America is signalling that it might be about to call time on quantitative easing. Just the talk of it has sparked panic. Could worse be ahead? Simon Wilson reports.
Video tutorial: the basics of investing in bonds
MoneyWeek's deputy editor, Tim Bennett, explains the basics of bonds - what they are and how they work.
Bond basics 2: investing in corporate bonds
Here, Tim looks at corporate bonds: why companies issue bonds, what affects bond prices, their risks, and the role of ratings agencies.
Watch this before you buy a retail bond
Beware: the bond market is very different from the equities market. Here are seven things you should know before you buy a retail bond.
MoneyWeek bond watch
Government bond yields around the world started climbing again in Autumn 2010. This showed investors getting more jittery about a toxic mix of soaring state borrowings and rising inflation, and so demanding bigger returns as compensation.
Global ten-year sovereign bond yields
Since April 2011, mainstream sovereign yields started dropping back, ie, bond prices went up. Worries have increased about global growth - if this proves lower than expected, the fixed income stream paid by government bonds becomes more valuable.
But with commodity prices still firm, mounting costs are still a major concern. In addition, government deficit fears are still growing. And since the end-of June 2012, global yields have become very volatile.
Eurozone ten-year sovereign bond yields
On the edge of the eurozone, rising default fears have been sending peripheral countries' sovereign debt yields soaring. The rough line in the sand so far is 7% - when yields breach that, it looks like the point of no return.
How will this play out? Watch this page to keep a close eye on those yields - they're a great early warning indicator of trouble ahead.
Spanish and Italian three-year sovereign bond yields
Here's the chart of Spanish and Italian three-year bonds. As investors' fears about these countries' finances grew, yields spiked up sharply.
Bonds: the MoneyWeek view
June 2013: Stay away Most fixed-income investments currently look too expensive considering the risks. Tinkering by central banks in money printing could cause inflation, while the recent sell-off gives a taste of what could happen when interest rates eventually rise.
• See our view on all the major asset classes here.
Companies in the news: Helical Bar
Property company Helical Bar has issued a bond with a tempting 6% yield. Should you buy it? Phil Oakley investigates.
By: Phil Oakley
What is the yield curve telling us?
Britain’s steepening yield curve is just the thing to whip bankers up into a frenzy of excitement. But what is it, and what does it mean for you? Tim Bennett explains.
By: Tim Bennett
Bill Gross: The bond bull is over
Investment guru Bill Gross has declared the end of the 30-year bull market in government bonds.
This Co-op bond is seriously undervalued
Analysts have got the Co-op Bank all wrong, says Bengt Saelensminde. That’s created a great opportunity for brave investors to snap up a bargain bond.
The beginning of the end for QE?
America is signalling that it might be about to call time on quantitative easing. Just the talk of it has sparked panic. Could worse be ahead? Simon Wilson reports.
Bonds see end of QE – and faint
The bond markets took a battering last month as a spike in global bond yields triggered heavy losses for fixed-income-invested mutual funds.
Has the great bond bear market started?
As investors concentrate on booming stock markets, global government bonds have just suffered one of their worst months in decades. John Stepek looks at whether this is the start of something big, and explains what it means for investors.
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This Co-op bond is seriously undervalued
Analysts have got the Co-op Bank all wrong, says Bengt Saelensminde. That's created a great opportunity for brave investors to snap up a bargain bond.
Co-op 5.55% – a great bond for the brave
In theory at least, Moody's was absolutely right to downgrade the Co-op Bank, says Bengt Saelensminde. But these bonds are still a great buy for bold investors.
The beginning of the end for QE?
America is signalling that it might be about to call time on quantitative easing. Just the talk of it has sparked panic. Could worse be ahead? Simon Wilson reports.
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