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Fixed Income & Bond Valuation: Pricing, Yield Curves, Risks
Rating: 4.3 out of 5(29 ratings)
3,504 students

Fixed Income & Bond Valuation: Pricing, Yield Curves, Risks

Master fixed income investing—from bond valuation and yield curves to credit analysis and portfolio strategies.
Last updated 2/2026
English
English [Auto],

What you'll learn

  • Fundamental concepts of fixed income securities, including bond characteristics and types.
  • Techniques for bond pricing, yield calculation, and risk assessment.
  • Advanced strategies for fixed income investing, including duration analysis and credit risk assessment.
  • How to navigate the primary and secondary fixed income markets and evaluate investment opportunities.
  • Practical skills for constructing and managing fixed income portfolios tailored to specific investment objectives.
  • Theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience in bond valuation, yield curve analysis, and credit analysis.
  • Real-world case studies and examples to illustrate key concepts and their application in investment decision-making.

Course content

8 sections228 lectures30h 16m total length
  • Introduction to Fixed Income Valuation8:47

    Explore fixed income instruments and bond valuation, focusing on risk appetite, fixed and stable returns for bondholders, and the ranking of interest, taxes, and preference dividends in corporate finance.

  • Understanding Bond Price and Bond Yield7:50

    The bond price moves inversely with bond yields: higher yields push prices down and lower yields push prices up, with premium when yield is below the coupon, discount when above.

  • Types of Bond in Market9:08

    Explore coupon paying, zero coupon, fixed rate, floating rate (LIBOR plus basis points), and options bonds (callable and portable) and how yield, price, and deep discounts shape valuations.

  • Concept of Coupon Paying Bond9:19

    Understand coupon paying bonds by valuing them with yield to maturity and present value using spot rates, and learn why higher yields discount price.

  • Callable Bond and Putable Bond Options10:27

    Explore callable bonds, where issuers hold a call option that lowers price, may offer higher coupons, and is exercised as rates fall to reduce costs.

  • Method of Puttable Bond8:31

    Explain how puttable (portable) bonds grant investors a put option to sell at par, boosting price and enabling lower coupons for issuers.

  • Summary on the Bond Functions3:04

    Examine fixed income features and bond types, noting yields inverse with prices. Understand YTM, spot rates, present value, and the ICR matrix, plus callable and portable bonds.

  • Valuation of the Bonds5:09

    Analyze fixed income valuation by comparing yield to maturity, yield to call, and yield to put, using a 1000 face value, 10% coupon, and 920 price to show 11.38% ytm.

  • Example on Valuation of the Bonds5:00

    Analyze a bond valuation example by computing yield to maturity and yield to call for a callable bond, given a 975 price and 1050 call price in a falling-rate environment.

  • Example on Yield to Put5:07

    Master yield to maturity, yield to call, and yield to put for a semiannual portable bond, using par value, premium, present value, and future value.

  • Selecting the Bond Type7:28

    Select a bond type (normal, callable, portable) and enter face value, price, and years to maturity; for callable or portable, provide call or put price and corresponding years.

  • Determining the Frequency of the Coupon7:21

    Choose coupon frequency (annual or semiannual) and model yield to maturity, including yield to call and yield to put when applicable, using proper rate, periods, and payments with data validation.

  • Call Price for Callable Bond4:37

    Model callable, puttable, and portable bonds by inputting call/put prices and years to maturity, compute yield to call, yield to put, and yield to maturity for annual and semiannual frequencies.

  • Issuing Callable and Semi Annual Bond4:58

    Model callable and portable bonds with semiannual coupons, call/put options, and yields to maturity versus yield to call using goal seek to target returns.

  • Context of Derivatives Valuation6:59

    Examine the context and purpose of derivatives, including forwards, futures, options, and swaps, and learn how arbitrage drives pricing toward the zero arbitrage price, guiding long and short hedging positions.

  • Constructing a Hypothetical Arbitrage8:16

    The example demonstrates exploiting an overvalued forward by shorting the forward and going long in the spot market, borrowing at the risk-free rate to secure a $3 arbitrage profit.

  • Evaluating the Scenarios5:15

    Shows how undervalued forward contracts create risk-free arbitrage by taking a long forward and short spot, yielding a $2 profit as prices move toward the zero arbitrage price of 105.

  • Practical Example on Forward Contracts6:41

    A practical example uses a forward contract to lock in nine months, computing a forward price around 130.99. A 140 forward yields 15.42% annualized return.

  • Practical Example on Forward Contracts Continues7:30

    Analyze valuing a forward contract at two months by discounting the nine-month forward price to seven months, compare with the spot price, and identify long and short gains.

  • Determining the Market Value11:01

    Analyze how a forward contract derives its value from spot and forward prices, compute zero-arbitrage pricing, and illustrate gains from a short position at expiration.

  • Example on Forward Contracts5:29

    Extend forward contract valuation to stocks by showing how dividends affect stock price and forward price via the stock-specific formula F0 = (S0 - PBD)(1+R)^T, with practical examples.

  • Practical Illustrations on Forward Stocks4:49

    Derive the 100-day forward price for a stock with discrete dividends by timing dividends, calculating their present value, and applying F = (S0 − PV(dividends)) (1+r)^{T/365}.

  • Value of Derivative Contract4:58

    Extends a 60-day stock forward example by discounting to day 60 and adjusting for the remaining dividend, showing the long gain of 6.16 from the spot and forward difference.

  • Forward Contracts in Context of Bond7:49

    Learn how bond forward contracts value the forward price by adjusting the spot for the next coupon and growing at the risk-free rate over 250 days.

  • How Futures and Contracts operate5:56

    Understand how forwards differ from futures: forwards are customized, over-the-counter hedging contracts; futures are standardized, exchange-traded contracts for retail investors, with pricing mechanics similar to forwards.

  • Example on Futures and Contract6:41

    Compute the 120-day futures price by discounting 0.40 dividends to present value, adjust the spot to 29.2064, and apply the futures formula, noting mark-to-market versus forwards.

  • Formulas for Index Futures4:01

    Apply the no-arbitrage futures pricing formula S0 e^{(r−q)T} under continuous compounding, using Nasdaq index values, dividend yield, and risk-free rate to price an 87-day futures contract.

  • Forward Rate Agreement7:20

    Explore forward rate agreements, where the underlying is a loan and interest sets the price; learn four milestones: Fra initiation, Fra expiration, loan initiation, and loan maturity.

  • Purpose of entering forward rate agreement6:23

    Learn how a forward rate agreement hedges exposure to rising interest rates by locking in a future loan rate, illustrated with a one-by-four FRA and LIBOR/Euribor benchmarks.

  • Annualised and Unannualised Rates5:50

    Learn how to price a forward rate agreement using annualized and 90-day LIBOR, with a $1 million loan example, and understand FRA settlement and present-value savings.

  • Fundamental steps for FRA6:39

    Explore forward rate agreements, linking real rates, inflation, and nominal rates, and derive 90-day libor from 30-day and 120-day rates to price fra.

Requirements

  • Passion to Learn and apply fixed income trading concepts

Description

Course Introduction:

Dive into the world of fixed income instruments and bond valuation with this comprehensive learning path designed for finance enthusiasts, students, and professionals. This course takes you on a journey from foundational concepts to advanced strategies in fixed income, covering essential topics such as bond pricing, interest rate dynamics, credit analysis, and portfolio management. Whether you're preparing for a certification, enhancing your investment skills, or exploring new opportunities in finance, this course equips you with the knowledge and tools to excel.

Section 1: Fixed Income Instruments & Bond Valuation

Start your journey by exploring the basics of fixed income valuation, understanding bond pricing, yields, and various bond types like callable and putable bonds. This section provides practical examples and formulas to help you grasp key concepts such as coupon frequencies, forward contracts, and arbitrage.

Section 2: Valuation and Characteristics of Bonds

Delve into the features and types of bonds while analyzing interest rate risks and bond valuation techniques. Real-world case studies, such as Microsoft bond examples, enrich your understanding of current yields, yield to maturity, and spot rate curves.

Section 3: Interest Rate - Comprehensive Course on Interest Rates

Understand the intricacies of interest rates, including their future and present value, term structures, and their impact on bond valuation. Visualize interest rate trends using graphical representations and real-world data, and learn to calculate real rates and forward rates of return.

Section 4: Fixed Income Securities - Pricing and Advanced Concepts

Master the pricing of fixed income securities, including concepts like yield curves, duration, and convexity. Explore risk assessments, bond pricing between payment periods, and the relationship between yield and price with practical illustrations.

Section 5: Fixed Income Investments - Risk, Return, and Pricing Techniques

Examine the global fixed income market, primary and secondary bond markets, and valuation techniques. Learn about fixed income risks, sources of return, and portfolio management strategies, supplemented by advanced topics like collateralized debt obligations and credit analysis models.

Section 6: Fixed Income Instruments

Enhance your skills in fixed income pricing and valuation, focusing on coupon bond pricing, corporate bond credit spreads, forward yield, and the bootstrapping concept. Learn how to value fixed income instruments in various market scenarios.

Section 7: Advanced Fixed Income - Spot Rates, Pricing Strategies, Zero Coupon Bonds

Explore advanced topics such as spot rates, zero-coupon bonds, and yield curve shapes. Gain expertise in duration and convexity and understand their role in bond pricing and portfolio management.

Section 8: Fixed Income - Convexity and Components of Credit Analysis

Conclude your journey by mastering the defining elements of fixed income, including bond indentures, credit enhancements, and cash flow analysis. Delve into credit analysis fundamentals, seniority ranking, and return impact of spread changes to become proficient in fixed income strategies.

Conclusion:

By the end of this course, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of fixed income instruments, bond valuation techniques, and the tools required to manage fixed income portfolios. You'll be equipped to tackle real-world challenges and make informed decisions in the dynamic financial markets.

Who this course is for:

  • Finance professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of fixed income markets and enhance their investment skills.
  • Investors looking to diversify their portfolios and capitalize on opportunities in fixed income securities.
  • Students or individuals aspiring to pursue a career in finance, particularly in roles related to bond analysis, portfolio management, or investment banking.
  • Financial advisors and wealth managers aiming to provide comprehensive investment advice and solutions to their clients.
  • Anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of fixed income markets and learning practical strategies for successful investing in bonds and related securities.
  • This course is suitable for both beginners looking to build a strong foundation in fixed income investing and experienced professionals seeking to refine their knowledge and skills in this specialized area of finance.