A bond trader engages in the buying and selling of bond commodities, either on behalf of a client or as a means of personal investment. Most bond traders are seasoned financial experts who work in bond brokerage firms. Anyone can participate in the bond market in most places, however. The training and approach of different traders can differ widely, but on a basic level, each usually does the same thing. Bonds are evaluated, risks are assessed, and purchasing and selling decisions are made.
The most visible task of any bond trader is the buying and selling of bond assets. This process is broadly described as trading, and is the lifeblood of any bond market. Major entities — usually national and local governments, and sometimes large corporations — sell bond interests to any willing buyers on the open market. Traders are the people who act on these offers.
The majority of trades happen through bond networks. Traders buy and sell interests in real time by contacting the bond distributor and arranging for a direct purchase. Most of the time, buying a bond interest is very straightforward, provided the purchaser knows what he or she is after. Buying a treasury bond is usually no harder than filling out the appropriate paperwork and tendering the required money.
Anyone who purchases even a single bond can be informally described as a “bond trader.” A big part of a professional bond trader’s work is helping clients know where to invest, however. Guiding clients through the process of structuring investments in bonds is usually a lot more complicated than simply executing a given transaction.
Bonds are usually offered as long-term loans with structured interest payments over time. Trading usually focuses on interest rates over time. Once a client owns a bond, he owns it either until it matures, or he decides to sell. Whether a bond is likely to yield a return on its investment is usually the most important part of the buy or sell decision.
Research and analysis is often a very important part of the bond trader job. Traders must usually remain very aware of the market’s shifts and must keep a vigilant watch over major jumps or dips in interest rates and payout structures. Most traders use sophisticated algorithms and statistical studies to predict bond performance over time, which can help clients understand the relative risks and potential rewards of different bond investment strategies.
Financial advisers often counsel clients to purchase bonds in bundles, which are often called portfolios. Most of the time, an investor’s portfolio will include a mix of high-interest and low-interest, long-term and short-term bond interests. A financial trader will help clients decide the right mix based on a number of individual factors.
Bond trader jobs also sometimes concern re-sales. Clients who fear they are losing money on bond investments may look to re-sell those interests on the secondary market. Traders and professional brokers usually manage this market, and help bond holders make favorable sales and exchanges.