Bond recommendations

[Triplethought]

On the portion of your portfolio you're holding in "cash' does anyone use any kind of govt or corporate bonds to earn a small amount of interest? I'm looking for something that retains it's value well, won't dip much in a crash and can be bought and sold quickly (same day) to free up cash for the stock plays. Ticker symbols appreciated

[Yodean]

On the portion of your portfolio you're holding in "cash' does anyone use any kind of govt or corporate bonds to earn a small amount of interest? I'm looking for something that retains it's value well, won't dip much in a crash and can be bought and sold quickly (same day) to free up cash for the stock plays. Ticker symbols appreciated

Well, and as usual this does not constitute specific financial advice, but I do use TLT to "hold" a portion of USD cash, as well as a portfolio diversifier. Interest is minimal, but then again, I am also holding it for some degree of capital appreciation. It looks like it has bottomed for the most part, and my position is finally in the green, after months in the red. Kind of like watching paint dry, but at this point, downside is quite limited and there is some significant upside, from my angle of observation.

May the Force be with you . . .

[Triplethought]

On the portion of your portfolio you're holding in "cash' does anyone use any kind of govt or corporate bonds to earn a small amount of interest? I'm looking for something that retains it's value well, won't dip much in a crash and can be bought and sold quickly (same day) to free up cash for the stock plays. Ticker symbols appreciated

Well, and as usual this does not constitute specific financial advice, but I do use TLT to "hold" a portion of USD cash, as well as a portfolio diversifier. Interest is minimal, but then again, I am also holding it for some degree of capital appreciation. It looks like it has bottomed for the most part, and my position is finally in the green, after months in the red. Kind of like watching paint dry, but at this point, downside is quite limited and there is some significant upside, from my angle of observation.

May the Force be with you . . .

Thanks Yodean. It's probably not what I'm looking for. I'm not looking for a contra stock market play per se. There must be some corporate bonds out there that are safe enough?

[Yodean]

Thanks Yodean. It's probably not what I'm looking for. I'm not looking for a contra stock market play per se. There must be some corporate bonds out there that are safe enough?

Another approach which has worked really well for me - thus far - to keep purchasing power and receive a good dividend at the same time is to view a stock such as IBM as a liquid store of value. It's paying a nice 4.6% annual dividend, and although not as cheap as it once was, one could theoretically "dollar-cost" average into IBM with one's extra cash position over time (to reduce beta) and view it almost as a high-yield bond. When you need cash to buy another asset, you just sell some IBM. Some of the other mega-cap stocks that are in primary bull trends could also work in a similar fashion, to a point.

This approach will obviously not protect you in the event of a significant general equity market crash, but if you were truly concerned about that, then you probably want to just hold USD. I'm not too big on corporate bonds in general, for a long list of reasons I don't want to get into here.

[SOL]

Remember the old saying the "save a penny lose a pound". Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing and just wait for the opportunity to come to you.

[Triplethought]

Remember the old saying the "save a penny lose a pound". Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing and just wait for the opportunity to come to you.

are there any bond funds that you can buy and sell same day without penalty or commission? Or when you get in should you stay in them for the whole term?