Market value is not a factor for some investments. One example is an investment in a certificate of deposit (CD) issued by a financial institution. Return equals just the interest earned. A CD is not traded in a public market place and has no market value. The value of a CD is the amount the financial institution will redeem it for at the maturity date, which is the face value on which interest is based. In the event that the financial institution doesnt redeem the CD at full value at maturity, the investor suffers a loss that could wipe out part or all of the interest earned on the CD. (CDs are guaranteed up to a certain limit by an agency of the federal government, but thats another matter.) (more…)
