What is the bond market and why is everybody so worried about it?

The bond market is a financial market where governments, companies and investors can issue, buy and sell debt in the form of — you guessed it — bonds. For governments, selling a new bond raises the funds needed to finance public spending, while a business might use the proceeds for corporate operations or an acquisition. In return, bonds provide investors with periodic interest payments, usually at a fixed interest rate, and guarantee the repayment of the principal at maturity.