This is an innovative approach for earning equity-style returns while offsetting portfolio risks. In today's bond market bond investing historically seen as safe, stodgy, and ultra-conservative can be every bit as exciting and profitable as the stock market. "The Strategic Bond Investor" outlines a dramatic new style of bond investing, aggressive yet risk-conscious, that is long overdue for investors who have grown weary of today's 'earn it today, give it back tomorrow' stock market gyrations. The first book to approach fixed income investing from a stock market perspective, "The Strategic Bond Investor" provides: detailed explanations of different bond types, and how they perform in various market environments; key economic reports, and how they influence bond prices and profit opportunities and insights into how you can use the yield curve and other key indicators to predict the direction of the markets and the economy. "The Strategic Bond Investor" describes the tools every investor needs to take part in today's bond market spotting market extremes, analyzing volume and liquidity, and utilizing dozens of other techniques that until recently were limited to institutional and equity investors. Let its information and guidelines show you how to more effectively hedge risk in your overall portfolio, and uncover new profit opportunities in today's transformed investment marketplace. 'This book will help you to understand the most essential elements of intelligent bond investing. By simply gaining a greater understanding of the many ways the bond market can affect you and by utilizing the tools in this book to your advantage, you'll be on your way toward unlocking the power of the bond market...' - From Chapter 1. For decades, professional investors have understood 'the power of the bond market' for balancing portfolios, hedging investment risks, and even locking in fast-turnaround trading profits. "The Strategic Bond Investor" is the first hands-on, plain-English book to reveal the tricks of the fixed-income trade to a larger audience, and explain how all investors can start today to take profitable advantage of the biggest securities market in the world the U.S. bond market. A long-overdue discussion of this accessible and flexible market, "The Strategic Bond Investor" provides insights and trading tips on subjects including: the five largest market segments; treasuries, government agencies, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, and mortgage-backed securities; how the Fed 'telegraphs' its moves, allowing investors to stay one step ahead of changing interest rates; and, all about the Yield Curve, the bond market's reliable and all-important crystal ball. In addition to the investment dynamics of bonds, this fast-paced book discusses the importance of today's fixed income market to the economy in general. From the vital role of bonds in providing capital to growing businesses to the ways in which increased securitization and innovation assure the continued growth of the bond market, seasoned investment professional Anthony Crescenzi helps you understand every market facet and provides you with a bedrock foundation for making profitable decisions. Bonds have turned the corner, and are now seen as a vital component of any well-diversified investment portfolio. Learn the rules of the game in "The Strategic Bond Investor", and discover short- and long-term techniques and strategies you can use to take advantage of the unlimited potential of bond investing and make it a vital component of your overall trading strategy.