Explainers

Sometimes I'm not sure I understand something completely, so I write it out. Read at your own risk.

Bondsstart at the top

  1. What Are Bonds? A Beginner's GuideA bond is a loan dressed up as an investment. What that means, some terminology worth knowing, and why bond prices move.
  2. Bond DurationDuration estimates how much a bond's price moves when interest rates do. This post shows how this is measured and what the impact can be.
  3. A Field Guide to U.S. Treasury SecuritiesBills, notes, bonds, TIPS, FRNs, I Bonds, EE Bonds. Same borrower, different terms. What each one actually is and how to tell them apart.

Economystart at the top

  1. What Is GDP?Gross domestic product is a broad scorecard for an economy. What it counts, what it doesn't count, and why markets care so much when it changes.

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