Bonds

Bonds have a fixed face value and trade at par when the current price matches the face value. When the current price of a bond is more than the face value, it is called a premium. A $1,000 face value bond selling for $1,200, for example, is trading at a premium. Discount bonds, on the […]

Federal income from state, city, and local government bonds (municipal bonds, or munis) is normally tax-free. However, you must record this income when you file your taxes. In most cases, municipal bond income is tax-free in the state where the bond was issued. However, take in mind the following: Occasionally, a state that normally taxes

State and municipal taxes are not levied on Series I savings bonds. You won’t have to pay state or local taxes on the interest income you earn if you invest in Series I savings bonds. That means you’ll have more money in your pocket at the end of the year than if you owned a

Bond mutual funds typically generate consistent income from a diverse portfolio of securities. As a result, the income tax rate is determined by the securities held by the fund. Furthermore, because fund managers buy and sell bonds on a regular basis, there may be capital gains and losses. Bond funds distribute interest and capital gains

Junk bonds have a higher profit potential than regular bonds. Junk bonds have higher yields than investment-grade bonds due to the heightened risk. If an issuer’s performance improves, bonds may gain value. When a corporation is actively paying down debt and improving its performance, the bond’s value might rise as the rating of the issuing

A bond, like an IOU, is a debt commitment. When investors purchase corporate bonds, they are effectively lending money to the firm that is issuing the bond. In exchange, the corporation agrees to pay interest on the principal and, in most situations, to repay the principal when the bond matures or comes due. Is it

Municipal bonds were one of the most stable fixed income asset classes in 2021, with positive returns and minimal volatility across a wide range of credit and maturity. New issuance slightly exceeded the record set in 2020, but supply was quickly absorbed by surprisingly continuous fund inflows. Record state and local revenues, stimulus spending, minimal

The nominal yield spread between a high-yield bond and a specified on-the-run U.S. Treasury bond is commonly used to price high-yield bonds. When a high-yield bond’s credit rating and outlook deteriorate, however, the bond may begin to trade at an actual dollar price. For example, a bond like this sells for $75.875, which is 500

Residents of the issuing state are generally excluded from federal and state taxes on income earned from municipal bonds. While interest income is tax-free, any capital gains delivered to the investor are taxable. Are municipal bonds tax-exempt? Municipal bonds (sometimes referred to as “munis”) are fixed-income investments that offer better after-tax returns than comparable taxable

Bond price quotes are expressed as a percentage of the bond’s par value, which is transformed to a numeric number and then multiplied by 10 to calculate the cost per bond. Bond prices can be stated as fractions as well. Corporate bonds are quoted in whole or fractional amounts. Corporate bonds are valued as a