Good to Know

When prevailing interest rates rise, newly issued bonds typically offer higher yields to keep pace. When that happens, existing bonds with lower coupon rates become less competitive. That's because investors are unlikely to buy an existing bond offering a lower coupon rate unless they can get it at a lower price. Thus, higher rates means lower prices for existing bonds. Conversely, when interest rates fall, an existing bond's coupon rate becomes more appealing to investors, driving the price up.