Article Written By: Beverly Riley
Even if there are lots of investors in the stock market, only few are aware of convertible bonds. What actually are these types of bond and is there really a need to invest in them? Convertible bonds are also called junior debentures. These are, in fact, corporate bonds which the owner can convert to a company share at some time during the debenture investment period.These bonds incorporate what's so great about both stocks and bonds and provide a totally distinct investment option to stock investors. Is this bond the best investment option for you? Read on to understand more about it advantages and disadvantages.When you resort to convertibles, you can be very sure that you will earn money regardless of the trading status of the stock. The greatest feature of this bond is its high probability to increase its price when the stock rises. Investing in it is like enjoying the privileges of both realms where you have two options to make money.What makes these bonds better than the other types of bonds is that they ensure your security even if there is a decrease in the price of the stocks. Since these bonds are sold at premium over the cost of a stock, you can expect to gain back that premium in as short as 3 or 4 years following the bond's purchase. Above all, an investor can expect to earn more from both interest payments and the rise in the value of the bond upon an increase in the value of the stocks.However, risks are still present when a trader invests in such bonds. One of the disadvantages is that this bond is callable. When a business issues bonds such as these, they can redeem them anytime they want. Thus, when you make an investment with the goal of making money in the coming years, if the bond is called by the company, then you would have to invest your money elsewhere.In addition, you are not allowed to exchange these bonds to stocks on a whim. Before doing this, you have to ensure first that the stock's cost already hit a specific amount known as a conversion premium. So, if you plan to become a shareholder of the company, you should just buy the stocks at a bargain price rather than wait for them to arrive at the conversion premium.Remember that these bonds are typically issued by companies who are in the midst of a financial crisis. These bonds are offered by the owners of small enterprises who find it costly to issue shares of stocks or bonds. Owners who are trying to find a way to increase their resources would definitely issue either bonds or stocks. Meanwhile, bonds are offered when it is impossible to offer straight bonds or shares of stocks. If you trust the performance of a company and in their potential for growth, then you can buy the convertible debentures that it offers.You will experience both risks and benefits when you decide to invest in convertible bonds. For some investors, such bonds are the best option. If you plan to spend money on this financial instrument, you should learn as much as you can about them before you shell out your cash.
This Article Has Been Published on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 and Read 288 Times