Discount Bond

Investments

Quick Definition

A Discount Bond is a bond that is issued or traded at a price lower than its face (par) value, and the investor earns profit when it matures at full value.

Detailed Explanation

In a Discount Bond, the investor buys the bond at a discounted price and receives the full face value at maturity, earning the difference as profit.

These bonds may or may not pay regular interest. A common example is a zero-coupon bond, which pays no periodic interest but is issued at a deep discount.

Why Bonds Trade at Discount

  • Market interest rates are higher than bond’s coupon rate
  • Credit risk of issuer
  • Time remaining to maturity

Types of Discount Bonds

  • Zero-Coupon Bonds: No interest payments
  • Low-Coupon Bonds: Lower interest compared to market rates

Discount Bond vs Premium Bond

  • Discount Bond: Price < Face value
  • Premium Bond: Price > Face value

Why Discount Bonds Matter

  • Opportunity for capital gain
  • Attractive for long-term investors
  • Useful in fixed-income portfolios

Example

"A bond with face value ₹1,000 is purchased at ₹800 and redeemed at ₹1,000: 👉 Profit = ₹200 (discount gain)"

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