What happens to long-term debt when the market interest rate exceeds the stated interest rate?

When the market interest rate exceeds the stated interest rate of long-term debt, it typically results in the debt being sold at a discount. The reason for this is centered around the relationship between interest rates and bond pricing.

When investors can obtain a higher return from new debt instruments that reflect the higher market interest rates, existing debt with a lower stated interest rate becomes less attractive. To entice buyers, the price of the existing debt (such as bonds) is reduced, which is referred to as selling at a discount. This discount effectively raises the yield that investors receive, aligning it with the prevailing market rates.

For instance, if a bond pays a 3% coupon rate in an environment where new bonds are issued at 5%, investors will only be willing to purchase the 3% bond at a lower price, ensuring that the overall yield meets their investment expectations. Therefore, selling the bond at a discount compensates for the lower interest payments relative to that being offered in the market.