Duration

Glossary

Duration

The actual life of a bond. Duration can be shorter than a bond’s maturity date. Example: Mortgage bonds typically have 30-year maturity dates. But few 30-year mortgages actually last that one, because some homeowners sell their homes during that period, while others pay off their mortgages and still others die (resulting in heirs to sell the house, paying off the mortgage). Therefore, the average duration of a mortgage-backed security is less than the 30-year maturity of the bond. See Interest, Interest Rate, Interest Rate Risk

Your A‑to‑Z Glossary of Financial Terms