Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? (2024)

The main factors that impact the prices of fixed-income securities include interest rate changes, default or credit risk, and secondary market liquidity risk. Fixed-income securities are loans made by an investor to a government or corporate borrower. The issuer of the bond agrees to pay a fixed amount of interest on a regular schedule until the maturity date of the bond. At the maturity date, the borrower returns the principal amount to the investor.

The fixed amount of interest is known as the coupon rate, andthe principal amount of the bond is known as the par or face value. There are several different type of fixed-income securities, including U.S. Treasuries, corporate bonds, high yield bonds, and tax-free municipal bonds.

Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? (1)

Changes in Interest Rates

The main risk that can impact the price of bonds is a change in the prevailing interest rate. The price of a bond and interest rates are inversely related. As interest rates rise, the price of bonds falls.This is because investors can obtain bonds with a superior interest rate, which decreases the value of a bond that has already been issued.

On the flip side, current bond holders benefit from a drop in interest rates, as it makes their bonds more valuable withother investors seeking out higher yields of previously issued bonds. Bonds with longer maturities are subject to greater price movement upon interest rate changes since an interest rate change has a larger impact on the future value of the coupon.

Credit or Default Risk

The second main factor is credit or default risk. There is a riskthatthe issuer will go out of business and be unable to pay its interest rate and principal obligations. Issuers of high-yield bonds have more credit risksince there is likely to be a greater risk of default. To compensate investors for this higher risk, such bonds often pay higher interest rates.

Rating agencies provide credit ratings for the issuers of bonds and can help investors gauge the risk associated with certain corporate bonds.

Liquidity Risk

Except for government debt, most bonds are traded over the counter (OTC) and therefore carry a liquidity risk. Unlike the stock market, where investors can easily exit a position, bond investors rely on the secondary market to trade bonds. Investors who need to exit a bond position –to access their invested principal –may have a limited secondary market to sell the bond.

Also, due to the thinner market for bonds, it can be difficult to get current pricing. Bonds vary so much in their maturities, yields and the credit rating of the issuer that centralized trading is difficult. However, FINRA introduced the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine(TRACE)in 2002, which now requiresall broker-dealers to report OTC bond trades, thereby increasing transparency in the bond market.

Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? (2024)

FAQs

Which Factors Most Influence Fixed-Income Securities? ›

The main factors that impact the prices of fixed-income securities include interest rate changes, default or credit risk, and secondary market liquidity risk. Fixed-income securities are loans made by an investor to a government or corporate borrower.

What are the factors of fixed-income style? ›

Examples include interest rates, inflation, credit spreads, and economic growth. Of course, these macroeconomic factors affect each asset class differently. For instance, interest rates are more significant drivers of fixed income returns, even though they also influence the equity markets.

What are the main characteristics of a fixed-income security? ›

Fixed-Income securities are debt instruments that pay a fixed amount of interest, in the form of coupon payments, to investors. The interest payments are commonly distributed semiannually, and the principal is returned to the investor at maturity.

Which of the following types of risk has the greatest effect on fixed-income securities? ›

Interest rate risk affects the prices of bonds, and all bondholders face this type of risk.

What is the main risk associated with fixed-income securities? ›

Fixed income risks occur due to the unpredictability of the market. Risks can impact the market value and cash flows from the security. The major risks include interest rate, reinvestment, call/prepayment, credit, inflation, liquidity, exchange rate, volatility, political, event, and sector risks.

What are the four factors affecting fixed capital? ›

Ans : There are many factors affecting fixed capital. Some include diversification, joint ventures, growth prospects, and production techniques. Ans : Some of the factors that affect working capital include the nature of the business, operating efficiency, availability of raw materials, and competition level.

What are the 4 roles of fixed-income? ›

Key fixed income considerations: If you require a source of stable expected return and income, diversification, liquidity and liability hedging, fixed income could be a beneficial component of your portfolio.

What are the determinants in selecting fixed-income securities? ›

The main factors that impact the prices of fixed-income securities include interest rate changes, default or credit risk, and secondary market liquidity risk. Fixed-income securities are loans made by an investor to a government or corporate borrower.

What are the defining elements of fixed-income securities? ›

The three important elements that an investor needs to know when investing in a fixed-income security are: (1) the bond's features, which determine its scheduled cash flows and thus the bondholder's expected and actual return; (2) the legal, regulatory, and tax considerations that apply to the contractual agreement ...

How do you identify fixed-income securities? ›

Fixed-income securities are debt instruments that pay a fixed rate of interest. These can include bonds issued by governments or corporations, CDs, money market funds, and commercial paper.

Can you lose money on fixed income investments? ›

Fixed income securities also carry inflation risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and credit and default risks for both issuers and counterparties. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to loss.

Should I invest in fixed income funds now? ›

Answer: Now may be the perfect time to invest in bonds. Yields are at levels you could only dream of 15 years ago, so you'd be locking in substantial, regular income. And, of course, bonds act as a diversifier to your stock portfolio.

Should you buy bonds when interest rates are high? ›

Should I only buy bonds when interest rates are high? There are advantages to purchasing bonds after interest rates have risen. Along with generating a larger income stream, such bonds may be subject to less interest rate risk, as there may be a reduced chance of rates moving significantly higher from current levels.

What factors impact the risk of a fixed income security such as a bond )? ›

Market prices of fixed income securities may be affected by several types of risk, including, but not limited to credit risk, interest rate risk, reinvestment risk, and liquidity risk. Investing involves risk and investors may incur a profit or loss.

What are the features of fixed income securities? ›

A fixed-income security is a financial obligation that pays a fixed amount of interest—in the form of coupon payments—to investors at specified points in the future. The payments are anchored on contractual guidelines and must be made.

What are the pros and cons of fixed income securities? ›

Fixed-income securities usually have low price volatility risk. Some fixed-income securities are guaranteed by the government providing a safer return for investors. Cons: Fixed-income securities have credit risk, so the issuer could possibly default on making the interest payments or paying back the principal.

What are the basics of fixed income? ›

Fixed income is a class of assets and securities that pay out a set level of cash flows to investors, typically in the form of fixed interest or dividends. Government and corporate bonds are the most common types of fixed-income products.

What are style factors in finance? ›

Style factors encompass growth versus value stocks; market capitalization; and industry sector.

What are fixed income strategies? ›

The Core Fixed Income Strategy is a value-oriented fixed income strategy that invests primarily in a diversified mix of U.S. dollar-denominated investment-grade fixed income securities, particularly U.S. government, corporate, and securitized assets, including commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage ...

What type of income is fixed income? ›

Fixed Income Securities, otherwise known as Interest Rate Securities, are debt investments that pay a fixed or floating rate of return. As an investor, you are lending money to the issuer — in return, the issuer pays you interest, and promises to repay the issue price at a specific time.

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