# Is there any difference between “shorting a bond” and “selling a bond” concepts? [closed]

Shorting a bond means borrow it form other and sell. It seems to me that this operation is the same as just simply issue a bond. Am I right? If yes, then why do we use "shorting" terminology for bonds? If no, why am I wrong. Thanks!

When a bond is issued an entity $$A$$ creates a debt instrument and makes it available for sale.
When a bond is sold, $$B$$ sells an existing debt instrument to $$C$$ (who buys it). $$A$$ doesn't have to be any of the entities $$B$$ or $$C$$.
• Thank you for your answer. If $A$ agent issue and then sell the bond, it means that $A$ has the obligation to pay back cash flows generated by bond. The same obligation has $A$ if s/he short sale the identical bond. Doesn't this imply that those two strategies are the same? – sane Sep 27 '19 at 15:23
• If you can borrow the bond for free and all goes well from a pure cash flow perspective: yes. But as Kola points out, the intention will be different. Also, the legalities in the case of a potential default of $A$ are different. – Bob Jansen Sep 27 '19 at 15:34