#Rates March 26

by Coach4aday · March 26, 2020

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I have done some spring cleaning since I am spending extended time self-contained in my house. I came across some old pamphlets on 1987 US Saving Bonds and their interest RATES.

I purchased a bond back in the 1980’s and have long ago cashed it in. I would be real excited if I could find 7-8% RATES on bonds today.

Interest Rates on Series EE Savings Bonds in 1987

It may be hard for many people to remember what it was like in the 1980’s as it pertains to interest RATES. My wife and I got married in 1980 and wanted to by a house.

We found an assumable VA loan at 8% and we felt like we were stealing. Our young friends were jealous. We had good reason for feeling like bank robbers, look below at what mortgage RATES were. Interest RATES were hovering at or above 20% in 1980 and 1981. Our first house payment was $149.00 a month. Thank God for that assumable mortgage.

I purchased the bond because I was intrigued by the guarantee of at 6%. I had become convinced that history would prevail and that RATES would fall between 6 and 4% eventually. They did get to that point but not until the 2000’s. If you want to see all the RATES from 1947 to now click here

I read somewhere once that the first law of finance is that “in the long run, RATES of return will avert to the average”. Of course some people say there are no laws of finance.

The stock market on March 23, 2020 was down to 18,581 early in the morning. Its all-time high was 29,476 on February 13, 2020. That is close to a 37% drop in a month. For 2019 the stock market (Dow) had its RATE of return at 28.9%. Yesterday the market closed at 21,910 which represents a 18% return since Monday.

That first law of finance about RATES of return in the long term just might be in play in 2020.