Final answer:
Bonds are debt instruments with various features such as fixed or variable interest rates, zero-coupon, OID, convertible, and puttable options, as well as being secured or unsecured.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bonds are essentially I owe you notes issued by an entity to raise capital, with distinct features such as face value, coupon rate, maturity date, and terms of the interest payment. Fixed-rate bonds have a constant coupon rate over the life of the bond, while variable-rate bonds have a coupon that varies with prevailing interest rates.
Zero-coupon bonds offer no annual interest but are sold at a discount to par value, delivering gains through capital appreciation. An original issue discount (OID) bond is issued below par value. Convertible bonds can be exchanged for common stock of the issuing firm.
Bonds with warrants allow investors to purchase stock at a set price, potentially giving a capital gain if stock prices rise. Puttable bonds let investors sell the bond back to the issuer at a predetermined price before maturity. Income bonds only pay interest if the company has earnings, whereas indexed bonds adjust interest payments according to an inflation index.
Mortgage bonds are backed by specific assets. Debentures are unsecured, with subordinated debentures being lower in priority. Bonds with investment-grade ratings (triple B or higher) are favored by institutional investors, unlike high-yield, high-risk junk bonds.