Reinvestment Risk

The risk that coupons and principal must be reinvested at lower rates.

What is Reinvestment Risk?

When rates fall, interest payments and returned principal can only be reinvested at the new, lower yields. Highest for high-coupon bonds and callable bonds; zero-coupon bonds have none, because there is nothing to reinvest until maturity.

Reinvestment Risk: a worked example

A retiree living on a 6% CD that matures when new CDs pay 3% sees their income halved.

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