#Essential
What Are Contingent Convertible Bonds and How Do They Work?
A bond usually pays interest and returns the principal on maturity. But some bonds can change their form when the issuing bank runs into financial trouble. Contingent Convertible Bonds, commonly called CoCo bonds, are built for such situations. They can absorb losses by converting into shares or by reducing the amount owed to investors. Key […]
What are Corporate Bonds? Meaning, Types, Features & How to Invest in India
A corporate bond is a type of debt security issued by a corporation to raise capital. Investors who purchase a corporate bond lend money to the company for a specified period and receive periodic interest payments. At the end of the bond term, the company repays the bond’s principal. As of March 31, 2024, the […]
What Are Credit Rating Agencies?
Introduction Investing in bonds or debt instruments involves evaluating the creditworthiness of issuers—a task that can feel daunting without the right guidance. This is where credit rating agencies step in, offering a trustworthy way to assess the financial trustworthiness of entities issuing debt. In India, these agencies are vital to the financial ecosystem, empowering investors […]
What is a Debt Mutual Fund? Meaning, Types & How to Invest
Most Indian investors either park money in fixed deposits or dive headfirst into equity. There is a whole middle ground they are missing, and it is called debt funds. Not boring. Not risk-free either. Just widely misunderstood. Consider a retired government officer from Nagpur who kept his entire life savings in an SBI savings account […]
What Are Floating Rate Bonds?
Bonds are debt instruments that loan money to their issuers. It is a type of borrowing where the issuer borrows funds at an interest rate that is either fixed or variable. A government, a bank, or a corporation may issue a bond. Bonds can be issued either at fixed rates or at floating rates. Here, […]
What are Fully Accessible Route (FAR) bonds
Introduction In a landmark development for India’s debt market, on June 28, 2024, JP Morgan added 29 Indian government securities under the FAR program to its highly regarded Emerging Market Bond Index (EMBI). This development is expected to enhance foreign investor participation and attract substantial inflows into the Indian bond market. The decision marks India’s […]
What Are High-Yield Bonds?
Bonds are debt instruments where the issuing entities promise to pay the investor a specific amount of interest over the tenure of the bond and return the principal amount at the end of it. In high yield bonds the interest rates are higher than other fixed income instruments with similar tenure. As the risk factor […]
What are Inflation-Indexed Bonds?
Introduction In our previous blog, the impact of inflation on bond investments, we discussed how inflation can significantly erode the real value of bond investments. Imagine earning 8% interest on a bond, but with inflation running at 4%, your actual gain in purchasing power is only 4%. As a response to this issue, Inflation-Indexed […]
What are Infrastructure Bonds?
Introduction Mumbai’s skyline, with its skyscrapers piercing the clouds, shows ambition and modernization. As the financial capital, the city has seen an infrastructure boom over the past decade. The Trans Harbour Link, Metro, and Coastal Road projects will make the city more interconnected. However, the current infrastructure still doesn’t provide enough relief. Traveling 6 kilometers […]