Bonds

Uncle Sam’s 7% Income Christmas Gift

Uncle Sam’s 7% Income Christmas Gift

Dear Reader, Those of us out in the real world, buying gasoline, bacon, Christmas gifts, and renting homes, understand that inflation is real and probably higher than the official government inflation number. However, interest rates on fixed-income investments such as Treasury bonds and CDs remain very low. One exception is the U.S. government’s inflation-linked savings […]

Is Inflation Going To Tank The Corporate Bond Market?

Is Inflation Going To Tank The Corporate Bond Market?

Inflation is what everyone in the market is talking about these days.  The financial markets are concerned that the Fed will have to hike rates much sooner than expected.  Higher rates will significantly impact fixed income products like Treasuries and corporate bonds.  Perhaps that’s why an institutional trader purchased 160,000 put spreads in iShares iBoxx […]

Trade of the Week: HYG

Trade of the Week: HYG

Last week, we saw a substantial amount of options activity in the iShares iBoxx $ High Yield Bond ETF (HYG). HYG is a very popular ETF used for tracking junk bonds (aka high yield bonds). The ETF normally has about 220,000 options contacts that trade per day on average, but on a busy day last […]

The #1 Sector I’m Looking at as Bond Yields Skyrocket

The #1 Sector I’m Looking at as Bond Yields Skyrocket

We’re seeing bond yields on the 2-yr government bonds hitting 2020 numbers again. And this only benefits one specific sector. It’s not oil or materials. There’s another sector I’m seeing very bullish moves in… and I even point out 2 stocks that could see some upside. If you’re watching inflation as I am… you should […]

Is There Still Time To Be Bullish On Bonds?

Is There Still Time To Be Bullish On Bonds?

As low as interest rates have been lately, it doesn’t seem to have diminished investors’ appetite for government bonds.  A yield under 1.50% for 10-year Treasury notes is not a detriment, apparently, when the rest of the developed world is also in an ultra-low rate cycle. Bond investors may have assumed the looming threat of […]

Guaranteed Safe Fixed Income Is Still Possible, If You Know Where To Find It

Guaranteed Safe Fixed Income Is Still Possible, If You Know Where To Find It

Why do retirees crave guaranteed fixed income? It’s simple. Retiring comfortably is having enough money to enjoy your lifestyle, without constantly having to worry about money. Prior to the 2008 bank bailouts, Certificates of Deposit and top-quality bonds filled that role well. Current interest rates are pathetic. At current rates, CDs and quality bonds are guaranteed […]