What are Junk Bonds Exactly?

Bonds are fixed-income debt instruments that corporations and governments issue to investors to raise capital. In general, the investor is effectively loaning money to the issuer. And as a result, the issuer promises to repay the money on a specific date. This date is known as the maturity date. Many bonds also offer interest payments along the way which investors call coupons.

However, what are junk bonds exactly? They’re high-yield bonds that carry a higher risk of default. And this is because these bonds are usually issued by start-ups or companies that are dealing with financial struggles.

Therefore, this investment comes with more risk due to the likelihood of the company defaulting. This leads to uncertainty in the company’s ability to repay the principal and the investors ability to earn regular interest payments.

Due to this, the companies must be willing to pay a higher yield if they want to attract investors. In fact, it’s compensation for the additional risk and uncertainty that the investor is willing to take on.

Pros and Cons of Junk Bonds

Investing in companies with financial instability doesn’t seem like a great idea at first glance. But the higher the risk, the higher the reward.

Junk bonds have the potential to realize significant price increases. And this comes down to the company’s ability to improve their financial situation.

These bonds are also a great risk indicator for the market in general. It shows when investors are willing to take on more risk or avoid it altogether.

But what are junk bonds without this added risk? Well, that is what separates them from other fixed-income debt securities that have better credit ratings.

Junk bonds are more likely to face volatility due to the financial uncertainty of the business. And the risk of default is higher than investment grade corporate or municipal bonds.

Are Junk Bonds Safe?

It’s important to note that all investments come with some level of risk. And some come with more than others. That is why many investors stay away from junk bonds altogether.

However, more optimistic investors are willing to take on the additional risk in hopes of reaping the rewards.

You must make the decision to invest in junk bonds depending on your specific investment goals and circumstances. If the company begins to perform better financially, the bond may very well pay off in your favor. Nevertheless, you must be willing to take on the risk of the company defaulting.

Consider a Company’s Credit Rating

What are junk bonds and how does the company’s credit rating factor into the equation? A credit rating is an assessment of the creditworthiness of the company based on its outstanding debt and other financials. It works similarly to your personal credit rating.

The company’s credit rating will play a major role in the market price of the junk bond and the interest rate it comes with. That is why it is vital for all bond investors to keep a close watch on a bond’s credit rating before making an investment decision.

Investing in Junk Bonds

Bonds are investments that come with varying levels of risk and reward. And none of them push both ends of that spectrum harder than junk bonds. The risks are highest and the rewards are as well.

To learn more about the different types of bond investments, sign up for the Liberty Through Wealth e-letter below. You can learn more about how the bond market works and why it can help you build wealth in your life.

Overall, what are junk bonds going to do for your portfolio? That depends on your specific investment strategy. But one thing is for sure, you must be willing to take on more risk for the potential of higher returns.

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DLPN Stock Price Overview and Background

Dolphin Entertainment is an entertainment marketing and premium content production company. According to the company website, Dolphin is assembling the industry’s only independent collection of “A-list marketing companies.” This includes a family of service providers that share insights, expertise and much more.

These companies also help support Dolphin’s development of movies, television, digital programming, live events and other intellectual properties.

Dolphin Entertainment was founded in 1996 in Coral Gables, Florida. It began producing children and young-adult targeted television shows and movies on popular networks such as Nickelodeon.

After its original success, DLPN stock hit the market on November 30, 2012, closing that day at $8 a share. The stock steadily rose over the next two years before falling off in 2014 and 2015.

However, 2016 was a monster year for the company. And as a result, the stock price hit an all-time high of $82.70 that May.

But the success didn’t last long and shares consistently lost value throughout 2017, ending the year at $18. In 2018, DLPN stock fell back into penny stock territory below $5.

It’s been a struggle for investors ever since. That is, until now. Dolphin Entertainment is back above $10 a share due to new partnerships and developments that are making headlines and piquing the interest of new investors.

DLPN Stock Forecast

Why is Dolphin Entertainment on the rise? And will this affect the DLPN stock forecast going forward?

These are questions that many investors are considering at the moment. And rightfully so. Now may be the best time to invest.

Dolphin recently announced a partnership with West Realm Shire Services Inc., which owns and operates the FTX.US cryptocurrency exchange. The goal of this partnership is to create large-scale, consumer-facing NFT marketplaces for major sports and entertainment brands.

Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are virtual tokens that can represent anything from digital art to games and sports collectibles. In fact, NFTs burst into the market in 2020. And now Dolphin is looking to make the most of this promising investment opportunity.

Since the announcement, DLPN stock has jumped above $10. But it’s important to consider market volatility at the moment. Specifically, Dolphin stock hit a 52-week high of $35.20 back in March before cooling off. And it’s been a struggle for growth stocks in general.

Will its venture into the red-hot NFT market change the company’s fortunes going forward? Only time will tell. Therefore, you may want to keep a close eye on Dolphin Entertainment stock over the coming months.

Investing in Entertainment Stocks

Entertainment stocks can boost your portfolio if you do the proper research. At Trade of the Day, their team of experts do the research for you. Sign up for the Trade of the Day e-letter below for access to stock picks, tips and trends that may help you find the next big market mover.

Dolphin Entertainment is certainly one to watch going forward. New initiatives and developments may unlock the investment potential of this company. So, now may be the time to invest in DLPN stock as many forecasts project that it will take off in the near future.

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Baidu Stock Forecast and Outlook

Baidu is a Chinese multinational tech company that specializes in internet services and products. In addition, it’s ventured into artificial intelligence. But it’s mostly known for its Chinese search engine that ranks as the third largest website in the Alexa rankings. That’s higher than popular sites such as Facebook (Nasdaq: FB) and Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN).

In fact, Baidu has the second largest search engine in the world behind Google. So, why is its stock consistently dropping over the past five months?

It’s largely due to the economic hardships and regulatory crackdowns in China. Many online companies in China are struggling due to new regulations on online practices by government authorities.

Experts generally consider Baidu an undervalued investment at the current moment. It’s trading around $130 a share with a 52-week high of $278.21. That seems low considering its fourth quarter earnings of 2021. Baidu beat expectations as revenue rose 25% year-over-year to $4.3 billion (28.1 billion yuan). Moreover, its adjusted net income reached $656 million (4.3 billion yuan). That’s an increase of 39%.

For the first quarter of 2022, Baidu expects its revenue to rise. However, it’s difficult for analysts to determine a reasonable Baidu stock forecast for the coming months due to market uncertainty.

What to Expect Moving Forward

Expectations for Baidu stock seem unclear at the moment. And this is largely because of Chinese regulatory authorities. The recent crackdowns have led to a drop in share prices across the board for Chinese tech companies.

Outside of Baidu, the most powerful tech companies in China are Tencent (OTC: TCEHY) and Alibaba (NYSE: BABA). And both of these stocks are down over the past six months in similar trajectories to Baidu.

This may not be a good sign for the current Baidu stock forecast. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t a good investment. In fact, it may be the perfect time to invest. Baidu is clearly growing year-over-year despite the new government regulations.

The company’s ability to “weather the storm” is clear and its growth projections are even more promising. It may be only a matter of time before Baidu stock regains momentum…

Investing in Tech Stocks

Following the best tech stocks can give you a good idea of how well, or poor, the stock market is doing. These companies rule the market, dominate their industries and produce impressive returns for investors.

Discover the latest stock trends in technology and other industries that can bring balance to your portfolio. It’s clear that Baidu is the “Google of China.” It’s a tech giant that continues to impress despite regulations and the pandemic. Unfortunately, the share price isn’t correlating to the company’s financial growth at the moment. That is why the current Baidu stock forecast is a topic of discussion that isn’t going away anytime soon. Nevertheless, this isn’t a stock that you should overlook.

The post Baidu Stock Forecast: Will the Share Price Continue to Fall? appeared first on Investment U.

Why Is Crypto Going Down? Will the Slide Continue?

Bitcoin is the face of the cryptocurrency market. And the majority of price movement within the market is dependent on Bitcoin’s success or failure.

For example, most altcoins face volatility when Bitcoin begins to drop. Anything from negative press to government crackdowns can cause a chain reaction that leads to a crypto crash.

At the moment, Bitcoin is trading around $30,000 after hitting an all-time high of $68,789.63 in 2021. So why is crypto going down so quickly after most digital currencies were reaching new highs in recent months?

Recent government crackdowns and the resulting backlash have led to market uncertainty and volatility. And while most experts believe it’s only a matter of time before the crypto market recovers, many investors are trying to determine if now’s the time to get in or get out.

So let’s take a look at the bigger picture. Bitcoin is realizing a downward trend much like the rest of the market. On the other side of the crypto spectrum, the “meme token” Dogecoin is down more than 70% over the past two months after hitting an all-time high of $0.740796.

According to a CryptoCompare, trading volume on Coinbase, Binance, Bitstamp and Kraken also falling. These are some of the largest and most popular cryptocurrency exchanges. And in total, the crypto market lost more than $1.3 trillion in a two-week span.

As you can see, the crypto crash has led to massive losses and less trading. Investors are moving away from crypto due to volatility concerns and other factors.

Crypto Crash Breakdown

You may want to know why the crypto crash occurred in the first place – and why crypto is going down at alarming rates at the moment.

There are a variety of factors, including public influence, bad press, government pressure and crackdowns.

In May of 2021, China banned financial institutions and payment companies from providing crypto-related services. China also shut down Bitcoin miners throughout its country.

Around the same time, Elon Musk announced Tesla would no longer accept Bitcoin due to climate concerns. Musk intends to resume using Bitcoin for transactions once Bitcoin mining transitions to more sustainable energy.

More recently, the U.S. Federal Reserve has flagged digital assets for the very first time. Its semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress noted that “asset prices may be vulnerable to significant declines should investor risk appetite fall, interest rates rise unexpectedly, or the recovery stall.”

And investors’ risk appetite has fallen. The recovery is stalled. Investors are less willing to take on the risk due to volatility. As a result, crypto trading is rapidly dropping and the market is taking one hit after another.

Investing in Cryptocurrencies

The crypto market is in a difficult period at the moment. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to write off cryptocurrencies for good. There’s still real investment potential in Bitcoin and many of the best altcoins, such as Ethereum, Tether and Litecoin.

Don’t overthink the current narrative surrounding cryptocurrencies. Will the market recover? Are more government sanctions on the way? Why is crypto going down after its rapid rise to start the year? Now is not the time to jeopardize your portfolio. As difficult as it may be, most analysts and experts believe you should hold on and keep a close watch on the crypto market for the time being.

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Ethereum Price Forecast and History

Bitcoin is the face and star of the cryptocurrency boom that made headlines in 2020 and exploded in 2021. There’s no debating that. Yet, Ethereum has quickly found its way into the spotlight. And it’s no surprise.

Ethereum works in similar ways to Bitcoin. Just like Bitcoin, Ethereum has its own blockchain with a global network.

Ethereum operates as a software platform that enables decentralized applications to be built and run without third-party interference or potential fraud. Furthermore, this entire platform runs by way of the Ethereum token. And that is why this cryptocurrency is so sought after by investors and developers alike.

The Ethereum price forecast has steadily risen since its initial release in 2015. But it’s taken on a life of its own due to the recent crypto uncertainty and the resulting loss of value.

Nevertheless, Ethereum has as much power as any token on the market outside of Bitcoin. It’s currently trading around $2,700 despite a difficult start to 2022. However, you must consider the massive hit the entire crypto market is undertaking at the current moment.

Ethereum’s all-time high is $4,865.57. This alone gives investors a true look at the potential of altcoins. But it didn’t last long. Government crackdowns and market uncertainty led to a dip that put the market into a tailspin. And no one was safe from the fallout.

Bitcoin took a major hit. As did other popular coins like Tether, Litecoin and Dogecoin. Ethereum felt the effects as well.

This is why the current Ethereum price forecast is up for debate. Many analysts believe the slide will continue throughout the summer. Others see a resurgence coming that will push the price higher than precrash highs.

Can the Crypto Market Recover?

The crypto crash in May was followed by a volatile June. This led to more uncertainty and damaging headlines throughout the investing world. And it seems like the hits keep on coming.

The Federal Reserve flagged digital assets for the very first time in its semi-annual Monetary Policy Report to Congress on July 9, 2021. The report notes that the “surge in the prices of a variety of crypto assets also reflects in part increased risk appetite.”

Risk appetite is the level of risk you are willing to take on. And, in this case, investors are willing to take on more risk because of the huge crypto spikes from before the crash.

Now the question becomes this: Were these massive gains an anomaly? A social-media-fueled frenzy? Or possibly a sign of the potential of the cryptocurrency market as a whole? And how will this affect the Ethereum price forecast going forward?

It’s clear that investors are still willing to put a chunk of their portfolios into cryptocurrencies despite the crash. While some analysts and experts remain in doubt, the crypto community believes it’s only a matter of time before Bitcoin and Ethereum regain momentum.

Investing in Ethereum

As I mentioned above, Ethereum remains the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world. The crypto crash wasn’t good for anyone, but Ethereum has staying power and a market cap of more than $300 billion. It’s not going anywhere. And neither is its support from public influencers and investors across the nation.

To stay up to date with the latest Ethereum news and crypto trends, you may want to watch popular figures and politicians within the market. For example, Elon Musk regularly makes headlines for his opinions of cryptocurrency and the Biden administration is working to provide more clarity on America’s stance when it comes to digital currencies.

The crypto market has ruled the headlines of major publications and will continue to do so. Therefore, you may want to keep a close eye on the Ethereum price forecast if you are considering this popular cryptocurrency as an investment.

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Dogecoin Forecast and Outlook

Dogecoin hit the market in 2013 as a community-driven meme currency. It quickly grabbed the attention of social media and public influencers. In fact, Elon Musk remains one of its most powerful supporters to this day.

But it has become a real investment opportunity over the past two years. And many investors have already reaped the rewards. Dogecoin ended 2020 at $0.0057 as one of the cheapest cryptocurrencies around. But 2021 began with a crypto boom that led the Dogecoin forecast to skyrocket.

In May of 2021, Dogecoin reached an all-time high of $0.740796. That’s an increase of more than 12,000% from the beginning of the year!

Investors took notice and the hype began to grow across the internet and around the world. Unfortunately, the crypto crash in June brought everyone back down to Earth.

At this current moment, Dogecoin is trading around $0.15. And it fell as low as $0.05 in recent months.

So, why do most experts and analysts have a bullish Dogecoin forecast going forward? This is due to a variety of factors.

First and foremost, Dogecoin is the 12th largest cryptocurrency in the world with a market cap of more than $19 billion. It also has many prominent investors and a massive following on social media.

But this isn’t why a bullish outlook is in play. In general, it comes down to Dogecoin’s formation of a symmetrical triangle pattern. This is a continuation pattern that is characterized by two converging trend lines.

After a period of consolidation, the Dogecoin price will breakout, or breakdown, from the trendline. And most experts are predicting a bullish trend with the potential for gains of more than 20%.

How to Invest in Dogecoin

Dogecoin’s rise in popularity coincides with the overall rise of the cryptocurrency market. And as a result, many of the most reputable exchanges now offer users the ability to invest in Dogecoin. If you are riding high on the current Dogecoin forecast, you can purchase the “meme token” on:

• Binance
• Bittrex
• Changelly
• Coinbase
• Kraken
• Robinhood

Without a doubt, Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) and Robinhood are the two most popular exchanges for Dogecoin investors. With Coinbase, you can invest in a variety of altcoins and even earn Dogecoin by learning about cryptocurrency through the company’s platform. Coinbase recently went public and it’s considered one of the best crypto platforms available today.

Robinhood, on the other hand, is planning to go public in the near future despite recent backlash and news headlines. It’s the most prominent mobile investing application on the market. Moreover, it added cryptocurrency to its platform in the first quarter of 2021. This led to a massive spike in its customer base.

With the bullish outlook of the current Dogecoin forecast, you can expect more investors to add this digital currency to their portfolios. Therefore, you may want to keep a close watch on this popular “meme token” over the coming months.

Investing in Cryptocurrency

The world of cryptocurrencies is always expanding and driving investment trends. In addition, new altcoins are hitting the market each and every day.

Dogecoin is looking to regain its momentum after the crypto crash led to a massive dip in value. But if the latest Dogecoin forecast holds true, you may want to get in before it takes off once again.

The post Dogecoin Forecast Suggests Better Price Outcomes Ahead appeared first on Investment U.

Will Crypto Go Back Up and Recover?

Cryptocurrencies have been a market darling throughout the pandemic. And as a result, new digital currencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are popping up each and every day. It’s hard to keep track of them all.

Yet, almost every crypto analyst will point to Bitcoin’s performance as a key indicator for the crypto market overall. And who can blame them? Bitcoin is the largest, most prominent cryptocurrency in the world. It’s the crown jewel of cryptocurrencies.

And more recently, Bitcoin has taken one hit after another. Specifically, its currently trading around $40,000. The all-time high of $68,990.90 is a thing of the past.

So, will crypto go back up or is Bitcoin’s slide a sign of the times to come? One thing is for sure, volatility is extremely high at the moment. But Bitcoin seems to be regaining momentum after a difficult start to the new year.

Will it completely recover and push to new all-time highs in the near future? That’s another question altogether. And most analysts believe it has a long road ahead and many roadblocks to consider.

The Crypto Crash and Future Outlook

The most recent crypto crash was due to a wide range of issues. This includes market uncertainty, government regulations and public influence.

For example, China’s crackdown on digital currencies played a major role in the drop. The Chinese government ordered crypto miners to shut down operations throughout the country.

This led to a panic and major sell-off of Bitcoin. On the other hand, other countries are showing their support of cryptocurrencies. This includes powerhouses such as France, Germany, Japan and the United States. And this support is continuing to grow.

Will crypto go back up or will this support begin to falter? It’s important to consider recent news within the community.

For instance, Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas Pliego is making headlines for his push to become the first Mexican lender to accept Bitcoin. Pliego has an empire of businesses with a net worth of $15.8 billion. He’s also considered close to Mexican President Andrés Manuel López.

He tweeted his support for Bitcoin which led to an instant boost for the popular cryptocurrency.

“Me and my bank are working to be the first bank in Mexico to accept #Bitcoin,” he said. “I think that any investor should start learning about cryptocurrencies and their future. At @BancoAzteca we are working to bring them to our clients,” he added in another tweet in Spanish.

Pliego has even called Bitcoin “the new gold.” He’s one of many public figures to become an advocate of cryptocurrencies in general. This could bode well for the future.

Investing in Cryptocurrencies

Bitcoin is destined to regain value after the recent crash. How far it will go is up for debate. Some analysts believe it’s only a matter of time before Bitcoin hits new highs and becomes more accessible around the world.

To stay ahead of the crypto market, keep a close eye on major players and influencers. This includes the likes of Elon Musk and American politicians. Will crypto go back up or is this recent drop going to cause more problems going forward? Now may be the perfect time to invest in Bitcoin and popular altcoins as they begin to recover.

The post Will Crypto Go Back Up or Continue Its Slide? appeared first on Investment U.

Is Bitcoin a Good Investment for You?

Bitcoin is the face of decentralized digital currencies. Moreover, it’s the standard for expectations in the cryptocurrency market. When Bitcoin begins to drop, you can expect other cryptocurrencies to follow suit. There are exceptions due to the likes of social media-fueled trends and government crackdowns.

It’s very clear that everything and everyone in the crypto community revolves around the success or failure of Bitcoin. Therefore, is Bitcoin a good investment or a ticking time bomb?

This is a debate that will continue to dominate conversations within the investing space. Many traditional investors believe crypto doesn’t provide a true investment opportunity. Others believe it’s the future of all transactions and wealth. As you can see, there’s a huge disconnect within the marketplace. And the gap isn’t closing at the moment.

One thing is clear: Many investors have profited greatly from Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. The support is growing rapidly as well. As a result, crypto isn’t going anywhere and Bitcoin will continue to be the flagship digital currency. Not Ethereum, Litecoin, Stellar or even Dogecoin.

It doesn’t matter which criteria you use. Nothing in cryptocurrency holds a candle to Bitcoin in terms of market cap and individual coin evaluation.

Bitcoin Price History

Is Bitcoin a good investment at this current time? Let’s take a look at its price history for some context.

Bitcoin was launched in 2009. But it didn’t break the $1.00 mark until 2011. It remained relatively consistent over the following two years. But in 2013, Bitcoin made huge strides forward.

It began 2013 at $13.40 and ended the year at $744.17. In fact, it broke the $1,000 mark that November. 2013 is now known as the “Year of Bitcoin” within the crypto community.

It’s rise continued and ramped up drastically throughout the 2010’s. By the end of the decade, Bitcoin was trading for $9,545.08.

What came next was an explosion of crypto fever during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Market uncertainty, social media and public influence led the charge. In April of 2021, Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $64,828.14.

But this was short-lived and Bitcoin quickly began losing value the following month before falling off a cliff in June. It’s now trading around $58,000 as we close out the year.

Th drop-off was largely due to a recent crackdown on digital currencies in China. The Chinese government ordered crypto miners to shutdown operations and a crypto crash quickly followed. Specifically, the entire crypto market lost over $400 billion in value in a span of three days.

But this doesn’t mark the end of cryptocurrencies. If anything, it will spark a renewed push forward. Is Bitcoin a good investment? Now may be the time to get in before it regains momentum.

Cryptocurrency Investing

The crypto market is as volatile as any investment out there. The risks are high, but the rewards can be even greater.

To learn more about the past, present and future of cryptocurrency, sign up for the Manward Financial Digest e-letter below. The team at Manward is on a crypto journey of their own. And crypto expert Andy Snyder provides updates, analysis and trends for his readers on a daily basis. You don’t want to miss out on the next big crypto push and movement.

So, is Bitcoin a good investment or a disaster waiting to happen? It’s facing tough times at the moment. But Bitcoin will continue to rule the crypto market and you may want to consider getting in low before it inevitably rises once again.

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