FXCM Research Team

What Is A Junk Bond? Junk bonds are debt securities issued by corporations with poor credit ratings, which means they yield more than investment-grade bonds because of their greater risk of default. Junk bonds are also known as high-yield or non-investment-grade bonds. Junk bonds are generally classified as having credit ratings below Baa by Moody's Investors Services and BBB by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings, the three main credit…

What Is Yield Spread? The yield spread is the difference in yield between two different bonds. Investors use the yield spread to measure the relative value of two different securities, particularly as it pertains to credit quality but also to liquidity and supply, which can influence bond prices and yields. Yield spread is measured in basis points. Most commonly, yield spread is measured against a benchmark, usually the yield on…

What Is Wirecard? Wirecard is a defunct German payments company that failed in June 2020 following a scandal in which it is accused of defrauding investors by claiming revenue and cash that proved to be nonexistent. Called the "Enron of Germany," the company had once been a high-flying financial technology company that, right up until the time of its collapse, was a member of the DAX 30 index, which tracks…

How has Japan responded to the COVID-19 pandemic that swept across the globe starting in early 2020? Let's explore the Bank of Japan and the government's tactics to help out the economy. Bank Of Japan Japan's central bank, the Bank of Japan (BOJ), has been one of the world's most proactive in monetary accommodation and asset purchases, both governmental and private securities, bonds as well as stocks, since the 2008…

Like so many other countries around the world, South Africa was faced with responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here's how both the government and the reserve bank reacted. South African Reserve Bank On 20 March 2020, the South African Reserve Bank, the country's central bank, cut its benchmark repo, or repurchase, rate by 100 basis points to 5.25% from 6.25%. On 15 April it reduced it further by 100 basis…

Following the early 2020 onset of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the global population eagerly awaited a vaccine capable of combating the virus. Although developing such products typically takes years, policymakers world-wide committed to rapidly creating a COVID-19 countermeasure. Over the course of the process, the financial markets reacted to approvals, setbacks and expectations posed by a potential coronavirus inoculation. Impact Of COVID-19 On Growth Projections Traditional financial theory tells us…

What Are Annuities? An annuity is a contract in which an insurance company agrees to pay out a guaranteed sum of money to an investor, called the annuitant, for a specified period. The investor hands over a sum of money, either in a lump sum or over a period of time, to the insurance company, which agrees to make payments, usually monthly or quarterly, to the investor. Payout periods can…

The franc is the currency of both Switzerland and Liechtenstein. It is also the legal tender in both countries, as well as the geographically separate Italian territory of Campione d'Italia. The Swiss franc (ISO code: CHF) is the only version of the franc still used in Europe. + Believed to be an integral part of Swiss history, the franc is regarded as far more than just legal tender, but as…

Political uncertainty is a key forex market driver, stimulating participation, order flow and volatility. Whether it's a forced regime change or democratic election, politics can quickly sway currency valuations around the globe. Accordingly, one of the most important forex market fundamentals is a U.S. General Election. Held on Tuesday, 3 November 2020, the U.S. General Election will decide the American government's makeup for years to come. Seats in the Senate…

Throughout the U.S. electoral cycle of 2020, a collection of unique events drove a spirited race for the White House. Dubbed by political pundits as "the most important election of our time," Election 2020 featured incumbent Republican Donald Trump against Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Issues such as social welfare, homeland security, economic growth and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic defined the contest. From an economic standpoint, the difference between Trump and…

The government and the Reserve Bank of Australia, like their counterparts in other major countries, have enacted several measures to protect and stimulate their economies in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Reserve Bank And Banking System On 3 March the Reserve Bank's board lowered its benchmark cash rate, which is the interest rate on unsecured overnight loans between banks, by 25 basis points to 0.50% and said it "is…