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Masters in Business

At the Money: Managing Bond Duration

Sep 11, 2024
In this conversation, Karen Veraa, Head of iShares US Fixed Income Strategy at BlackRock, shares her insights on managing bond duration amid fluctuating interest rates. She discusses the delicate balance investors must strike between yield and interest rate vulnerability. The conversation highlights the historical context of bond markets, including the unusual decline of both stocks and bonds in 2022, and provides strategies for navigating today's landscape. Karen emphasizes the advantages of intermediate duration bonds as market conditions evolve.
13:33

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Quick takeaways

  • Understanding bond duration is essential for managing interest rate risk, as longer durations typically bring higher yields but greater vulnerability to rising rates.
  • As interest rates are expected to decline, investors should reassess their fixed income strategies and consider bond ladders to optimize returns.

Deep dives

Understanding Duration and Its Significance

Duration represents the interest rate risk associated with bonds, indicating how much a bond's price will fluctuate in response to changes in interest rates. For instance, a bond with a duration of five will decline in value by approximately 5% if interest rates increase by 1%. This relationship plays a critical role in bond investing, as it helps investors evaluate the potential risks and rewards linked to different bonds based on their duration. Additionally, there are key rate durations that assess interest rate risk at various points along the yield curve, which adds further complexity to understanding bond investments.

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