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<br /><ul><li><strong>Online learning platform <keyword id="1017386" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Coursera">Coursera</keyword> will now allow its students to get a bachelor’s degree from <keyword id="370436" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="University-of-North-Texas">University of North Texas</keyword>.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>The university has partnered with the edtech platform for its bachelor’s course in applied arts and sciences (BAAS).<br /></strong></li><li><strong>The applications will open in February 2020.<br /></strong></li><li><strong>Students can consult an advisor and create a ‘customised degree plan’ before enrolling. </strong></li></ul>Online learning platform Coursera will now allow its learners to get a bachelor’s degree. And that too from the University of North Texas, a public research university in the <keyword id="6356955" type="LOCATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="united-states">United States</keyword>. <br /><br />The university, which is also among the top 100 American universities for social mobility has partnered with the edtech platform for its bachelor’s course in applied arts and sciences (BAAS). The course will be accessible from September 2020. <br /><br />“Applications for the B.A.A.S. will open in February 2020 and the first cohort is expected to begin this fall,” Cousera said.<br /><br />The programme aims to help students from diverse backgrounds — including college students, veterans and international learners — earn a graduate degree.<br /><br />“The programme will offer students the same engaging support, personal interaction, and career services as our on-campus B.A.A.S. programme to ensure they are set up for success post-graduation,” said Jennifer Cowley, VP for <keyword id="318336" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Academic-Affairs">Academic Affairs</keyword> at UNT.<br /><br />The degree course is offered in seven domains — administration, organizational supervision, social services, hospitality, media innovation, consumer behaviour, and information technology — to prepare students in leading businesses. <br /><br />The university will allow students to consult an advisor and create a ‘customised degree plan’ before enrolling. <br /><br />International students with a three-year bachelor’s degree can advance to a four-year programme — which also opens up avenues for master’s programmes in the US. <br /><br />“A four-year degree is one of the most transformative credentials in today’s job market, but so many students aren’t able to complete their degree due to work, family, or other commitments. The online course recognizes students who’ve earned some college credit, but may not have had the time or flexibility to complete their bachelor's degree,” added Dil Sidhu, chief content officer at Coursera. <br /><br />As per the initiative, students having a <a href="https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/google-it-support">Google IT Support Professional </a> certification from Coursera can also go for IT in the online programme. The certification programme is a six month course in IT for entry-level jobs.<br /><br /><strong>See also:</strong><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/checkout-top-10-most-popular-online-courses-in-india-in-2019-according-to-coursera/articleshow/72506599.cms">Two million took online AI courses in 2019 — and that includes CEOs as well</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/coursera-launches-campus-product-to-integrate-online-learning-with-university-lessons/articleshow/71433652.cms">Coursera launches campus product to integrate online learning with university lessons</a><br />

Now you can get a degree from an American university — learning at home in India

<p></p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><ul class="summary-list"><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/target">Target</a> cash registers across the US crashed on Saturday afternoon, creating long lines and crowds of frustrated customers unable to check out from stores.&#xa0;</li><li>The incident was dubbed "The Great Target Outage of '19" on social media, with many comparing Target's struggles to the disastrous Fyre Festival.&#xa0;</li><li>"We're aware that guests are currently unable to make purchases at Target stores," Target tweeted at 3:08 p.m. ET. "Our teams are troubleshooting now and we apologize for the inconvenience. We will provide an update as soon as possible."</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul><p>Target faced massive technical difficulties on Saturday, as customers across the US found themselves unable to check out at the retailer.&#xa0;</p><p>At around 2 p.m. ET, Target customers at locations across the US began reporting malfunctioning cash registers on social media. Soon, long lines formed, as customers were unable to check out.&#xa0;</p><p>According to one Target employee who reached out to Business Insider, workers were told that the retailer was facing a <span>global cash register outage. Other employees shared similar reports on social media.&#xa0;</span></p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Employees handed out free samples to frustrated customers.&#xa0;</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Others asked that customers not lash out at Target workers - who were stressed themselves.&#xa0;</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>The systems issue - dubbed "The Great Target Outage of 2019" on social media - soon took on almost mythical qualities.&#xa0;</p><p>&#xa0;</p><p>Some compared the incident to the disastrous Fyre Festival.&#xa0;</p><p>"We're aware that guests are currently unable to make purchases at Target stores," a Target representative said in an e-mailed statement to Business Insider. "Our teams are troubleshooting now and we apologize for the inconvenience. We will provide an update as soon as possible."</p><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/hermes-birkin-bag-realreal-handbag-expert-so-expensive-2019-6">A handbag expert explains why Hermès Birkin bags are so expensive</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Target cash registers across the US are crashing, creating massive lines of frustrated customers in 'The Great Target Outage of 2019'

<ul><li><strong>The secular bull rally in the stock market is still alive and well, according to Ned Davis Research.</strong></li><li><strong>From positive GDP growth to an incredibly low unemployment rate, investors should prepare for more gains in stock prices.</strong></li><li><strong>These are the seven charts that suggest the secular bull rally in stocks still has room to run, according to NDR.</strong></li></ul><p>While everyone <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/recession-economy-outlook-7-indicators-soft-landing-stock-market-debt-2023-5?_gl=1*jievky*_ga*MTc1OTYzMjQ2Mi4xNjYxOTYxNTUx*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY4MzkyMTg4MS4xMjIuMS4xNjgzOTIyNTA2LjU2LjAuMA..">is waiting for a recession to hit the US economy,</a> there are growing signals that suggest the stock market's secular bull rally is actually here to stay.</p><p>In a note on Friday, <a href="https://www.ndr.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ned Davis Research</a> highlighted various technical and economic indicators that suggest things are relatively ok for both the stock market and the economy. From positive GDP growth to an incredibly low unemployment rate, investors should be prepared for more gains in stock prices, according to the firm.</p><p>"In a continuing secular bull, the major benchmarks could be expected to keep trending upward on their way to record highs, which are currently 16% and 14% away respectively on the S&amp;P and ACWI," NDR's Tim Hayes said.</p><p>These are the seven charts that suggest the secular bull rally in stocks still has room to run, according to NDR.</p><h3>1. Tech stocks are outperforming energy stocks.</h3><div type="image" title="Tech stocks vs energy" height="827" width="970" msid="100230900" hostid="261" sizebytes="82764"></div><p>"Starting in 2020, Tech began to underperform Energy as indicated by the dropping Tech/Energy ratio in the chart's top clip. Currently, however, Tech and the U.S. are outperforming again, trends likely to continue with the secular bull remaining intact," NDR said.</p><h3>2. Volatility and credit spreads are declining.</h3><div type="image" title="Volatility" height="828" width="972" msid="100230901" hostid="261" sizebytes="80020"></div><p>"The secular bear evidence would increase if market volatility would continue trending higher with credit spreads, both reflecting rising economic pessimism. What we now can see is that the S&amp;P 500 Volatility Index has reached <br />a lower high (middle clip) along with the spread between the Moody Baa bond yield and 10-year Treasury yield (bottom clip)," NDR said.</p><h3>3. Investors are bearish.</h3><div type="image" title="bearish investors" height="828" width="975" msid="100230903" hostid="261" sizebytes="78358"></div><p>"Since the extreme in pessimism reached at the end of September, confidence has gradually returned but the indicator is far from excessive optimism levels. The chart's middle mode box indicates that the S&amp;P 500 has gained 32% per annum when sentiment has been in its current pessimism mode during a secular bull market," NDR said.</p><h3>4. Unemployment is still low.</h3><div type="image" title="low unemployment" height="828" width="973" msid="100230904" hostid="261" sizebytes="59520"></div><p>"Our Global Consumer Sentiment Composite has continued to recover from the lows reached late last year (bottom clip), with the sentiment supported by the low unemployment rates in major economies (top clip). Consumer sentiment trended higher during the second half of the 1990s and has done so during most of a secular bull that's now in its 15th year," NDR said.</p><h3><strong>5. US GDP growth is positive.</strong></h3><div type="image" title="GDP growth" height="825" width="974" msid="100230905" hostid="261" sizebytes="63432"></div><p>"The growth is still positive and currently more than four percentage points higher than it was at its lows in 2009. The per annum point changes reflect the tendency for real economic growth to rise over the course of secular bulls and decline during secular bears," NDR said.</p><h3>6. US economic output gap is rising.</h3><div type="image" title="Output gap" height="830" width="974" msid="100230906" hostid="261" sizebytes="67920"></div><p>"If inflation continues to recede, downward pressure on real GDP growth will lift, and that would also make it easier for the U.S. output gap to grow. The output gap compares real GDP growth to potential GDP growth, as measured by the five-year average of nonfarm productivity growth and U.S. labor force growth. As with real GDP growth itself, the per annum point changes show that the gap has tended to widen during secular bulls and shrink during secular bears," NDR said.</p><h3>7. Bond yields and commodities are cooperating.</h3><div type="image" title="Bond yields" height="827" width="971" msid="100230908" hostid="261" sizebytes="90834"></div><p>"As inflation expectations have trended lower, bond yields and commodities have been held in check, making the secular bear of the 1970s less comparable. Commodities thus remain in a secular bear that has coincided with the secular bull in equities, consistent with the tendency during previous commodity bears. The current consistency is aligned with the other indications that equities remain in the secular bull that has persisted since 2009," NDR said.</p>

These 7 charts show that the stock market's secular bull rally is still alive and well

<ul><li>Rating agency Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded Bharti Airtel’s rating citing improving operational metrics.</li><li>The telecom operator’s two-fold jump in March quarter net profit at ₹2,008 crore is among the positives.</li><li>Bharti Airtel’s financial performance is expected to remain stable even after funding in the upcoming 5G auction.</li></ul>Rating agency Moody’s Investors Service upgraded Bharti Airtel’s rating to Baa3 along with changing the outlook to ‘stable’ from positive.<br /><br />“Bharti’s Baa3 rating considers the company's position as one of the largest telecom service operators globally in terms of subscribers (491 million), its solid market position in India's high-growth mobile market and its large spectrum holdings,” said the rating agency. <br /><br /><strong>Bharti Airtel’s pre-tax profits will grow by 15-20%: Moody’s <br /></strong>The telecom operator’s two-fold jump in the March quarter net profit at ₹2,008 crore aided by increasing average revenue per user and an exceptional gain is among the positives. Further, Moody's expects a further 15%-20% increase in Bharti's consolidated pre-tax profits by the end of fiscal 2023, reflecting stable growth at its Indian operations and African operations.<br /><br />Airtel has come a long way from turning its losses of ₹12,364 crore ($1.5 billion) in FY20 to a profit of ₹8,305 crore ($1 billion) in FY21. <br /><br />Entities given Baa3 ratings are considered medium grade and are subject to moderate credit risk and the firm has an acceptable ability to repay short term obligations.<br /><br /><strong>Gradual tariff increases add its stability <br /></strong>The rating agency expects Bharti Airtel’s profitability to improve with growing cash flows over the next 1-2 years even after its expenses towards buying 5G spectrum. This is aided by the telecom operator’s calibrated moves to increase <keyword id="6361864" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="tariffs" source="Orion">tariffs</keyword> gradually. <br /><br /><keyword id="6354504" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="reliance-jio" source="Orion">Reliance Jio</keyword> has been losing subscribers for three consecutive quarters as it increases tariffs on mobile data. Overall, for the financial year 2021-22, <keyword id="2003276" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jio" source="Orion">Jio</keyword>’s subscriber numbers are down by 16 million.<br /><br />Bharti Airtel is present in 16 countries across South Asia and Africa with a customer base of 491 million users out of which 360 million are from India. The third player - debt laden and loss making Vodafone Idea - has also een losing market share. <br /><div type="image" title="telecom market share" height="900" width="1200" msid="91833890" hostid="261"></div><strong><br />Airtel even earns more money per user than Jio</strong><br /><br />Bharti Airtel’s average revenue per user (ARPU) in January to March quarter was earning ₹178, which is ₹10.4 rupees more than that of Reliance Jio’s ₹167.6 per user. <br /><br />This could also be because Jio’s tariffs are still cheapest among the three biggest players. <br /><br />Further, the telecom companies Reliance Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea are reportedly planning on increasing prices once again after up to 25% in November 2021. The increased prices will <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/telecom/news/jio-airtel-and-vodafone-idea-are-reportedly-planning-on-increasing-prices-again-in-end-of-year/articleshow/91757795.cms">reportedly</a> push Airtel’s ARPU to around ₹200. Jio and Vodafone’s Idea’s ARPU is expected to increase to ₹185 and ₹135 respectively — all leading to improving margins in the sector. <br /><div type="image" title="_Airtel, Reliance revenue per user" msid="91833898" hostid="261"></div><br /><br /><strong>SEE ALSO: </strong><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/how-to-invest-in-us-stocks-from-india/articleshow/91833312.cms">These brokers allow you to invest in US stocks from India</a><br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/invact-metaversity-saga-takes-a-dramatic-turn-after-angel-investor-blames-former-twitter-india-head-of-bullying-lying-read-the-full-email/articleshow/91832939.cms"></a><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/thelife/personalities/news/gautam-adani-a-story-on-how-to-generate-wealth-via-hope-fomo-and-of-course-debt/articleshow/91829090.cms">Understanding Gautam Adani’s rise: a story on how to generate wealth via hope, equity and of course debt</a><br /><a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="http://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/the-edtech-bubble-is-bursting-as-schools-colleges-reopen-and-funds-dry-up/articleshow/91826696.cms">The edtech bubble is bursting as schools, colleges reopen and funds dry up</a><br />

Bharti Airtel’s cash flows will grow for 2 years after 5G spectrum purchases too: Moody’s

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A corporate bond is issued by a company to raise money; like any debt, it pays <keyword id="6359051" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="investors">investors</keyword> regular interest and a return of their principal when it matures.</li><li><keyword id="6386461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Corporate-bonds">Corporate bonds</keyword> are ranked for quality and risk by credit rating agencies, based on the financial soundness of their issuing company.</li><li>Higher-rated, "investment grade" corporate bonds consistently pay a higher interest rate than US Treasuries, at relatively little risk.</li></ul><p>Just like people, businesses often need to borrow money — to <keyword id="25455" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="finance">finance</keyword> new ventures, pay off old debts, or even to buy another firm. One method at their disposal is to issue bonds.</p><p>A corporate bond, like any bond, is basically a type of debt. The purchaser of a corporate bond effectively lends cash to the issuing company. In exchange, the company becomes obligated to pay interest on this principal sum and to return it in full after a set period,  when the bond matures.</p><p>For investors, corporate bonds offer a source of income — one that's more reliable than stock dividends, since the interest payments are usually fixed, and more lucrative than ultra-safe-but stolid US Treasury bonds. Of course, in the investment world, there's always a tradeoff between risk and reward. And the reliability of corporate bonds can vary, depending on the company issuing them.</p><h2>What is a corporate bond?</h2><p>The main purpose of corporate bonds is to help companies raise additional cash, without having to borrow from a bank, sell equity — that is, issue more stock shares —  or seek out venture capitalists. </p><p>"Companies issue bonds to raise cash to bolster their balance sheets or re-invest in a particular project or expansion plan, " says Susannah Streeter, a senior investment and <keyword id="31671" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="markets">markets</keyword> analyst at <a href="https://www.hl.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hargreaves Lansdow</a>. "Investors who buy corporate bonds are lending money to the company, in the same way as investors who buy government bonds like US Treasuries or UK Gilts are lending money to governments to finance public spending."</p><p>Bondholders are entitled to two sources of income:</p><ul><li>The regular interest installments, usually paid annually or semi-annually. Most bonds pay a fixed interest rate, but variable-rate, or floating, bonds exist too. These are usually based on a benchmark, such as a bond index or prevailing Treasury rate.</li><li>A full repayment of the principal after the bond's term ends. Corporate bonds generally have maturities from three years to 10, though they can be shorter or longer.</li></ul><p>After they're issued, corporate bonds trade on stock exchanges, in the secondary <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">bond markets</a>. Investors can always choose to sell a bond at market price before it matures. This move may be profitable if interest rates, in general, have declined since the bond was issued: A fall in interest rates sparks a rise in bond prices — because that bond is paying a now higher-that-average rate.</p><h2>How are corporate bonds evaluated?</h2><p>In terms of risk, corporate bonds are not all created equal. Much depends on the company issuing them — specifically, on its creditworthiness (the soundness of its finances and ability to pay its debts). This is expressed by its credit rating, something akin to an individual's credit score.</p><p>Corporate credit ratings are provided by the three major credit rating agencies: Moody's, Fitch, and S&amp;P. The rating systems used by these independent firms differ from each other slightly, but they all use letter grades:</p><ul><li>A ratings are assigned to companies deemed to be subject to the lowest level of credit risk</li><li>B ratings usually indicate some moderate credit risk</li><li>C ratings indicate very high credit risk</li><li>D ratings are reserved for companies in default, or bankrupt</li></ul><p>Any bond rated BBB (for Fitch and S&amp;P) or Baa (for Moody's) or above is considered "investment-grade," which — as the name implies — indicates the most suitable choice for investors. </p><p>In contrast, any corporate bond with a rating below BBB (for Fitch and S&amp;P) or Baa (for Moody's) is classified as "non-investment grade." This doesn't mean they're off-limits to investors, just that they're higher-risk — and so they pay higher interest. Officially, they're called "high-yield bonds" — or, more colloquially, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-junk-bonds?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T" target="_blank" rel="noopener">junk bonds</a>. </p><h2>Why invest in a corporate bond?</h2><p>Corporate bonds have a variety of advantages, including:</p><h3>They're a good source of income</h3><p> "Corporate bonds traditionally offer very attractive yields because they carry more credit risk than government bonds," says Edward Moya, a market analyst with New-York based forex broker OANDA.</p><p>But then, just about everything does, since government bonds are considered virtually risk-free. "Corporate bonds which have attracted a high-quality rating are viewed as a relatively safe investment," says Susannah Streeter.</p><p>While average yields will vary according to the economic cycle, investment-grade corporate bonds usually offer rates that are two to three percentage points higher than <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-treasury-bonds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US Treasury bonds</a>. For example, Intel and Coca-Cola — two companies with an A1 rating — are paying a 4% and 3.25% rate on bonds that mature in 2022 and 2024, respectively.</p><p>The difference <a href="https://www.frbsf.org/education/publications/doctor-econ/2004/january/corporate-treasury-bonds-interest-rates-risk-spreads/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tends to grow during downturns and shrink during expansions</a> when Treasuries have to offer higher rates to attract buyers.</p><h3>They diversify your portfolio</h3><p>Corporate bonds can help investors diversify their holdings. Debt instruments like bonds often act as a counterbalance to equities, moving opposite to stocks.</p><p>"Many investors want to build a balanced portfolio. Including bonds can offset the higher risk of buying shares in companies with ambitious growth strategies," Streeter says.</p><h3>They can offer capital gains</h3><p>While corporate bonds are basically an<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investment-income-assets" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> income investment</a>, it's still possible for investors to speculate with them. Given that bond prices can fluctuate depending on the interest rates and economic conditions, corporate bonds can present opportunities for profit during volatile periods.</p><p>This is particularly true of junk bonds, which <a href="https://www.alliancebernstein.com/abcom/perspectives_web/market/retail/equity-like-returns/equity-like-returns-whitepaper.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">have historically behaved more like equities than low-risk corporate bonds</a>. The correlation between junk bonds and equities even increased since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, buoyed by <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/federal-reserve-emergency-corporate-bond-etf-purchases-coronavirus-policy-economy-2020-5-1029191923?utm_source=markets&amp;utm_medium=ingest#est#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Federal Reserve's commitment to buy corporate bonds</a>.</p><p>Of course, you have to time the selling of your bonds carefully and be ready to move fast when prices rise.</p><h2>Risks associated with corporate bonds</h2><p>Where there's reward, there's also risk, and corporate bonds are no exception. </p><h3>Credit risk: The company could default</h3><p>Credit or default risk relates to the possibility that a company may get into financial straits, impairing its ability to make its interest payments — and even the principal on its bond. "Should a company go bust, bond investors may lose money," says Streeter. "However, even bankrupt firms must pay creditors, including bondholders first, before reimbursing investors who hold the company's shares," she adds.</p><h3>Call risk: You could lose the bond</h3><p>Some corporate bonds include a call provision, which provides the company with the ability to repurchase, or "call," the bonds at face value before maturity. This is particularly risky for investors in situations where interest rates have fallen and market prices for bonds have risen since it would deprive them of the ability to make a profit from selling their bonds on the open market. And of course, you lose the interest from the bond, and may not be able to find another with an equally good rate.</p><h3>Liquidity risk: You could find it hard to sell</h3><p>The bond market has historically lacked the pricing transparency of the stock market. This is more of a problem for bonds issued by private companies or smaller firms that trade over the counter. Investment-grade bonds issued by bigger companies are less likely to run into this issue.</p><h3>Interest/inflation risk: The bond loses value</h3><p>This is a systematic risk that's faced by every fixed-interest bond: Potential interest rate rises will cause the market value of bonds to fall. There's also the problem of inflation, which could erode the value of interest payments and the face value of a bond reaching maturity. </p><p>Generally, the longer the bond's maturity, the greater its vulnerability to these risks; that's why longer-term bonds pay a bigger interest rate.</p><h2>How to buy corporate bonds</h2><p>There are two ways to buy corporate bonds.</p><ul><li><strong>Individual bonds: </strong>Corporate bonds are issued and sold in blocks of $1,000. Individual investors can buy them through Investment platforms, brokers, and financial services companies such as Fidelity, Vanguard, and E*TRADE, which charge fees of anything from $1 to $2 per bond. Banks such as Wells Fargo and Morgan Stanley also let you buy individual bonds, although these generally charge higher fees.</li><li><strong>Bond funds:</strong> "Most investors buy a corporate bond fund, as this spreads risk and allows lower investment entry amounts," says Susannah Streeter. Bond funds can be either mutual funds, like the Payden Corporate Bond Fund (<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/funds/payden-corporate-bond-fund-us7043293668" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PYACX</a>), or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), like the iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corp Bond ETF (<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/etfs/ishares-iboxx-investment-grade-corporate-bond-etf-us4642872422" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LQD</a>).</li></ul><h2>The financial takeaway</h2><p>The main attraction of corporate bonds is that they offer a safe income stream, assuming that the companies issuing them have high credit ratings. Corporate bonds offer higher returns than you'll likely find with government bonds. </p><p>They can be also used by less risk-averse investors to speculate, with falls in interest rates tending to increase bond prices. Such strategies come with a number of dangers, chief amongst them being the risk that interest rate rises will depress bond prices. </p><p>There's also the omnipresent risk of default, which would deprive bondholders of interest payments and potentially their entire investment.</p><p>These caveats aside, corporate bonds (and bond funds) can serve as key elements in a diversified portfolio — provided you know which ones to pick.</p><h2>Related Coverage in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investing-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Investing</a>:</h2><h3><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/corporate-bond-sales-reach-trillion-fastest-pace-ever-debt-market-2020-5-1029258342" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US corporate bond sales surge past the $1 trillion threshold at the fastest pace ever</a></h3><h3><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/federal-reserve-corporate-debt-index-top-beneficiaries-purchases-companies-bonds-2020-6-1029351621#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Here are the 10 companies set to benefit the most from the Fed's debt purchases</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/bonds-vs-cds" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bonds vs. CDs: The key differences and how to decide which income-producing option is better for you</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-an-etn" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ETNs combine a bond's reliability with a stock's profitability. Here's how they work, and how to weigh the risks and rewards</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-an-index-fund" target="_blank" rel="noopener">What is an index fund? A low-cost, low-risk way to invest in the stock market</a></h3>

A corporate bond provides companies with cash and investors with income — here's how to evaluate the risks and rewards

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="620339" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="junk-bonds">Junk bonds</keyword> are bonds that are low-ranked by credit rating agencies, due to the sketchy track record of their issuers.</li><li>Because they are riskier, junk bonds pay greater interest than higher-rated bonds, especially during economic downturns. </li><li>Investors can mitigate the risks, while enjoying the income, by investing in <keyword id="1147429" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="junk-bond">junk bond</keyword> mutual funds or ETFs.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet"></a></li></ul><p>If investments were students, junk bonds would be the problem kids of the class. They show a lot of promise, but can't get their grades up.</p><p>Junk bonds' popularity tends to ebb and flow, depending on the stage of the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-business-cycle" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic cycle</a>. During recessions or declines, many investors choose to buy junk bonds in the belief that market conditions will soon improve, and that the price of purchased bonds will rise in parallel with the fortunes of the corresponding companies. </p><h2>What is a junk bond?</h2><p>A junk bond, like all bonds, is a type of debt security. The party buying the bond is essentially loaning money to the party issuing the bond. In return, the issuer promises to repay the money after a certain period, along with interest payments along the way.</p><p>A junk bond is a particular kind of bond that receives a low rating, or grade, from the credit rating agencies that evaluate bonds for investors.</p><p>Officially known as high-yield bonds, junk bonds have historically served the purpose of raising funds for financially weaker companies, while also providing investors with higher returns than other debt securities — such as US Treasury bonds, or <keyword id="6386461" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Corporate-bonds">corporate bonds</keyword> issued by stronger, richer firms.</p><p>To understand how junk bonds work, a little background on bond ratings is in order.</p><h3>Understanding the bond rating system</h3><p>Since a bond is like an IOU, knowing the creditworthiness of the issuer — its ability to pay its bills and honor its debts — is important to bond-buyers. That's why all bonds get graded for quality by independent credit rating agencies. And, the same way academic grades symbolize how strong or weak a student is, a bond's grade acts as shorthand for how safe or risky this investment is.</p><p>The higher the grade, the better the company (and its bonds) — meaning, the more likely it is to make the interest payments on time and to repay investors in full when the bond falls due. The lower the rating, the less likely the company is to meet these obligations — resulting in it collapsing, defaulting on its debt, and leaving its investors with worthless paper.</p><p>Among the credit agencies, the Big Three are Moody's, Standard &amp; Poor's, and Fitch. They assign letter ratings to companies and the bonds they issue, based on an analysis of their assets, underlying financial circumstances, and credit history. </p><p>While the exact systems differ a bit, depending on the agency, the ratings take the form of letter grades: A, B, C, D. The lowest possible credit rating is D, meaning that a company is in default (and often bankrupt as well).</p><p>Anything rated BBB (or Baa, for Moody's) or above is considered "investment-grade," which — as the name implies — indicates the most suitable choice for investors. </p><p>The highest rating — the coveted AAA — is generally reserved for bonds issued by the US Treasury (which has never defaulted in its history) and the strongest, blue-chip companies on the stock market. </p><h3>How junk bonds work</h3><p>"A junk bond is a bond that falls below the investment grade credit rating provided by credit rating agencies," says John Cronin, a financial analyst with the Ireland-based stockbrokers <a href="https://www.goodbody.ie/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Goodbody</a>. More specifically, "that is a credit rating below Baa3 from Moody's, a credit rating below BBB- from S&amp;P, and a credit rating below BBB- from Fitch."</p><p>While any rating below investment-grade is enough to qualify a bond as "junk," the grade could be issued for different reasons. It could mean that the company is simply new, without much of a track record or credit history. Or it signifies a once-sound firm that has run into business troubles of late, a "fallen angel," as the investment pros like to say.</p><p>Whatever the reason, because junk bonds are issued by "riskier" companies — or even governments — they usually pay a higher rate of interest than U.S. Treasury bonds or bonds issued by companies deemed investment-grade — anywhere from 2% to 7% higher, on average.</p><p>For example, in March 2020, the<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/fixed-income/sp-500-bond-index/#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> S&amp;P 500 Bond Index</a>, which tracks the bonds issued by S&amp;P 500 companies, showed an average yield of 4.29%, while the<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/spdji/en/indices/fixed-income/sp-us-high-yield-corporate-bond-index/#overview" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> S&amp;P U.S. High Yield Corporate Bond Index</a> stood at 11.36%.</p><p>Currently, the Brazil Federative Republic is offering a 30-year bond (rated BB) with a 12.25% interest rate, while <a href="https://fixedincome.fidelity.com/ftgw/fi/FIBondDetails?requestType=&amp;displayFormat=TABLE&amp;cusip=931142BF9&amp;ordersystem=TORD&amp;preferenceName=;preferenceName=" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walmart</a> (rated AA) is offering a 30-year bond with a 7.55% interest rate.</p><p>The rationale is simple: Troubled companies have to try harder. The higher interest they pay is intended to compensate for their greater riskiness, attracting investors who might otherwise prefer to play it safe with investment-grade or U.S. Treasury bonds.</p><h2>What risks are associated with junk bonds?</h2><p>Junk bonds carry a number of risks for investors. These include risks associated with the company issuing junk bonds, as well as risks arising from wider economic conditions.</p><h3>1. Default risk</h3><p> The most obvious danger involves default risk, also known as credit risk. This is the risk that the company issuing a junk bond will fail to meet interest or principal payments, or may even default on its bond.</p><p>Default rates on junk bonds vary with the economic cycle. According to<a href="https://www.spglobal.com/ratings/en/research/articles/200528-default-transition-and-recovery-the-u-s-speculative-grade-corporate-default-rate-is-likely-to-reach-12-5-11509206"> data from S&amp;P</a>, default rates hit a peak of around 12% after the 2007-8 financial crisis, before falling to under 3% in 2019.</p><p>The risk of default can be reduced depending on the actions of central banks. The<a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/federal-reserve-emergency-corporate-bond-etf-purchases-coronavirus-policy-economy-2020-5-1029191923"> Federal Reserve committed to purchasing junk bonds</a> in May 2020, removing some of the dangers for private investors who purchase junk debt.</p><p>"Junk is no longer junk, just like being a millionaire nowadays does not mean you are wealthy," says Edward Moya, a market analyst with New-York based forex broker <a href="https://www.oanda.com/us-en/">OANDA</a>, adding that "the Fed's decision to buy junk bonds served many purposes, with the biggest benefit allowing many companies to cheaply raise money."</p><h3>2. Interest rate risk</h3><p>Another risk for investors in junk bonds involves changes in interest rates. If general interest rates rise significantly after you purchase a junk bond, you can expect its price in the bond market to decrease.</p><p>Bonds that take longer to mature present the greatest risks in this respect.</p><h3>3. Economic risk</h3><p>Assuming that the wider economy struggles, investors will increasingly seek to sell high-yield bonds and move to safer assets, such as U.S. Treasury bonds. This could potentially glut the market with junk bonds, sending their prices downwards.</p><h3>4. Liquidity risk</h3><p><strong> </strong>Related to economic risk, liquidity risk involves the inability to find a seller for a junk bond. Compared to investment-grade bonds, junk bonds are less likely to be traded frequently, so holders may find it difficult to sell at a price that reflects their justifiable value.</p><h2>Why invest in a junk bond?</h2><h3>Higher income</h3><p><strong> </strong>"Junk bonds historically are an attractive bet for yield," says Moya. While they can be more volatile, junk bonds generally outperform investment-grade corporate bonds, as<a href="https://personal.vanguard.com/pdf/ISGJORJ.pdf"> indicated by a 2019 research paper from Vanguard</a>. From 1987 to 2018, for example, it found that junk bonds offered, on average, yields that were 4.76% over investment-grade bonds'.</p><p>This could make them attractive to investors seeking a higher regular income from their assets. And if general interest rates are low, they may be the best option.</p><h3>Speculative opportunity</h3><p>Junk bonds can be bought during <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-a-recession" target="_blank" rel="noopener">economic or market downswings</a> and sold during upswings. By purchasing them cheap and then selling when they present less of a risk (due to improved economic conditions), investors can potentially make a profit.</p><h3>Hedging strategy</h3><p>High-yield bonds can be purchased as part of a hedging strategy that attempts to balance risk across investments.</p><p>For example, one such strategy involves buying junk bonds long and shorting U.S. Treasury bonds, so as to reduce the interest rate risk usually associated with junk bonds. When interest rates rise, the price of U.S. Treasury bonds will fall (due to less demand), thereby offsetting losses in junk bonds for investors selling Treasury bonds short.</p><h2>How to buy junk bonds<strong> </strong></h2><p>Investors can gain exposure to junk bonds either by:</p><ul><li>Purchasing individual junk bonds</li><li>Buying into a junk bond mutual fund or ETF (exchange-traded fund)</li></ul><p>Individual junk bonds can be purchased directly through financial services companies and broker-dealers such as Fidelity, E*TRADE, Vanguard, and Charles Schwab.</p><p>However, because junk bonds are so speculative, a bond fund might be a better choice. Because it holds a diversified portfolio, it carries less risk. It's highly liquid — can be sold at any time. And of course, you have a professional manager evaluating and choosing the bonds, so you don't have to.</p><h2><strong>The financial takeaway</strong></h2><p>Junk bonds aren't for everyone. From the specter of default to their illiquidity, they "carry a higher level of risk than investment-grade bonds. While the investor is usually compensated for this risk in the form of a higher return, losses can hurt," says John Cronin.</p><p>That said, junk bonds historically offer higher yields than investment-grade bonds. This is particularly the case during stock market and economic downturns, which forces junk bond issuers to offer higher rates.</p><p>It all depends on your appetite for risk. The average individual investor probably shouldn't go whole-hog into junk bonds. But as part of a balanced portfolio, they could offer a nice boost to income and overall returns.</p><h2>Related Coverage in <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investing-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Investing Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recession-vs-depression" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Depressions and recessions differ in their severity, duration, and overall impact. Here's what you need to know</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/why-investors-should-buy-high-yield-bonds-amid-fading-returns-2019-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">An investment chief advising $300 billion in wealth explains why now is the perfect time to invest in the market's riskiest bonds</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-are-sin-stocks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sin stocks are shares in companies whose business can be considered unethical — here's why they're so enticing and the major players</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stock-picks-dividend-investing-tips-for-income-tony-despirito-blackrock-2020-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A stock chief for $7.3 trillion BlackRock told us how he's investing to get the best returns — and his top picks for maximum income as Wall Street faces the threat of mass dividend cuts</a></h3></li><li><h3><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/junk-bonds-downgrade-default-federal-reserve-powerless-shutdown-goldman-sachs-2020-4-1029059706" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Fed is powerless to stop the market's riskiest debt from getting downgraded and defaulting, Goldman says</a></h3></li></ul>

What are junk bonds? A risky yet high-yield investment that can bring rewards if you're willing to take the chance

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div>Moody's just downgraded Russia's government bond rating from Baa2 to Baa3 and placed this rating on review for further downgrade.</p>
<p>Factors included the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oil-below-45-for-the-first-time-in-six-years-2015-1">crassh in oil prices</a> and the decline in the Russian <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-ruble-tumbles-further-along-with-oil-prices-2015-1">ruble</a>, which have shaken Russia's economy in the last few months.</p>
<p>This rating from Moody's puts Russia's debt just one notch above junk.</p>
<p>Here's the <a href="https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-downgrades-Russias-government-bond-rating-to-Baa3-on-review--PR_316487">full release</a>:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">New York, January 16, 2015 -- Moody's Investors Service has today downgraded Russia's government bond rating to Baa3/Prime 3 (P-3) from Baa2/Prime 2 (P-2). The rating was also placed on review for further downgrade.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The key drivers behind the downgrade are:</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">1) Moody's expectation that the substantial oil price and exchange rate shock will further undermine the country's already subdued growth prospects over the medium term; and</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">2) Moody's nearer-term concerns over the negative impact on the government's financial strength of the erosion in official foreign exchange buffers and fiscal revenues.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">In the review for further downgrade, Moody's will assess the resiliency of the government's balance sheet, in particular its foreign currency reserves cushion, to both the rating agency's baseline forecast for oil prices and to the risk of a further decline in oil prices at a time when <keyword id="6356001" type="COMPANY" weightage="60" keywordseo="international">international</keyword> market access is restricted for Russian borrowers due to sanctions. The review will also focus on the efficacy of policy actions that the Russian central bank and fiscal policymakers may take to address the oil and exchange rate shock in an effort to preserve economic and government financial strength.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Moody's also lowered Russia's country ceilings for foreign currency debt to Baa3/Prime 3 (P-3) from Baa2/Prime 2 (P-2) to align it with the sovereign rating, and reduced the long-term country ceilings for local currency debt and deposits to Baa2 from Baa1, while leaving unchanged the country ceiling for foreign currency bank deposits at Ba1/Non Prime (NP).</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">RATINGS RATIONALE</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">RATIONALE FOR DOWNGRADE TO Baa3</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">- FIRST DRIVER: OIL PRICE AND EXCHANGE RATE SHOCKS WILL FURTHER UNDERMINE RUSSIA'S ECONOMIC GROWTH PROSPECTS</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Moody's one-notch downgrade to Baa2 in October 2014 balanced an increasingly subdued growth outlook -- in part reflecting Russia's weak institutional strength and the challenging geopolitical environment -- against the government's still extremely strong balance sheet. The negative outlook reflected the fragile nature of that balance, with both the growth outlook and the government's fiscal position exposed to further shocks that could more profoundly undermine consumer and investor confidence, hastening the erosion of fiscal and foreign currency buffers.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">As evidenced by the recent further steep falls in oil prices and the exchange rate, these shocks have materialized. According to Moody's, the severe -- and likely to be sustained -- oil price shock, alongside Russian borrowers' highly restricted international market access due to ongoing sanctions, is undermining economic fundamentals and increasing financial stresses on both the public and private sectors. In its updated growth outlook for Russia, Moody's now expects real GDP contractions of around 5.5% in 2015 and 3% in 2016, bringing real growth over the 10 years through 2018 to virtually zero.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The hike in interest rates that took place in December and rapidly rising inflation, which will inhibit the central bank from easing rates in the coming months, will further squeeze consumers' disposable incomes. In addition, the capacity of the banking sector to provide credit is impaired, causing credit to be scarce, and expensive when available. Moody's expects that even if interest rates are lowered over time, lending will remain constrained; asset quality and profitability problems in the banking system will likely escalate the longer that the recession lasts despite efforts by the government to bolster the system's capital and funding base.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The high level of uncertainty is likely to cause the savings rate to rise, thereby further undermining consumption and economic recovery, in contrast to a situation in which households believe that the recession would be short-lived.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">- SECOND DRIVER: NEGATIVE IMPACT ON GOVERNMENT'S FINANCIAL STRENGTH OF ERODING FOREIGN EXCHANGE BUFFERS AND FISCAL REVENUES</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Although the rating agency expects Russia's current account to stay in surplus due to import compression and continued capital flight, the ongoing repayment of external debt by the corporate, banking and public sectors and the outflow of direct investment will likely increase the speed of erosion of official foreign reserves, says Moody's.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">In Moody's view, Russia's nominal FX reserves could fall by at least as much this year as they did in 2014, when they declined by around$125 billion. These estimates are based on the pattern and levels of public and private sector debt amortization, and on assumptions regarding the private sector's drawdown of its accumulated cash reserves and capital flight.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Moody's notes that an additional erosion of FX reserves would not in itself be critical for the government's capacity to service its debt. Russia-- especially the government -- is not heavily indebted and its debt maturity schedule is relatively elongated after the maturities falling due in 2014-15 have been paid. However, while the loss of reserves will probably not endanger the government's capacity to service its own debt, significant uncertainty exists over the future dimension and direction of foreign reserves. That uncertainty is an important driver of the decision to move the rating down to Baa3.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Moody's also expects that the oil price shock, and the ensuing recession, will cause the government's fiscal position to worsen. Although the impact of the drop in oil prices on ruble-denominated government revenues will be partly offset by the depreciation of the exchange rate, and high inflation will likely limit the impact on non-oil revenues, Moody's expects that the government's revenues will nonetheless fall significantly over the course of next year as Russia's economy contracts. Set against that, it is likely that some form of fiscal stimulus will be implemented either this year or next to mitigate the economic and political consequences of the crisis. Together, Moody's expects these influences to widen the fiscal deficit, with the result that government debt will rise over the next two to three years, albeit from very low levels.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Added to that, the risk of politically-motivated actions which either directly or indirectly raise risks to creditors is rising in the context of current geopolitical tensions. Even if that risk remains low, its rise further shifts the delicate balance identified at the time of the last rating action to the downside.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Moody's notes that the government's balance sheet remains ostensibly very strong, with very low debt levels and a recent track record of fiscal prudence. Even with a significant further weakening of the country's reserves position, Russia's liquidity ratios such as Moody's external liquidity indicator (EVI) would remain relatively strong. At the end of 2015, the 1-year EVI is estimated at 28.9% (measuring debt obligations falling due in the year against official foreign reserves levels). Import coverage of foreign currency reserves would also remain adequate, although that number is somewhat flattered by the expected import compression.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">RATIONALE FOR REVIEW FOR FURTHER DOWNGRADE</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The government's ability to sustain its financial strength, which is the main factor supporting the country's investment grade rating, rests on a large number of assumptions regarding, for example: oil prices and the exchange rate; the longevity of sanctions; capital flows; the effect of import compression on the current account balance; the impact of recession and inflation on the government's fiscal position; and the policy response to domestic or external financial pressures. Small changes in assumptions could imply a more severe decline of reserves and a more rapid accumulation of debt by the government.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The review of Russia's Baa3 government rating for downgrade will examine all of these assumptions in order to form a definitive view of the resilience of the economy and the government's balance sheet to further shocks. The review will focus, inter alia, on the resilience of the government's foreign currency reserves buffer to both our baseline forecast for oil prices and to more conservative scenarios. Should oil prices fail to recover in 2016 and beyond, or even drop further, Russia's recession would likely persist beyond 2016 and the loss of investor and consumer confidence would be even more profound, leading to continued capital flight. The rating agency will examine the options available to the central bank and the government to support the economy in such circumstances.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">In particular, Moody's will focus on whether foreign currency reserves can be maintained at a level sufficiently higher than similarly rated peers with stronger institutional strength and policy predictability. In addition, the review will examine the extent to which the potential need to provide financial support of the corporate and banking sectors may erode the sovereign's financial strength and increase its susceptibility to event risks by reducing the central bank reserves, increasing the government budget deficit and/or increase the use of government guarantees.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING -- UP</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Given the review for downgrade of the government's rating currently in effect, limited upward pressure is likely in the next 12-18 months. Moody's would confirm the current rating of Baa3 if the scenario analysis undertaken during the review were to show resilience in the country's external and fiscal position.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">WHAT COULD CHANGE THE RATING -- DOWN</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Russia's ratings would be downgraded should Moody's conclude, following the review, that the combination of risk factors identified above would likely lead to a more pronounced erosion of the government's external buffer and/or fiscal balance, leading to a loss of financial strength to a level inconsistent with its current rating. In that event, the most likely outcome would be a one notch downgrade, although more severe outcomes cannot be ruled out in the current volatile environment.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">GDP per capita (PPP basis, US$): 24,298 (2013 Actual) (also known as Per Capita Income)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Real GDP growth (% change): 1.3% (2013 Actual) (also known as GDP Growth)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Inflation Rate (CPI, % change Dec/Dec): 6.5% (2013 Actual)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Gen. Gov. Financial Balance/GDP: -1.3% (2013 Actual) (also known as Fiscal Balance)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Current Account Balance/GDP: 1.6% (2013 Actual) (also known as External Balance)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">External debt/GDP: 35.1% (2013 Actual)</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Level of economic development: Moderate level of economic resilience</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">Default history: At least one default event (on bonds and/or loans) has been recorded since 1983.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">On 14 January 2015, a rating committee was called to discuss the rating of the Russia, Government of. The main points raised during the discussion were: The issuer's fiscal or financial strength, including its debt profile, has materially decreased. The issuer has become increasingly susceptible to event risks.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The principal methodology used in these ratings was Sovereign Bond Ratings published in September 2013. Please see the Credit Policy page on www.moodys.com for a copy of this methodology.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 60px;">The weighting of all rating factors is described in the methodology used in this rating action, if applicable.</p>

Moody's Just Downgraded Russia

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/59319911@N00/2413707375/">Ben Fredericson (xjrlokix) / Flickr</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div><em><strong>FA Insights is a daily newsletter from Business Insider that delivers the top news and commentary for financial advisors.</strong></em></p>
<p><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GluskinSheffInc">We're In No Man's Land And This Is What Investors Should Expect</a> (Gluskin Sheff) </strong></p>
<p>David Rosenberg writes that as long as the U.S. economy doesn't reverse or we don't have outright deflation, the Fed's monthly asset purchase program should end in another 10 months and by next summer it should begin on "the long path of normalizing rates."</p>
<p>"We are in no-man's land when we embark on a long phase of being on hold in terms of steady monetary policy ahead of the eventual rate hikes," he writes. So, what do we typically see in this investing time frame.</p>
<p>1. "The average gain in the S&amp;P 50 is 6%. Median advance was 1.5%. Small price appreciation but the market doesn't shift course - just the slope of the line changes."<br />2. "Technology, industrials, consumer discretionary, and materials all outperform - the cyclicals. Energy is close to being a market performer."<br />3. But the rate-sensitives and defensives lag - utilities, consumer staples, telecom and healthcare."<br />4. "Of the rate-oriented sectors, financials are typically the best performer but still lag the overall market."<br />5. "Baa corporate bond spreads tend to tighten to 20 basis points so credit arbitrage strategies have a history of being a more appropriate fixed-income strategy than being naked long the Treasury market."</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://online.barrons.com/article/SB50001424053111903698104579472443930668998.html?mod=BOL_hp_oe_columns">Regular Speed Investors Have Bigger Concerns Than A Rigged Stock Market</a> (Barron's) </strong></p>
<p>Speaking on 60 Minutes, Michael Lewis said "the stock market is rigged," but that doesn't mean that investors should get "too caught up in the supposed disadvantages of operating in a so-called rigged market," writes John Kimelman at Barron's. "For such investors, the biggest concerns right now are not the time advantages possessed by front-running quants but rather the more everyday issues related to valuations, interest rates, and earnings growth."</p>
<p><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303978304579473260884533196"><strong>Advisors Need To Consider These Key Things When Working With Expat Clients</strong></a><strong> (The Wall Street Journal)</strong><a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303978304579473260884533196"> </a></p>
<p>Working with expatriate clients can be tricky and advisors need to get them to focus on issues that are in their control but that they ignore, like estate planning and income tax compliance, writes Bryan Hancock of Timberchase Financial in a new WSJ column. "If I'm an American married to a citizen of another country and we have assets in two or three countries, I have a very complex situation," he writes. "I may have created a situation where my heirs are going to have a difficult time collecting all of my assets. It's important to have estate planning documents in both countries that agree with each other." He says advisors need to be just as mindful of tax returns and that clients should have emergency repatriation plans in place.  </p>
<p><strong><a href="http://wealthmanagement.com/taxes/five-craziest-tax-deductions#slide-0-field_images-526711">The Most Bizarre Tax Deductions You've Heard Of</a> (WealthManagement.com)</strong></p>
<p>Meisa Bonelli, president of Millennial Ventures and managing partner of Millennial Tax highlights five of the strangest tax deductions in a new WealthManagement.com piece.</p>
<p>1. Just like roofers can deduct the price of their tools, exotic dancers can deduct the price of their lingerie as long as what they're doing isn't illegal. <br />2. A New York CPA got a write off on $10,000 for having air conditioner since he had a "doctor's note stating his profuse sweating was a health hazard due to the constant loss of fluids and threat of dehydration."<br />3. "Professional blood donor Margaret Green set a precedent for a special diet to be allowed as a legitimate IRS deductible expense."<br />4. Making bail can be tax deductible if its done during the week when you're out with colleagues. Though, Bonelli warns that one business owner's bail was not deductible "because justifiable penalties for wrongdoing are not tax deductible."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/r-investors-scoop-up-new-us-platinum-coins-as-gold-slumps-2014-01"><strong>Retail Investors Are Gobbling Up The Platinum Coin Market</strong></a><strong> (Reuters)</strong></p>
<p>U.S. retail investors are buying up the government's new platinum coins, reports Frank Tang at Reuters. In the first three weeks, the U.S. Mint sold about 10,000 ounces of the America Eagle platinum coins. This is said to be driven by pent-up demand and concerns about South African supply. "The outright platinum market has actually been performing better than gold and silver, and that has helped attract some investors to the physical platinum market," Roy Friedman, executive vice president at Dillon Gage told Reuters.</p>

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