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Malthus visits Wall Street
Chris Farrell Mar 7, 2012
I don't think investors should fear the march of time. The specter of a baby boomer-driven stock and bond market implosion seems implausible to me largely because of the move toward market economies around the world. By the time retiring boomers are selling in earnest, markets will be even more global than they are now. There are a lot of foreigners to buy U.S. assets.
Italian police seize $6 trillion in fake bonds
Joel Patterson Feb 17, 2012
Yep, that’s trillion with a “T”.
What's the difference: Secured vs. unsecured bonds
Paddy Hirsch Jan 26, 2012
Learn the difference between secured and unsecured debt -- a lesson that Irish taxpayers could use as they face the prospect of footing the bill for the bailout of state-owned Anglo Irish Bank.
Demand for German bonds remains strong
Stephen Beard Jan 4, 2012
The hard economic times in Europe have actually been a good thing for Germany, which can still borrow at low rates and benefit in export markets.
How junk bonds are like junk yards
Paddy Hirsch Jan 3, 2012
Marketplace's Paddy Hirsch explains why high-yield bonds are just as risky as used auto parts.
Italian bond sale, Iranian threat impacting markets
Josh Brown Dec 28, 2011
Iran has repeated its threat to block the Straight of Hormuz where about a-fifth of the world's oil passes through. In Italy today, investors seemed happy to buy up the country's debt.
A coming credit crunch?
Heidi N. Moore Dec 27, 2011
We talk a lot about the stock market, but the real lifeblood of U.S. companies is the corporate bond market, which is twice as large.
The feel good factor
David Brancaccio Dec 21, 2011
A surprisingly successful Spanish bond sale and news of an increase in new home construction spurred markets to rally today.
Thinking about tax-exempt bonds
Chris Farrell Dec 16, 2011
My wife and I are in our early 60s, with a son in college. We have Roths and 401(k)s. I will get a pension from the state of North Carolina when I retire in a few years -- not so for my wife. What I need to know is: Is there a reason not to put so much of our savings in munis? (I would take the money out of some of our mutual funds.) I would not get munis from states with problematic economies; I would most likely get them from N.C. Also, what is the best way to purchase tax-free munis? Thanks! Stephen, Durham, NC
What is a junk bond?
Paddy Hirsch Dec 16, 2011
Junk. Not a nice word. And when it comes to bonds, not a particularly accurate word, either. Junk is something useless, right? Well, "junk" bonds are definitely not useless. In fact they're extremely useful. Sometimes. Marketplace Senior Producer Paddy Hirsch explains what a junk bond really is.
