Chapter 4: Debt Instruments Flashcards
Moody’s and S&P’s Ratings
S&P Moody’s
AAA Aaa Investment Grade - can be purchased by banks
AA Aa
A A
BBB Baa
BB Ba Non-investment Grade
B B
C Caa
D
S&P uses a plus and minus scale on their ratings.
For example, A+ is better than an A rating and A- is lower than an A rating.
Moody’s uses a 1, 2, 3 scale.
For example, A1 is better than A2 and A2 is better than A3
Credit risk
The risk that an issuer may become unable to meet interest or principal payment on its bonds.
A.k.a. business risk or default risk.
Evaluate risk by checking credit rating, the Moodys or S&P
Inflation risk
The risk that an investment value is negatively affected by inflation.
A.k.a. purchasing power risk or constant dollar risk.
Reinvestment risk
The risk that in a falling interest rate environment, bond proceeds must be reinvested at lower rates, reducing the investor’s yield.
Example: as bonds in a bond fund mature, if current rates are lower than preceding rates, new bonds are purchased with a lower return. Reduces income.
Zero-coupon bonds and risk
Bonds that are purchased at a steep discount, and then are paid out at par at maturity. There are no payments throughout the term of the bond. Guarantees a yield over the life of the bond, thus eliminates some types of risk.
Call risk
The risk that a callable bond will be redeemed by the issuer before maturity
Currency risk
The risk that changes in the US dollar/foreign currency exchange rate negatively impact to security.
Applies to a security market value is denominated in a foreign currency, or who’s interest are dividends are paid in a foreign currency.
Liquidity risk
The risk that an asset cannot be sold quickly, or that selling quickly will result in a substantial loss.
Infrequently traded securities have more liquidity risk than heavily trading securities, because there is a smaller market for them.
Marketability risk
The risk of being unable to buy or sell a security that’s sustaining a loss. Applies to thinly traded securities.
Similar to liquidity risk, except that market ability is not concerned with the price, more the ability to buy and sell.
Legislative risk
The risk that changes in the law will negatively impact the value of security.
Example: an adverse ruling by the FDA concerning a new drug and caused the stock of the drugs manufacturer to decline in value.
A.k.a. legal risk or legislative risk.
Term bonds
All bonds are issued at once, and mature at once. Priced as a percentage /points of par value.
Example: term bond quote of 98 means 98% of par value, or $980.
Serial bonds
All of the bonds are issued at once, but they mature in increments over several years. Example: a $1 million bond matures at $200,000 increments over five years.
Can be quoted, as either percentage yield or basis points.
Note that bonds of differing maturity dates in the same issue, may have different yields based on the number of years to maturity.
Nominal yield, a.k.a. coupon rate, a.k.a. stated rate
The rate which the issuing corporation has contracted to pay interest throughout the life of the bond. Never changes. Will pay the stated interest rate until the bond matures and is extinguished.
Current yield
Divide the annual interest by the current market value, rather than the par value of the bond. Example:
$1000 face value, current yield 10%, price $900
Current yield = $100/$900 = 11.11%
Yield to maturity
Is a percentage. Total return that would be realized if the bond were held until the maturity date. A.k.a., the overall return for the investor measures the total performance of the bond.
Yield to call
The performance of a callable bond from purchase to the call date. 
YMCA
Y - current yield
M - yield to maturity
CA - yield to call
Quoting bond rates to customers
Must quote the lowest rate to a customer. Remember YMCA.
Lowest will be:
-Yield to call for bond trading at a premium
-Nominal yield for bond trading at a discount
Standardized yield (a.k.a. SEC yield)
Measure of the current net market yields on a bond’s investment portfolio. Based on the net investment income for the 30 day period ending on the last day of the previous month, divided by the highest offering price on that last day,
OR
The SEC yield is a standard yield calculation developed for fair comparison of bonds. The yield calculation shows investors what they would earn in yield over the course of a 12-month period if the fund continued earning the same rate for the rest of the year.
Accrued interest
Bond interest is paid in arrears in six month periods.
If a bond is sold somewhere in the middle of the six month period, the buyer owes the seller the first portion of the interest within that period. Thus, the buyer is paying the seller for the bond plus accrued interest from the current six month period.
Accrual period is the last interest payment date up to, but not including, the settlement date.
Bond settlements and accrual period differences
Corporate, municipal, and government agency bonds = T+2. To calculate the accrual period, every month is considered to have 30 days in every year has 360 days.
Government notes and bonds = T+1. To calculate the accrual period, assume the actual number of days in the month and actual number of days in the year.
Secured corporate bonds
Are backed by collateral. Ex: Mortgage bonds are backed by liens or mortgages on real property.
– Open-end bond: allows the corporation to issue subsequent bonds secured by the same property at a later time. New bonds have equal claim to the collateral, so more bonds have claim to the same collateral, thus are more risky.
- Closed-end bond: specify maximum indebtedness issued against the same lien. Are considered safer.
Bond trust indenture
Contract between the issuer and the trustee, who acts on behalf of the bond holders. Must designate open versus closed end bonds.
Equipment trust certificates
Bonds are secured by equipment, usually railroads and airlines. Are historically secure.