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Investor BulletIn

Interest rate risk —

When Interest rates Go up, 

Prices of Fixed-rate Bonds Fall

The SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy is issuing this Investor Bulletin to make investors aware that market 

interest rates and bond prices move in opposite directions—for example, when market interest rates go up, prices of fixed-rate 

bonds fall.

You may have noticed articles in the media about investors “chasing yield,” the so-called “bond bubble,” or predictions 

about declines in bond prices. some of these warnings about a drop in bond prices relate to the potential for a rise in 

interest rates. Interest rate risk is common to all bonds, particularly bonds with a fixed rate coupon, even u.s. treasury 

bonds. (Many bonds pay a fixed rate of interest throughout their term; interest payments are called coupon payments, 

and the interest rate is called the coupon rate.)

the purpose of this Investor Bulletin is to provide investors with a better understanding of the relationship among 

market interest rates, bond prices, and yield to maturity of treasury bonds, in particular, although many of the 

concepts discussed below generally apply to other types of bonds as well. this Investor Bulletin is a companion piece to 

our Investor Bulletins on Corporate Bonds, High-Yield Bonds, and Municipal Bonds. For a basic explanation of how 

bonds operate and their terminology, please see our Investor Bulletin on Corporate Bonds.

The Effect of Market Interest Rates on Bond Prices and Yield

A fundamental principle of bond investing is that market interest rates and bond prices generally move in opposite 

directions. When market interest rates rise, prices of fixed-rate bonds fall. this phenomenon is known as interest 

rate risk.
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A seesaw, such as the one pictured below, can help you visualize the relationship between market interest rates and 

bond prices. Imagine that one end of the seesaw represents the market interest rate and the other end represents the 

price of a fixed-rate bond.

Market Interest Rates and Prices of Fixed-Rate Bonds Move in Opposite Directions

Higher market interest rates  lower fixed-rate bond prices

Lower market interest rates  higher fixed-rate bond prices

A bond’s yield to maturity shows how much an investor’s money will earn if the bond is held until it matures. For 

example, as the table below illustrates, let’s say a treasury bond offers a 3% coupon rate, and a year later market interest 

rates fall to 2%. The bond will still pay a 3% coupon rate, making it more valuable than new bonds paying just a 2% 

coupon rate. If you sell the 3% bond before it matures, you will probably find that its price is higher than it was a year 

ago. Along with the rise in price, however, the yield to maturity of the bond will go down for anyone who buys the 

bond at the new higher price.

EXAMPLE 1: If Market Interest Rates Decrease by One Percent

Financial Term Today One Year Later ↓

Market Interest Rate 3% 2%

Coupon Rate (semi-annual payments) 3% 3%

Face Value $1,000 $1,000

Maturity 10 years 9 years remaining

Price $1,000 $1,082

Yield to Maturity 3% 2%

Lower market interest rates  higher fixed-rate bond prices  lower fixed-rate bond yields
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now suppose market interest rates rise from 3% to 4%, as the table below illustrates. If you sell the 3% bond, it will 

be competing with new treasury bonds that offer a 4% coupon rate. The price of the 3% bond may be more likely 

to fall. The yield to maturity, however, will rise as the price falls.

EXAMPLE 2: If Market Interest Rates Increase by One Percent

Financial Term Today One Year Later ↑

Market Interest Rate 3% 4%

Coupon Rate (semi-annual payments) 3% 3%

Face Value $1,000 $1,000

Maturity 10 years 9 years remaining

Price $1,000 $925

Yield to Maturity 3% 4%

Higher market interest rates  lower fixed-rate bond prices  higher fixed-rate bond yields

For a more detailed explanation of yield to maturity, including additional examples, please see our Investor Bulletin 

on Corporate Bonds.

The Effect of Coupon Rates on Interest Rate Risk

Interest rate risk is common to all bonds, even u.s. treasury bonds. A bond’s maturity and coupon rate generally 

affect how much its price will change as a result of changes in market interest rates.

If two bonds offer different coupon rates while all of their other characteristics (e.g., maturity and credit quality) are the 

same, the bond with the lower coupon rate generally will experience a greater decrease in value as market interest rates 

rise. Bonds offering lower coupon rates generally will have higher interest rate risk than similar bonds that offer higher 

coupon rates.

Lower fixed-rate bond coupon rates  higher interest rate risk

Higher fixed-rate bond coupon rates  lower interest rate risk

For example, imagine one bond that has a coupon rate of 2% while another bond has a coupon rate of 4%. All other 

features of the two bonds—when they mature, their level of credit risk, and so on—are the same. If market interest 

rates rise, then the price of the bond with the 2% coupon rate will fall more than that of the bond with the 4% 

coupon rate.

remember:

Lower market interest rates  higher fixed-rate bond prices  lower fixed-rate bond yields 

 higher interest rate risk to rising market interest rates
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Because of this relationship, it is particularly important for investors to consider interest rate risk when they 

purchase bonds in a low-interest rate environment.

The Effect of Maturity on Interest Rate Risk and Coupon Rates

A bond’s maturity is the specific date in the future at which the face value of the bond will be repaid to the investor. 

A bond may mature in a few months or in a few years. Maturity can also affect interest rate risk. The longer the bond’s 

maturity, the greater the risk that the bond’s value could be impacted by changing interest rates prior to maturity, 

which may have a negative effect on the price of the bond. Therefore, bonds with longer maturities generally have 

higher interest rate risk than similar bonds with shorter maturities.

Longer maturity  higher interest rate risk

Shorter maturity  lower interest rate risk

to compensate investors for this interest rate risk, long-term bonds generally offer higher coupon rates than short-term 

bonds of the same credit quality.

Longer maturity  higher interest rate risk  higher coupon rate

Shorter maturity  lower interest rate risk  lower coupon rate

If you intend to hold a bond to maturity, the day-to-day fluctuations in the bond’s price may not be as important to 

you. The bond’s price may change, but you will be paid the stated interest rate, as well as the face value of the bond, 

upon maturity. on the other hand, instead of holding the bond to maturity, you might be able to sell the bond and 

reinvest the proceeds into another bond that pays a higher coupon rate.

All Bonds are Subject to Interest Rate Risk—Even If the Bonds Are Insured 

or Government Guaranteed

The seesaw effect between interest rates and bond prices applies to all bonds, even to those that are insured or 

guaranteed by the u.s. government. When the u.s. government guarantees a bond, it guarantees that it will make 

interest payments on the bond on time and that it will pay the principal in full when the bond matures. There is a 

misconception that, if a bond is insured or is a u.s. government obligation, the bond will not lose value. In fact, the 

U.S. government does not guarantee the market price or value of the bond if you sell the bond before it matures. 

This is because the market price or value of the bond can change over time based on several factors, including market 

interest rates.
n FInrA Investor Alert: Duration—What an Interest rate Hike Could Do to Your Bond Portfolio

n seC Investor Bulletin: What Are Corporate Bonds?

n seC Investor Bulletin: What Are High-Yield Corporate Bonds?

n seC Investor Bulletin: Municipal Bonds

n seC Investor Bulletin: Municipal Bonds: understanding Credit risk

Additional Information

The Office of Investor Education and Advocacy has provided this information as a service to investors. 

It is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of SEC policy. If you have questions concerning the 

meaning or application of a particular law or rule, please consult with an attorney who specializes in 

securities law.

SEC Pub. No. 151 (6/13)