Frequently Asked Questions About the Bond Market

Bond market a mystery to you? You're not stupid, and you're not alone. The bond market -- which is really several markets: the Treasury bond market, the corporate bond market and the municipal bond market, to name three -- is a tough nut to crack. What with prices and yields moving in opposite directions, basis points and the yield curve, to say nothing of spreads and duration.

Don't despair. Anyone can understand the bond market. Really!

For a basic explanation of what a bond is and how it works, and for definitions of all the terms mentioned above and more, see the newly expanded Markets section of our glossary. Meanwhile, here are answers to frequently asked questions about how the bond market works. Are there others you'd like to see answered? Let us know. ...