Stock Under $10 with 50-100% upside potential - 14 Days FREE!

Bond Investing 101 - How to Invest in Bonds, Funds and ETFs

How to Invest: Investing 101

Bond investing can range from simple U.S. Savings Bonds to complex corporate convertible securities. For the average investor, successful bond investment likely falls somewhere in between.
The articles and links below should help you on your path to becoming a successful bond investor.

Treasury Bonds

>> Which 30-Year Treasury Bond Does Everyone Quote?
When newscasters like those on CNBC report price changes and yields for "the 30-year Treasury bond," exactly what bond -- or is it a group of bonds -- are they reporting on?

>> How Does the Fed Funds Rate Affect Treasury Bills?
What happens to Treasury bill yields when interest rates go up? Do they react the same way as bonds?



Municipal Bonds


>> Zero Coupon Municipal Bonds: Tax Treatment
Is the buyer of a zero-coupon muni held to maturity ever subject to federal taxes (other than the alternative minimum tax)?

>> What is the MOB (Municipal Over Bond) Spread?
The MOB spread is the difference in price between the municipal bond futures contract listed on the Chicago Board of Trade and the Treasury bond futures contract listed on the same exchange.

>> Calculating Bond Yields: Municipal vs Taxable
In order to do an apples-to-apples comparison between the yield on a municipal bond and a taxable bond, you have to calculate either the taxable-equivalent yield of the muni bond or the after-tax yield of the taxable bond.



Advanced Bond Concepts


>> What is Bond Duration?
Duration gives investors a way to compare bonds with different maturities and coupons.

>> What is Bond Convexity?
If duration describes the approximate relationship between price and yield, convexity describes the actual relationship between price and yield.

>> How to Measure a Bond's Interest-Rate Sensitivity
Duration and average life are different ways of measuring the interest-rate sensitivity of a debt security.



Taxation of Bonds

>> Do Bonds Bought at a Premium Produce Capital Losses?
Since a bond bought at a discount generates a capital gains tax liability at maturity, does it generate a capital loss deduction at maturity if bought above par?



Bond ETFs and Funds

>> ETFs vs. Mutual Funds: High-Yield Debt
For long-term investors, mutual funds that invest in high-yield debt outperform comparable ETFs.

Best Bond ETFs

Best Bond Mutual Funds

U.S. Savings Bonds

U.S. Bond Interest Rates

Select the service that is right for you!

COMPARE ALL SERVICES
Action Alerts PLUS
TRY IT FREE

Jim Cramer and Stephanie Link actively manage a real portfolio and reveal their money management tactics while giving advanced notice before every trade.

Product Features:
  • $2.5+ million portfolio
  • Large-cap and dividend focus
  • Intraday trade alerts from Cramer
  • Weekly roundups
Dividend Stock Advisor
TRY IT FREE
New! $49.95/yr

Jim Cramer's protege, David Peltier, identifies the best of breed dividend stocks that will pay a reliable AND significant income stream.

Product Features:
  • Diversified model portfolio of dividend stocks
  • Alerts when market news affect the portfolio
  • Bi-weekly updates with exact steps to take - BUY, HOLD, SELL
Stocks Under $10
TRY IT FREE

David Peltier, uncovers low dollar stocks with extraordinary upside potential that are flying under Wall Street's radar.

Product Features:
  • Model portfolio
  • Stocks trading below $10
  • Intraday trade alerts
  • Weekly roundups
Real Money
TRY IT FREE

24/7 market commentary from Jim Cramer and 20+ veteran Wall Street gurus. Get access to the latest trading ideas on stocks, options, and ETFs as well as a real-time forum to see the pros exchanging their investment ideas.

Product Features:
  • Jim Cramer + 20 Wall Street pros
  • Intraday commentary & news
  • Real-time trading forum
  • Actionable trade ideas
Real Money Pro
TRY IT FREE

All of Real Money, plus 15 more of Wall Street's sharpest minds delivering actionable trading ideas, a comprehensive look at the market, and fundamental and technical analysis.

Product Features:
  • Real Money + Doug Kass + 15 more Wall Street Pros
  • Intraday commentary & news
  • Ultra-actionable trading ideas
Options Profits
TRY IT FREE

Our options trading pros provide daily market commentary and over 100 monthly option trading ideas and strategies to help you become a well-seasoned trader.

Product Features:
  • 100+ monthly options trading ideas
  • Actionable options commentary & news
  • Real-time trading community
  • Options TV
DOW 15,307.17 -80.41 -0.52%
NASDAQ 3,463.30 -38.82 -1.11%
S&P 500 1,655.35 -13.81 -0.83%
US 10 Yr 2.026% +0.082

Brokerage Partners

Advertising Partners

After the Bell

Before the Bell

Booyah! Newsletter

Midday Bell

TheStreet Top 10 Stories

Winners & Losers

We respect your privacy.

Top Rated Stocks Top Rated Funds Top Rated ETFs