XPost: news.announce.newgroups, misc.invest.marketplace, misc.invest.misc 
 XPost: misc.invest.technical 
 From: Irene_Waters@earthlink.net 
  
                      REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION (RFD) 
                  unmoderated group misc.invest.bonds 
  
 This is a formal Request for Discussion (RFD) for the creation of 
 the worldwide unmoderated Usenet newsgroup misc.invest.bonds. This 
 is not a Call for Votes (CFV); you cannot vote at this time. 
 Procedural details follow. 
  
 Newsgroup line: 
 misc.invest.bonds Bond Investment. 
  
 RATIONALE: misc.invest.bonds 
  
 Bonds are one of several popular investment vehicles. Consumers typically 
 buy them to reduce the volatility of portfolios. Following the descent of 
 stock market indices after 2000 and subsequent unprecedented changes in 
 interest rates, bond discussion has increased in the media and on Usenet. 
 Yet none of the 10 misc.invest newsgroups currently available is dedicated 
 to bonds. 
  
 Some of the many types of bonds which may arise as topics for discussion 
 include: government (city, state, and federal); corporate; short-term; 
 intermediate-term; long-term; bond mutual funds; new issue; highly rated 
 (AAA); and junk. 
  
 Some related topics which may arise are: the volatility of different bond 
 vehicles; the effect of interest rate changes on bonds; bond market indices; 
 where to buy bonds; specific bonds; Federal Reserve policy; 
 money market funds; and tax advantages of bonds. 
  
 Posts were counted using the method prescribed in the "[FAQ] Gathering 
 Traffic Data for Proposed Newsgroups." In the last 3 months there were an 
 average of over 200 posts per day containing the words: (bond OR bonds) AND 
 (invest OR investment OR investing OR buy OR sell OR buying OR selling) and 
 without the words (James OR glue OR Barry). 
  
 A dedicated bonds newsgroup would assist consumers in making intelligent 
 investment choices via the diversity of viewpoints, expertise, and extensive 
 open debate that such a public forum provides. Through the transfer of 
 legitimate information, it would also assist in keeping financial markets 
 free. 
  
 CHARTER: misc.invest.bonds 
  
 misc.invest.bonds is a place to post about and discuss bonds. Since 
 investment is often a weighing of choices, comparison of bonds to other 
 investment vehicles is appropriate. 
  
 A diversity of viewpoints and expertise is encouraged. Such diversity tends 
 to distill out useful and legitimate information; assist participants in 
 making intelligent investment choices; and promote free financial markets. 
  
 misc.invest.bonds topics may include but are not limited to: 
 Types of bonds and bond vehicles, including government (city, state, and 
 federal), corporate, short-term (under approx. 3 years), long-term (approx. 
 10 years and over), bond mutual funds, new issue, highly rated (AAA), and 
 junk bonds. Volatility of different bond vehicles. The effect of interest 
 rate changes on bonds. Bond market indices. Investment houses dealing in 
 bonds. Specific bonds and bond mutual funds on the market or about to be 
 issued. Federal Reserve policy. Money market funds. Tax advantages of bonds. 
  
 Posters should recognize that other investment newsgroups are dedicated 
 specifically to stocks, real estate, futures, etc. All posters should 
 consider whether a potential post to misc.invest.bonds which does not 
 mention bonds may be better suited to another newsgroup. 
  
 It is recognized that off-topic but related posts will be made from time 
 to time. It is the poster's responsibility to ensure that follow-ups are 
 sent to the appropriate newsgroup. 
  
 The proposed unmoderated newsgroup misc.invest.bonds is not intended for 
 for-sale postings. Advertisements that do appear may be vigorously 
 critiqued. 
  
 END CHARTER. 
  
 PROCEDURE: 
  
 This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes. In this phase of the 
 process, any potential problems with the proposed newsgroups should be 
 raised and resolved. The discussion period will continue for a minimum of 21 
 days starting from when the first RFD for this proposal is posted to 
 news.announce.newgroups.  After the RFD, a Call for Votes (CFV) may be 
 posted by a neutral vote taker if the discussion warrants it.  Please do not 
 attempt to vote until this happens. 
  
 All discussion of this proposal should be posted to news.groups. 
  
 This RFD attempts to comply fully with the Usenet newsgroup creation 
 guidelines outlined in "How to Create a New Usenet Newsgroup" and "How to 
 Format and Submit a New Group Proposal". Please refer to these documents 
 (available in news.announce.newgroups) if you have any questions about the 
 process. 
  
 DISTRIBUTION: 
  
 This RFD has been posted to the following newsgroups: 
  
 news.announce.newgroups 
 news.groups 
 misc.invest.marketplace 
 misc.invest.misc 
 misc.invest.technical 
  
 Pointers to the RFD will be posted to: 
  
 misc.invest.canada 
 misc.invest.financial-plan 
 misc.invest.futures 
 misc.invest.mutual-funds 
 misc.invest.options 
 misc.invest.real-estate 
 misc.invest.stocks 
 soc.retirement 
 alt.military.retired 
  
 Proponent: Irene Waters Irene_Waters@earthlink.net 
  
 --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05 
  * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)