Posts Tagged ‘junk bond’

What’s the difference between a regular bond and a junk bond?

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

“Junk” bonds are considered higher risk and lower quality than other bonds. Because of this, they promise a higher interest rate than normal. So, the higher rate gives you the possibility of higher returns but it also comes with a greater risk of default.

Junk bonds get the name “junk” from their low bond credit ratings. Companies like Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s Investors Service rate bonds to measure their riskiness – the lower the risk, the higher the quality, and vice versa. S&P’s “AAA” or Moody’s “Aaa” are the highest ratings a bond can get. Highly rated bonds are called investment grade. Anything below BB or Bb is deemed junk.

A Junk Bond is…

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009

A junk bond (also known as a high-yield bond) is a type of investment that is very risky to make, but it can lead to higher yields than safer investments. High-risk bonds got the name “junk” because of their low credit ratings (typically below Ba or BB).

A Speculative Bond is…

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

A speculative bond is a direct investment in a company that’s considered risky by a credit rating agency like Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s. You might end up getting higher returns from a speculative or “junk” bond than a better rated one, but you also have a better chance of not getting anything at all.