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A Bond
is basically a loan in which the lender is a common everyday consumer
and the borrower is the government, an agency, or a company. The U.S.
Treasury, municipalities, and companies issue or sell bonds to obtain
certain amounts of money to fund their day-to-day operations or to
finance specific projects. Purchase of bonds enables the borrower to
invest cash that will eventually be returned, sometimes with added
interest.
Because bonds are actually loans, the amount of the
bond is the principle, and interest is paid on the principle: usually
at a fixed rate. Bond insurance protects the issuer if they are unable
to follow through on their end of the “bond bargain”. By paying an
insurance premium, the bond issuer gains the security of knowing that
the principle and interest of the bond will be paid for, if the issuer
in unable to do so.
How bonds are classified depends on several factors, including: