what is a bond 
a bond is a fixed income instrument and investment product where individuals lend money to a government or company at a certain interest rate for an amount of time the entity repays individuals with interest in addition to the original face value of the bond bonds are used by companies municipalities states and sovereign governments to finance projects and operations owners of bonds are debtholders or creditors of the issuer bond details include the end date when the principal of the loan is due to be paid to the bond owner and usually include the terms for variable or fixed interest payments made by the borrower investopedia ellen lindner