What do bonds represent in the financial market?

Bonds represent debt securities in the financial market because they are a way for issuers, such as corporations or governments, to borrow money from investors. When an investor purchases a bond, they are essentially lending money to the issuer in exchange for periodic interest payments, known as coupons, and the return of the bond's face value at maturity. This borrowing mechanism allows issuers to finance their operations or projects without giving up ownership or equity in the company, which distinguishes bonds from equity securities, like stocks.

In contrast, cash equivalents refer to short-term investments that can be quickly converted into cash, such as treasury bills or money market funds, and derivatives are financial instruments whose value is derived from the price movements of underlying assets. Therefore, bonds fitting into the category of debt securities makes them an essential component of fixed-income investing and a vehicle for diversifying an investment portfolio.