US Bond Market
By John Schroy, on November 19th, 2006 |

The Democratic Party and its supporters have indicated a willingness to enact legislation that will reduce demand for bonds, while increasing supply: a recipe for lower bond prices and higher yields. Questionable economic policies are expected to include support for Fannie Mae, protectionist trade measures, and large pensions for unionized civil servants.
Insurance companies
By John Schroy, on October 25th, 2006 |

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 uses a technical trick to dissuade retirees from transferring from company pension plans to privately insured plans. When a worker is stuck with an under-funded company plan, their lump-sum payment option has been effectively reduced by Congress. Not only workers, but life insurance companies are stiffed by this provision.
May 2006
By John Schroy, on July 30th, 2006 |

According to statistics published by the Bond Market Association, based on Thomson Financial Securities Data, corporate bond issues for the first five months of 2006, totaled $339 billion.
This was an 18.3% increase over the same period in 2005.
High rates of new supplies of corporate bonds have exerted pressure on interest rates in the first half of 2006.
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