Zero-coupon or discount bonds are debt security instruments bought at steep discounts and mature at their face value without paying interest throughout their term. These bonds offer the total face value at maturity, giving a significant return equivalent to the interest gained over time. Ideal for investors seeking a simple and effective investment strategy, they […]

A bond is a popular investment option for a person having limited appetite for risk or wanting a steady source of income. If you are looking at investing your funds towards an instrument that can give you a fixed income and lesser volatility, investing in a bond is a good choice for you. What is […]

Introduction Economic growth for a country is led by public investment done by the government and private investment done by companies. This requires money (or capital) from other people; as owners themselves may not have all the resources to invest in growth. Traditionally in India, banks have been the primary source of capital for firms. […]

Introduction Investors are diligently looking for the necessary and sufficient information regarding their investment goals and the financial instruments they have chosen. Bond investments have been the talk of the town in recent years, and sufficient information is being made available through numerous means. However, some early investors are still unclear about the notions of […]

The meaning of fixed income securities in financial markets is as simple as the definition of the word itself – you get a prescribed income from this which is mostly fixed (decided) at the time of investment and when held till maturity of the instrument. For those of us who are interested in receiving a […]

Local governments issue municipal bonds to raise funds for public projects like schools, hospitals, bridges etc. Bonds are loans that an investor makes to issuers. On purchase of a bond, an investor receives regular pay-out of interest and the amount is redeemed when the bond matures. However, liquidity in muni markets is not that high […]

Introduction Bonds can be issued by corporations or governments to serve as a source of financing. Those that buy bonds are effectively providing the issuers with a loan. In this case, the issuer promises the bond purchaser periodic interest payments in exchange for the loans. A bond’s maturity date is when your investment will be […]

Introduction Bonds are a great investment tool, both for investors looking to diversify their portfolio and for bond issuers as a way to raise funds. It is a loan that is given by you as an investor to the borrower. Bonds are a fixed income instrument that can be used by a company, governments, and […]

In the realm of structured finance, credit enhancement is a term used to describe a set of techniques employed by financial institutions to reduce the credit risk associated with a particular transaction or asset. There are two types of credit enhancement: internal and external. External credit enhancement, particularly the credit enhancement guarantee, has gained popularity, […]