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Notes on Yield Curve

In this article, we will try to understand the concept of a yield curve and its type. This quick article will be a quick complete guide about the yield curve.

Yield Curve

When the bond’s interest rate has the same quality credit rates but they are having maturity date differences. With the help of the yield curve, you can make an estimation of the future fluctuating interest rate and also economical activity. This is the primary Yield Curve Definition. Another way to define the yield curve is through the measurement of risk involved for the bond investors and it will have a great impact on the earnings from the investment which was made. Every bond has its own behaviour this is why you will surely see fluctuation. AS per the debt in the market, the economic output and growth are measured.

There are 3 Main Types of yield curve:-

1. Normal Curve

When the investor’s money is at low risk it shows that there are low-interest rates or low yield for bonds which are taken on a short term basis. According to the normal Yield Curve Definition, the more the time you give to funds, the more the profit reward you will get for the trust you made or you can say the reward for the commitment you made. 

Here the graph will slope upward from the left direction to the right direction as per the maturity date length and yields will rise as well. During these Types of yield curve you can assume that the investors are helping the economy of the country to grow but at a normal pace.

2. Inverted yield curve

In this curve, you will find out that the slope will be in the downward direction which is an indication that the interest rate is exceeding the amount of the long term rate. These Types of yield curve show that investors are estimating that the yields of long-maturity bonds will get lower. 

Inverted Yield Curve Definition here is During the downfall of the economy, the investors choose to make a safe decision on their investment. They go for the purchase of longer-term or dated bonds and then they will bid up their bond’s price to lower the interest rate or yield of those bonds.

3. Flat Yield Curve

Flat Yield Curve definition says when some maturities are having higher yields which can make a slight hump along the curve. These humps represent that they are mostly for the 6 to 24 months of mid-term maturity. As the Yield curve Investopedia says the yielding rate of short term bonds and long term bonds are having similar bond rates.

A 3-year bond can offer a 6% yield but on the other hand, the 5-year bond can offer a 6.1% yield, or 20 years of a bond can give a 6.05% of yield. This curve is an indication towards inflation and there will be a slowdown in the country’s economy.

Usage of yield Curves

This Yield Curve helps in determining the futuristic strength of the country’s economy and also the present economy.  The yield curve has special space in the comparison method and in other analyses. If you are an investor you don’t want to pay extra for the particular which has already had a low weight in the past. So just to analyse the quality of bond which will give future benefit or not. 

Yield Curve Definition is used to identify whether there is a high risk on a long term bond or not, and if there is a risk then how much. Here it generally widens at the time of recessions and during recovery time contracts.

Conclusion

 In the finance market, many are not aware of the Yield curve Investopedia brief where all the details regarding the yield curve are written. So they can understand whether their investment was right or wrong and if it’s wrong then what are the methods they can use to recover from their risk factor. Yield percentages are not easy to understand at the start because they can sometimes show a flat yield curve which will give a feeling of risk that the economy of the country is in danger.

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Frequently asked questions

Get answers to the most common queries related to the UPSC Examination Preparation.

How can you as an investor use the Yield curve?

Answer. You as the investor can make a prediction with the help of the yield curve. The future of the country’s ec...Read full

When there are chances of inflation how can you handle the bonds?

Answer. Here Yield Curve Definition plays an important role because inf...Read full

What is the correct definition of the yield curve?

Answer. The correct Yield Curve Definition is simply when you want to m...Read full

What is the shift in the yield curve?

Answer. Bond prices and interest rates are having inverse relation where the price of a bond will decrease when ther...Read full