Bonds Articles

This investment vehicle attracts wealthy investors to increase the value of portfolio companies.

Learn to trade in the direction of short-term momentum.

Retirement doesn't have to mean the end of working, it can be just the end of working to get by every week. Retirement should be about working only if you want to, not because you have to.

Here are five things you should know about the new Health Insurance Marketplace (AKA Health Insurance Exchange), which launches on October 1.

The advice not to fall in love with one's stocks is common, even a cliché. However, the prevalence of this phenomenon is probably overstated by financial journalists. More common is that investors hang on to poorly performing assets, but for a wide range of reasons.

Organizations such as the FPA and NAPFA are striving to provide higher standards for the financial planning profession and greater protection for consumers through a combination of community programs, public educational and legislation.

Your portfolio's asset mix is a key factor in whether it's profitable. Find out how to get this delicate balance right.

Blitzkrieg? Dawn raids? Sounds like the markets and the battlefield have a few things in common.

Investors can learn a lot, or very little, from these indicators once they know how to use them.

If you like the idea of examining and attesting to a company's financial performance for a living, a career in auditing might be right for you.

Most mutual funds don’t come close to beating the indexes they’re compared against. And yet they carry steep fees for active management. Find out how a little research and effort can cut your mutual fund fees.

Learn how to make money off failing shares.

From a financial perspective, September is a great time for a quick reboot of your financial mind-set.

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), sometimes referred to as “the big board,” is the oldest and largest stock exchange in the United States. NYSE is the place investors think of when they picture traders shouting out prices and making wild hand gestures in a visually chaotic live securities auction process known as open outcry.

These two options have many similar characteristics, but it's the differences that are important.

Use a global view to determine which stocks belong in your portfolio.

Don't overlook this overview of a company's well-being.

The emergence of Bitcoin has sparked a debate about its future and that of other cryptocurrencies. Despite Bitcoin’s recent issues, its success since its 2009 launch has inspired the creation of alternative cryptocurrencies such as Litecoin, Ripple and MintChip.

This rate is rarely questioned - unless the economy falls into disarray.

There are numerous ways to value investments, and many investors prefer a specific valuation method. Yield investing is one way to value a stock by comparing the current price to various factors. Yield by definition means to give way to or produce. There are many ways to measure yield - three common ones are dividend yield, earnings yield and free cash flow yield.

Here we look at some of the landmark incidents of insider trading.

Find the middle ground between conservative and high-risk option strategies.

Find out what problems arise for financial representatives when they start to diversify their client offerings.

Learn which tools you need to manage the risk that comes with changing rates.

From godfathers to perps, familiarize yourself with the "criminal elements" creeping around Wall Street.

We take a look at the typical workday of three actuaries who work for different types of companies and who are at different stages in their careers.

Investing overseas begins with determining the risk of the country's investment climate.

We look at the Sage of Omaha's methodology for evaluating value stocks.

Amortization is important to account for intangible assets. Read to find out more about amortization.

Finding your perfect advisor is as simple as shopping for a car. Read on to learn more.

You’ve probably been told to shop around for the best rate, but what exactly does that entail? Find out how to ensure you're getting the best possible rate on your mortgage.

Before you try to profit from their theories, you should learn about the creators themselves.

Investors who take steps now can shield themselves from the coming challenges thrust upon retirees.

When you hear that your favorite stock closed at a record high price, have you ever considered how that price was reached? The calculation effort is far more complex than you might expect. To understand the process, known as "the closing cross", it helps to know a little about the electronic marketplace formally known as the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (Nasdaq).

Branded drugs are expensive in large part because it's expensive and risky to develop them

There are many ways to profit in both bear and bull markets. The key to success is using the tools for each market to their full advantage.

The balance of trade is a key indicator of a nation’s health. Investors and market professionals appear more concerned with trade deficits than trade surpluses, since chronic deficits may be a precursor to a currency devaluation.

Knowing how the primary and secondary markets work is key to understanding how stocks trade.

There are dozens of financial literacy programs in the United States right now, but none of them seems to be effective. Why is that?

In the insurance space, accurate predictions of metrics such as ROE are important, and paying a low P/B can help put the odds in investors' favor.

Forex trading by retail investors has grown by leaps and bounds in recent years, thanks to the proliferation of online trading platforms and the availability of cheap credit. The use of leverage in trading is often likened to a double-edged sword, since it magnifies gains and losses.

Financial services firms are taking a laser-like focus on analyst responsibilities and will favor candidates who bring the following "must-have" attributes to the negotiation table.

The stigma that a sin stock receives seems to be more concentrated among individual investors who are certainly entitled to avoid them. The overall market, on the other hand, seems to look favorably on the stability that these companies’ products possess and values them appropriately over the long run.

Why are dividend payout and retention ratios important to consider when investing in company stock? What companies have high ratios?What constitutes a high dividend payout and retention ratio? Is a high or low ratio good or bad for a company?

Investment opportunity is huge in China. However, investors should consider the pitfalls, understand the risks and rewards, focus on shareholder-friendly companies and stick to investments they understand.

Credit card rewards programs are everywhere, but some are more rewarding than others. Learn to spot the "rewards" that can leave you feeling like a loser.

A day in the life of a broker or trader is an exciting and varied one. Find out how to decide between these two financial professions.

Writing down a thesis for every investment may seem almost too simple to be effective, but lessons from behavioral finance tell us that bias and fear of loss often cloud our views, even for the most disciplined investors.

Are you a portfolio hoarder, hanging on to poor performers and investments that no longer match your objectives? It's time to purge those investments and put that money to use to match today’s needs.

A perpetual bond makes interest payments to the investor forever. This type of bond holds a certain appeal to both the issuer and buyer.

For Canadian RRSP accounts, washing same-day trades and using money market funds to bridge the gap over a multi-day trading period saves investors the exchange fee and will help their bottom line while rebalancing securities. Read on to find out how to wash your trade.

Huge companies may not be as infallible as previously assumed. Find out why bigger isn't always better.

STRIPS provide an alternative form of bond for fixed-income investors who need definite cash flows at specific times. Read the article to find out how.

The competition to become a financial planner is hot, and growing hotter. Find out the best way to preparing to land the CFP designation.

It's very important for every investor to learn how to calculate the bid-ask spread and factor this figure when making investment decisions.

This market-neutral strategy isn't for everyone. Read on to find out if it is for you.

Despite the recessions, citizens continue to take financial risks and spend outside of their means without fully appreciating the potential consequences for both themselves and the wider economy.

In today’s near-zero percent interest rate environment the old ways of investing for retirement no longer apply. Learn the sober reality of the fundamental changes we all need to make to ensure we don’t run out of money during retirement.

The temptation and perils of being over leveraged is a major pitfall of spread betting. However, the low capital outlay necessary, risk management tools available and tax benefits make spread betting a compelling opportunity for speculators.

Interest rates can be broken down into several subcategories that incorporate various factors such as inflation. Smart investors know to look beyond the nominal or coupon rate of a bond or loan to see whether it really fits their investment objectives.

While it may sound good in theory to attempt to mimic the investment style and profile of a successful institution, it is often much harder (if not impossible) to do so in practice.

Immunotherapy could radically change the treatment of cancer, and the revenue opportunities for pharmaceutical companies.

Investors should look beyond the confines of the U.S. borders to diversify and maximize returns. ADRs are one way to diversify your portfolio and help you achieve better returns when the U.S. market is in a slump.

Sometimes, landing free money is as easy as asking. Find out how to get the most out of your 401(k) retirement plan.

The bid-ask spread is essentially a negotiation in progress. To be successful, traders must be willing to take a stand and walk away in the bid-ask process through limit orders.

Taking corrective action before your losses worsen is always a good strategy. Find out how to keep your capital losses small and let your winners run.

Your reasons for investing are bound to change as you go through the ups and downs of life. Setting goals is the first step in determining which investment vehicles are right for you.

Companies use M&As and spinoffs to boost profits - learn how you can do the same.

Many private companies prefer to stay private and find alternate sources of capital. Find out what firms have to gain by eschewing the windfall from a flashy IPO.

Your lifestyle, level of commitment and the trade-offs need to be carefully weighed.

The short squeezed strategy can be risky - but also very rewarding - for those who master it.

The inability to forecast future events can turn the markets upside down. Find out how to stay right-side up.

Thinking of buying a home? We look at the initial and ongoing costs, as well as the so-called benefits.

Here is a look at some of the major changes to FAFSA in 2013 and how they will affect students' financial aid.

Traders are only human; therefore, they are subject to psychological traps when they trade. Read how you can manage your emotions so that you can profit from your trading.

Accurately predicting the stock market’s opening moves can be a useful tool. If your projection is accurate, you have opportunity to profit. Of course, the first step is to correctly gauge the market direction. You also need to select an investment and successfully gauge the resulting impact the market’s move will have on your investment in order to make money.

At some point in your life, you may have had to make a series of fixed payments over a period of time - such as rent or car payments - or have received a series of payments over a period of time, such as bond coupons. These are called annuities. The payment frequencies, or number of payments, and the time at which these payments are made (whether at the beginning or end of each payment period) are all variables you need to account for when calculating the present and future value of annuities.

In the past few years reverse mortgages have been heavily marketed as the way to become debt, and worry, free. For some seniors a reverse mortgage makes sense, for other though this dream product can quickly become a nightmare.

Want to own a mutual fund that will double its reported return in the next six months? Chances are, you already do. Every equity mutual fund on the planet is about to report a big jump in its five-year performance. That’s not a prediction; it’s a mathematical certainty—unless the market crashes. The Spike in Five-Year Performance… September 13, 2013 is the fifth anniversary of Lehman Brothers’ bankruptcy, an event that drove prices of almost every asset class except U.S.

Commodities markets, both historically and in modern times, have had tremendous economic impact on nations and people. Investing in commodities can quickly degenerate into gambling or speculation when a trader makes uninformed decisions. However, by using commodity futures or hedging, investors and business planners can secure insurance against volatile prices.

Ever wondered what exactly a convertible bond does? Read the features of a convertible bond and learn how important the conversion factor is to you as an investor.

According to a study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, one in four consumers identified errors on their reports that might affect their credit rating in 2013.

If a company decides to pay dividends, it will choose one of three approaches: residual, stability or hybrid policies. Which a company chooses can determine how profitable its dividend payments will be for investors - and how stable the income. Before we begin describing the various policies that companies use to determine how much to pay their investors, let's look at different arguments for and against dividend policies.

The art market is fickle, and there are no guarantees of profitability, but with a little legwork and forethought you can fill your home with images that may prove worthy investments down the line. Consider these tips for choosing fine art and identifying the Michelangelo from the macaroni.

You don't have to go to an office to make a great salary in the financial sector. Here are the top four highest paying financial jobs you can do from home.

The main purpose of equity valuation is to estimate a value for a firm or security. There are three primary equity valuation models: the discounted cash flow (DCF), cost and comparable approaches. The comparable model is a relative valuation approach and is explained in more detail below.

They don't call him "The Oracle" for nothing. Learn how Buffett comes up with his winning picks.

The Claritas Investment Certificate is likely to find growing acceptance as the new foundation-level education and ethics standard for the financial service sector internationally.

Inflation - defined as a sustained increase in the price of goods and services - seems to be inevitable. While rising prices are bad news for consumers, as it takes an ever-increasing amount of money to purchase the same basket of goods and services year after year, inflation can be quite profitable for investors.

Through an Initial Public Offering, or IPO, a company raises capital by issuing shares of stock, or equity in a public market. Generally, this refers to when a company issues stock for the first time. But as we will see below, there are ways a company can go public more than once.

Following the status quo will kill your financial practice. Find out the tips you need to follow to keep you a step or two ahead of the competition.

The National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, commonly referred to as Nasdaq, is a computerized marketplace where stocks are traded from 9:30am to 4pm Eastern Standard Time. While trading stops at 4pm, the business world does not.

On the face of it, figuring out how a bank makes money is a pretty straightforward affair. A bank earns a spread on the money it lends out from the money it takes in as a deposit. The net interest margin (NIM), which most banks report quarterly, represents this spread, which is simply the difference between what it earns on loans versus what it pays out as interest on deposits.

Currency fluctuations are a natural outcome of the floating exchange rate system that is the norm for most major economies. The exchange rate of one currency versus the other is influenced by numerous fundamental and technical factors. As these factors are generally in a state of perpetual flux, currency values fluctuate from one moment to the next.

Few people have much sympathy for the woes of those earning six figure or more each year. But, given that high-income earners drive economic expansion, the risks and problems facing high earners must be addressed if the U.S. is to sustain a long-term recovery.

What if you've discovered some old shares in bearer form? Follow our tips and find out what they're worth.

In this article, we'll take a look at what four real-life finance students are studying this fall, what jobs and internships they've held, what challenges they've encountered, and what they consider to be their dream jobs.