Question

Andrea invests $5,000 in five Epic Electronics bonds that mature in 10 years. Unexpectedly just the week after she invests, she has the opportunity to work abroad, which she has always wanted to do, but she needs cash. Which of the following most likely applies to Andrea?A. She can immediately sell the bonds for $5000 plus interest for the week.B. She is out of luck. She must keep the bonds for the full ten years.C.She may immediately sell the bonds but it is unclear how much money they will sell for.D. She will be able to sell them immediately on the primary market

Answer 1

Answer:

The answer is option C. She may immediately sell the bonds but it is unclear how much money they will sell for.

Explanation:

She may immediately sell the bonds but it is unclear how much money they will sell for.

Investors who hold onto their bonds until maturity are assured of to receive the face value of the bond. In our case, if Andrea would have chosen to hold her $5,000  bond investment for 10 years, she would have been assured the  bonds face value, however since she prefers to use the cash to work abroad, she can sell the bonds immediately.

Selling a bond before it's maturity date can either be beneficial or detrimental. This depends on the value of the bond at the time of sale. If at the time of sale the bond would have gained value, then the bond will sell at a higher price than when it was bought. On the other hand, if the bond at the time of sale has lost value, then the bond will sell at a lower price than the price which it was bought.

In our case, the best option for Andrea would be to sell the bonds immediately, since she really needs the cash. If it happens that at the point at which she sells the bonds they will have gained value, then she will have more than $5,000 cash, however, if at the point she decides to sell the bonds they will have lost value, then she will have less than $5,000 depending on how much value was lost from the time she bought the bonds and the time she sold the bonds.