Municipal Bonds

Our take on the investing, financial, & economic themes of the day

Puerto Rico’s Long-term Debt: Some Statistics

Here are some more bracing statistics, via Randall Forsyth at Barron’s, about just how crazy Puerto Rico’s borrowing has been.  The island’s tax-free and relatively high yields have resulted in its debt comprising a wildly disproportionate share of the long-term municipal ... read more...

Puerto Rican Debt Crisis Heats Up Again: Judgment Day for Greedy Bond Fund Managers?

After the market close the other day Moody’s downgraded Puerto Rico’s municipal debt by three notches, lowering its estimation of the island’s bonds to junk status.  I wrote about the Puerto Rican debt crisis last year in December.  Puerto Rico’s risky municipal debt ... read more...

Reasons Still to Buy Bonds in Spite of Low Yields

4 June, 2014 by Mark O'Brien in Commentary
The other day Matthew noted a Deutsche Bank study that reported that Dutch Sovereign bonds are paying near their lowest yields since 1517, which is as far back as anyone has records.  No matter where you go, interest rates seem ridiculously low.   Here in the United States the bellwether ... read more...

Trouble in Paradise for Municipal Bonds

18 December, 2013 by Matthew O'Brien, Ph.D. in Commentary
It takes about $25,000 to buy corporate or municipal bonds in a lot that is able to secure a reasonable commission.  Bonds purchased in smaller amounts incur excessive brokerage fees.  For investors who don’t have enough money to purchase individual bonds efficiently, bond mutual funds (and ... read more...