Update July 20,2009 — High Online CD Rates
It has been another depressing week for bonds. As the stock market continues to rally (although, I’m not really sure why?), Bond prices have fallen and yields risen (bond prices and yields have an inverse relationship). This happend in June as well. In June, some certificate of deposit rates moved higher, but that hasn’t really taken place here in July.
The best online 1-year certificate of deposit rates are in the 2.50% range. Competitive rates are in the 2.00% to 2.25% range. The curve is fairly flat on terms of 1-year to 3-year. There is usually a little bonus for purchasing a 2-years CD. Most 2-year CD rates are about 0.25% higher than the 1-year, and the 3-year is usually another 0.25% above that, around 2.75%. Good 5-year rates are around 3.40 to 3.60% APY.
Typing the year and rate will produce some interesting rate data. This usually brings up a list of websites with current online interest rates. And if, for instance, you are attempting to find the hard to find 3%, you’ll probably find it within the highest twenty or so web pages. You can also search by state. For example, you could type New Jersey cd rates for rates in New Jersey
For the time being, we will probably continue to see this back and forth between the stock market and bond market. Since the banks also understand it is a back and forth, give and take, they probably won’t respond with increased online CD Rates. I think it will take the Fed to increase Fed Funds to drastically change CD rates. That may not happen for another 9-months. Keep in mind that short-term bank rates will probably increase faster than longer-term rates, eventually leaving us with a flat or mostly flat yield curve. If at some point the curve inverts again (as it did in 2006/2007), I would lengthen your terms on your certificates. Lower rates are usually just around the corner from an inverted curve. However, I think we are in for a enduring time of lower rates. The economy isn’t improving. Everytime people mention a greenshoot, indicators comes out that it really was a brownout.
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