Week 1 — April 3: Bonds Overview & Interest Rates
Topics: Bonds overview, interest rate determinants, term structure, credit risk, sovereign risk
Slides
Lecture 1 — Bonds Overview & Interest Rates (PDF)
Study Guide
Interactive Study Guide
Week 1 Interactive Study Guide — 7 questions with hints and explanations. Ungraded, open access.
Key Concepts
- Bond market structure and participants
- Interest rate determinants: Fed policy, inflation expectations, growth
- The yield curve and term structure of interest rates
- Credit risk and credit ratings
- Sovereign risk and government bond markets