The settlement amount is the price that an investor pays for owning bonds. It is a combination of the accrued interest and the bonds’ market price. The accrued interest is the sum that the investor must receive from the bond’s issuer but is still yet to get it. But if an investor chooses to sell his bonds, then he must receive the interest till the sale date.
Even though settlement amount by itself is a straightforward concept, one must gain familiarity with its various aspects. The following are the sections that explain how the settlement works and why your settlement amount may change at any point in your journey.
How Does the Settlement Amount Work?
First, investors need to understand how to calculate the settlement amount. One can calculate it easily by applying the following formula:
Settlement Amount = Accrued Interest + Market Price
A settlement amount cannot be estimated without the accrued interest. So, if you want to calculate the accrued interest, then follow the below formula:
Accrued Interest = Daily Interest × Accrued Interest Period
You can also calculate the daily interest in the following manner.
Daily Interest = Annual Coupon Payment / Number of days in the year
Why Does the Settlement Amount Change?
While a bond’s settlement amount is mentioned before, two factors can lead to its change. Below is the way in which these factors work and affect the settlement amount.
Accrued Interest
The accrued interest is a very important aspect of a settlement amount. It is included in the settlement amount when you buy your bonds. The bonds accrue interest continuously until you finalise the purchase after adding them to your cart. The accrued interest can change the settlement amount depending on how long you wait to purchase the bonds after adding them to your cart.
Market Price
The bond’s market fluctuates constantly due to economic changes and other factors, including interest rate variations, supply and demand, etc. The market price changes if there is a delay in purchasing the bond units after adding them to your cart. It is like the accrued interest in this aspect. To avoid fluctuations in the settlement amount, it is advisable to purchase your bond units promptly after adding them to your cart.
Wrapping Up!
The settlement amount is an important aspect of purchasing a bond. Once you figure out what the amount is and whether it has fluctuated or not, you will have an easier time navigating through your investments. At the same time, ensure that there is not a lot of gap between the time you add the bonds to your cart and you purchase them. While it might not always be controllable, it does lead to a higher settlement amount.
FAQs
1. How is the settlement amount determined?
The settlement amount is determined on the basis of the accrued interest and market price. Both are added together to get the amount.
2. How does the settlement amount fluctuate?
The settlement amount fluctuates since both the accrued interest and the market price change depending on the gap left between the bond added to the cart and then purchased. The longer the bonds remain in your cart before purchase, the more likely the settlement amount will increase.
3. How is the accrued interest estimated?
The accrued interest is estimated by multiplying the daily interest with the accrued interest period.
