Thanks for your explanation, let me see if I understand.
They promise to give $1,000 in some years, plus $53 per annum until that happens. That promise is currently worth $890. But if people were worried about the repayments, that might fall to $790. So they get less money for taking on the same debt.
Have I understood?
What are the rates at companies like Apple or Exxon?
Apple has bonds that pay 3.85% that mature in 2043.
They're currently trading at about 95 cents on the dollar, for an effective yield of 4.05%.
There's nearly zero risk that Apple will default. Their bonds sell at a discount because market interest rates have increased since the bonds were issued, making them worth less.
Note that Tesla's bonds yield almost a full percentage point more than Apple's bonds, which reflects Tesla's higher probability of default.
But if investors were really worried about default, they'd demand a lot more than an extra 1%.
It's worth noting that a 2043 bond is a very very different beast to a 2025 bond. The further in the future maturity happens, the more risk there is of a change in circumstance which results in default.
> What are the rates at companies like Apple or Exxon?
Anytime they issue a new bond, figures change so difficult to give a straight answer. For Apple, bonds typically range around 3/3.5% yield. And prices of the bond usually stay above 90 cents on the dollar, AFAIK (not an expert)
They promise to give $1,000 in some years, plus $53 per annum until that happens. That promise is currently worth $890. But if people were worried about the repayments, that might fall to $790. So they get less money for taking on the same debt.
Have I understood?
What are the rates at companies like Apple or Exxon?