Treasury securities are loans to the US government; investors buy them and receive interest plus their money back at maturity.
Bills mature in a year or less, notes in 2 to 10 years and bonds in 20 or 30 years. They are backed by the US government and are traded worldwide. The 10-year Treasury yield is a benchmark for mortgages and other loans.
Why it matters to you
Treasury yields influence mortgage rates, and Treasuries are a common low-risk place to park savings.