primary investing goal is to protect capital while receiving a tax-free income stream. Municipal bonds (also known as munis) are debt obligations issued by government agencies. When you purchase a municipal bond, you are essentially lending money to the issuer in exchange for a specified number of interest

Municipal bonds are worth considering if your primary investing goal is to protect capital while receiving a tax-free income stream. Municipal bonds (also known as munis) are debt obligations issued by government agencies. When you purchase a municipal bond, you are essentially lending money to the issuer in exchange for a specified number of interest

Municipal bond interest is tax-free in the United States, however there may be state or local taxes, or both. Be aware that if you receive Social Security, your bond interest will be recognized as income when determining your Social Security taxable amount. This could result in you owing more money. Municipal bond interest rates are