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Important Facts About Saving Bonds

By: Joe Goertz

Unlike traditional bonds, saving bonds are not subject to the ups and downs of the stock market. Savings bonds are low risk, government-backed bonds with guaranteed rates of interest. There is a tax advantage to savings bonds because the owner may be able to partially or completely exclude their interest from Federal income tax.

There are three types of saving bonds: I, EE/E and HH/H. They are issued by the US Treasury Department. They can only be purchased in one of three ways: 1) through authorized financial agencies, such as a bank; 2) through payroll deductions; and 3) through an electronic service called TreasuryDirect. All saving bonds are registered and held in name of the person who owns them. Savings bonds are registered securities. They can be replaced if they are lost or destroyed.

Series I bonds are available at face value only. Series I bonds come in $50 to $10,000 denominations. No more than $30,000 (face value) of paper bonds and $30,000 of electronic bonds purchased each year. They must be held for a minimum of 1 year and they will accrue interest for 30 years. Interest on the Series I bonds is based on a fixed rate (announced by the Bureau of Public Debt in May of each year) and an annual inflation rate (announced in November of each year).

Interest is paid when the bond is redeemed. If this happens before the bond is five years old, there is an interest penalty equivalent to the three most recent months interest. Interest is not subject to State and local taxes. It is, however, subject to State and local estate, gift and other excise taxes. Interest on the bonds is also subject to Federal taxes. If the bonds are used to finance an education, all the interest or only part may be excluded from federal income taxes.

The series EE bonds replaced Series E. EE bonds are very affordable and can be purchased at one half of their face value. They come in denominations from $50 to $10,000. Individuals can buy no more than $30,000 (face value) worth of paper bonds and $30,000 of electronic bonds annually. EE bonds purchased between May 1997 and April 30, 2005 earn a variable market-based rate of return. Those issued May 2005 onwards earn a fixed rate of interest. They will generate interest for 30 years and the interest is compounded semi-annually. The Series EE bonds are similar to the Series I Bonds in regard to interest payment and time of redemption. The biggest difference between EE and I bonds is that interest rates are figured differently. EE Bonds receive 90% of 6-month averages of 5-year Treasury Securities market yields.

Prior to September 2004, Series HH savings bonds could be purchased only in exchange for Series EE/E bonds. After that date, they could be purchased without them. Series HH bonds are available in denominations ranging from $500 to $10,000. They are purchased at their face value. There is no limit on the amount that can be purchased.

The interest on Series HH bonds is fixed on the date of purchase and will continue to accrue for 20 years. The interest is deposited directly into the owners checking or savings account. Series HH Savings Bonds must be held for a minimum of six months. Like Series I and EE, the interest on Series HH bonds is not subject to State and local taxes. It is, however, subject and State and local inheritance, gift and other excise taxes.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

You will find more from this author at: finance-mag.com

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Basics Of Federal Bond Issues

By: Joseph Kenny

Most people associate the term investments with stocks and mutual funds, but Federal bond issues also constitute a major chunk of the overall investments market. The annual turnover of US Federal Bond issues is many times more than that generated by the collective stock markets. Although considered the safest investment options in the US, Federal Bonds are not free from obscurity. The following information will help you understand the basics of these bonds.

How and why they are issued?

The main organization that coordinates Federal bond issues is the Central Bank, which first conducts a market survey to assess the current investment needs of investors. This survey involves consultations with various entities like investment dealers, banks, and other financial organizations that are experienced in handling Federal bond issues. Before introducing the bonds in the market, the Federal government needs to determine their exact purpose, which may be for constructing a new road or bridge, refunding government debt or for funding some other project that is designed to serve national taxpayers or some other federal constituents. In addition, the Federal government has also to determine the legal parameters required by the federal legislation beforehand.

Marketing the bonds

For marketing the bonds, the government can select either a single underwriter or a group of them, based on the size of the bond issue. The government is required to supply copies of a disclosure document that provides bond related information to potential underwriters, to enable them to bid for the issue. For this purpose, the government hires the services of a professional bond counsel firm that looks into the legal aspects of the issue, in consultations with the official government solicitor. Both the counsel firm and the solicitor work together to check the applicability of the bond issues, in relation with federal and state law, and tax approvals. This is done to ensure that proper legal procedures are being followed. The marketing phase of Federal Bond issues usually lasts a week, during which potential underwriters review and evaluate the terms and conditions of the bond issue. This helps them in quoting an appropriate bid amount. This process is eliminated, when the government appoints a single underwriter, based on past relationships with the person. If multiple underwriters are to be appointed, the government allows all interested parties to submit their purchase bids, which includes general terms and conditions, the term of the bond issue, the actual amount of the bonds, interest rates, amortization schedule, and details about prepayment provisions.

Completing documentation requirements

In the final phase of the process of issuing Federal bonds, the appointed underwriter wires the purchase price to the paying agent, who in turn transfers back the cost of issuance according to the terms and conditions. The paying agent is also entrusted with the task of allocating funds to the appropriate parties or projects, depending on the original purpose determined in the initial phases of the Federal bond issue. The counsel firm then prepares the closing documents, a copy of which is sent to all the participants of the issue.

The closing documents are highly technical in nature and you will have to be a law professional to understand the kind of information given in them. These documents are used as a proof that the terms and conditions of the purchase proposal have been fully approved.

The basic information provided above will help you to familiarize yourself with the practical details of Federal Bond issues. By investing a part of your savings in Federal Bond issues, you can hedge against risks that are quite common in other types of investments, such as stocks and derivatives.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk/, visit to compare UK credit cards, and also many 0% balance transfers to transfer your debt to an introductory 0% credit card deal.

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Analyze Your Stocks And Double Your Profit

By: Joseph Kenny

An investor buys a share of stock by resorting to various approaches that validate his investment by reaping rich profits. Before investing, however, it is necessary for a value investor to study the financials of a business, so that the stock he buys at the companys intrinsic value promises a greater return at its liquidation value (the value of a company if all its assets were sold). A typical investor would buy growth stocks that have an upward trend, and seem likely to keep growing for a long time. Whereas, a technical investor (also known as a Quant) makes decisions based upon the psychology of the market and related factors, which involve much higher risk but may prove to be more profitable, or, can conversely result in much greater losses. The fundamental analysis of any business can depend on various factors: efficient market theory, value and growth, growth at a reasonable price and the quality of the business.

1. Efficient market theory pertains to stocks being always correctly priced, as all the requisite information is available on the current price.
2. The stock market sets up the price.
3. Analysts decide upon the value of a company based on the potential for its growth.
4. Price and value may not be equal, due to certain irrationalities governing the market.

Value investors need to rely on certain stringent rules governing the nature of the stock which adhere to the following criteria:

1. Earnings: company earnings are profits after taxes and interests.
2. Earnings per share (EPS): the amount of recorded income (on per share basis) available to the company to pay dividends to stockholders, or to reinvest in itself.
3. Price/Earnings Ratios (P/E) ratio (having a justified upper limit): If the company’s stock is trading at $80 and its EPS is $8 per share, it has a multiple, or P/E of 10. This means that investors could expect a 10% cash flow return:
$8/$80 = 1/10 = 1/(PE) = 0.10 = 10%
If it’s making $4 per share, it has a multiple of 20 (20 times $4 equals $80). In this case, an investor might receive a 5% return (in the same conditions);
$4/$80 = 1/20 = 1/(P/E) = 0.05 = 5%
However, a low P/E is not an untainted value indicator.
4. Price/Sales Ratio (PSR): is the same as a P/E ratio, except that the stocks are divided by sales per share instead of earnings per share.
5. Debt Ratio: percentage of debt a company has relative to the shareholder equity.
6. Dividend yields above a certain absolute limit.
7. Book value ratio: comparison of the market price against the book value of the stock per share.
8. Market capitalization value: Complete total value of a companys outstanding shares (Market price per share Total number of shares outstanding).
9. Equity Returns - ROE: Net income after taxes divided by owners equity.
10. Beta: comparison of volatility of the stock to that of the market.
11. Institutional ownership: percentage of a firms outstanding shares owned by certain institutions: insurance companies, mutual funds etc.

Learning to analyze ones stocks and thus reaping the desirable profit is in fact a continuous process, as no amount of market efficient theories can ever predict a flawless financial return system. Even though one invests judiciously by studying the market, the over-valuation or under-valuation of stocks can often be determined by market emotions.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk, offering the latest offers on UK credit cards, visit them today for some great credit card applications. Visit today: www.cardguide.co.uk

The Basics Of Short Selling Stocks

By: Joseph Kenny

Shorting or short selling refers to the selling of a contract, a bond or stock or a commodity that is not directly owned by the seller. When practicing short selling, a seller is committed to purchase the stock or commodity previously sold.

Short selling stocks means to take the stock from a broker on loan and sell it off to someone else. This is done so that the seller buys back the stock, when the price falls. The shares are returned to the broker from whom they were initially borrowed. The shorting profit or the difference in price goes to the seller. Short selling of stocks is a technique used by investors to capitalize on a probable decline in the stock price.

To understand this better, let us consider a company, say, ABC whose shares currently sell at $12 each. A short seller borrows 50 shares of ABC and then sells those shares to someone else at $12 per share, for a total of $600. Now, if in future the price of shares of ABC falls to $10 per share, this short seller would then buy back those 50 shares at $500 ($10 multiplied by 50 shares), send back the shares to the original owner/broker and make a profit of $100.

Short selling is risky, if the price per share goes up instead of declining, as expected. Suppose the price per share of ABC goes up to $15 per share, then the short seller will have to cash in the previously sold 50 shares at $750, return the shares to the original owner and incur a loss of $150.

Shorting is a transaction done on margin. Most brokers do not agree to short selling stocks below $5. This enables the investors and short sellers to indulge in the high-risk trading of stocks.

Some of the following market situations help to predict a fall in price of stocks: -

- Market indexes coming near the prior resistance levels.
- Market trend showing technically overbought levels.
- Restlessness before the announcement of a states government.
- Market vulnerability during scandals.

Large volume selling of stocks often result in short-term high profits. However, there are certain guidelines to be followed for successful short selling. They are:

- All stocks are not short able. Generally, brokers inform a seller whether a stock can be used for short selling or not.

- Sellers must open a margin account for short selling. This depends on the minimum balances and cash reserves. Sellers are required to sign a contract agreement with the brokers to open a margin account. This agreement clearly states that a seller will follow the rules and regulations stated by the broker.

-Target bad-performance, overpriced companies, since the probability of a fall in the share price involves lesser risk.

- Traders and short sellers should use stop orders to protect their capital from loss. Generally, brokers prevent a seller from suffering loss more than the principal. They may either compel the seller to quit the transaction or they may deposit funds to increase the sellers capital.

The short selling of stocks involves a lot of discipline. Sellers need to be proactive, alert and disciplined when shorting stocks.

Article Source: http://www.noviceinvesting.com/Article

Joe Kenny writes for CardGuide.co.uk, offering UK credit card comparison, visit them today for more best buy credit cards. Visit today: www.cardguide.co.uk/

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