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{{Financial markets}}
{{Financial markets}}
'''Inflation-indexed bonds''' (also known as '''linkers''') are [[Bond (finance)|bonds]] where the principal is indexed to [[inflation]], and thus purports to cut out the inflation risk<ref>. Unfortunately, [[income taxes]] bring some inflation risk back to such bonds. See [[inflation tax|tax on the inflation tax]] </ref>. The first known inflation-indexed bond was issued by the [[Massachusetts Bay Company]] in [[1780]]. The market has grown dramatically since the [[United Kingdom|British]] government began issuing inflation-linked [[Gilts]] in [[1981]]. Today, the asset class comprises over $500 Billion of the international debt market. The market primarily consists of sovereign debt, with privately issued inflation-linked bonds constituting a small portion of the market.
'''Inflation-indexed bonds''' (also known as '''linkers''') are [[Bond (finance)|bonds]] where the principal is indexed to [[inflation]], and thus purports to cut out the inflation risk<ref>. Unfortunately, [[income taxes]] bring some inflation risk back to such bonds. See [[inflation tax|tax on the inflation tax]] </ref>. The first known inflation-indexed bond was issued by the [[Massachusetts Bay Company]] in [[1780]]. The market has grown dramatically since the [[United Kingdom|British]] government began issuing inflation-linked [[Gilts]] in [[1981]]. As of 2006, the asset class comprises over $1 trillion of the international debt market. The market primarily consists of sovereign debt, with privately issued inflation-linked bonds constituting a small portion of the market.
{{See also|inflation derivatives}}
{{See also|inflation derivatives}}


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Inflation-indexed bonds pay a [[coupon (bond)|coupon]] that is equivalent to the sum of the increase in an inflation index and the real coupon rate. The relationship between coupon payments, breakeven inflation and real interest rates is given by the [[Fisher equation]]. A rise in coupon payments is a result of an increase in inflation expectations, real rates, or both.
Inflation-indexed bonds pay a [[coupon (bond)|coupon]] that is equivalent to the sum of the increase in an inflation index and the real coupon rate. The relationship between coupon payments, breakeven inflation and real interest rates is given by the [[Fisher equation]]. A rise in coupon payments is a result of an increase in inflation expectations, real rates, or both.


A common misconception about these bonds is that the interest rate changes with inflation. What actually happens is that the underlying [[:wikt:principal|principal]] of the bond changes, which results in a higher [[interest]] payment when multiplied by the same rate. For example, if the coupon of a bond was 5%, and the underlying principal of the bond was 100 units, the bond would pay 5 units, assuming annual payments. If the inflation index then increased by 10%, the principal of the bond would then increase to 110 units. This is multiplied by the same coupon rate of 5%, which results in an interest payment of 5.5 units. The only known exception to this is the Australian [[Capital Indexed Bond]], which also adjusts the interest rate.
A common misconception about these bonds is that the interest rate changes with inflation. What actually happens is that the underlying [[:wikt:principal|principal]] of the bond changes, which results in a higher [[interest]] payment when multiplied by the same rate. For example, if the coupon of a bond was 5%, and the underlying principal of the bond was 100 units, the bond would pay 5 |-
units, assuming annual payments. If the inflation index then increased by 10%, the principal of the bond would then increase to 110 units. This is multiplied by the same coupon rate of 5%, which results in an interest payment of 5.5 units. The only known exception to this is the Australian [[Capital Indexed Bond]], which also adjusts the interest rate.


==Global issuance==
==Global issuance==
Best known in the [[United States|U.S.]] are [[Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities]] (TIPS), a type of [[Treasury security|US Treasury security]]. The UK also issues Index-linked Gilts. The [[Australian]] government stopped issuing the Capital Indexed Bond in [[2003]]. The Australian bond was unique among inflation-linked bonds in that the rate of interest and the principal were both linked to inflation(Australia issued its first inflation-linked bond, known as a Capital Indexed Bond in 1985. In 2003 the government suspended new offerings of inflation-linked debt, however, citing a decline in financing needs due to budget surpluses. Capital Indexed Bonds are unique among inflation-linked bonds in that both interest payments and principal are protected against deflation, as opposed to other issuers that only guarantee a bond’s principal.). [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Canada]], [[Greece]], [[Italy]], [[Japan]], [[Sweden]] and [[Iceland]] also issue inflation-indexed bonds.<ref>{{cite web
The most liquid instruments are [[Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities]] (TIPS), a type of [[Treasury security|US Treasury security]], with over $350 billion in issuance. The other important inflation-linked markets are the UK Index-linked Gilts with over $250 billion outstanding and the French OATi/OAT€i market with about $150 billion outstanding. [[France]], [[Germany]], [[Canada]], [[Greece]], [[Italy]], [[Japan]], [[Sweden]] and [[Iceland]] also issue inflation-indexed bonds; the [[Australian]] government stopped issuing the Capital Indexed Bond in [[2003]]<ref>{{cite web
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| UK Debt Management Office
| UK Debt Management Office
| Retail Price Index (RPI)
| Retail Price Index (RPI)
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| [[Australia]]
| Capital Indexed Bonds
| Reserve Bank of Australia
| Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities: All-Groups Index
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| [[France]]
| [[France]]
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| [[Bank of Canada]]
| [[Bank of Canada]]
| Canada All-Items [[Consumer Price Index|CPI]]
| Canada All-Items [[Consumer Price Index|CPI]]
|-
| [[Australia]]
| Capital Indexed Bonds
| Reserve Bank of Australia
| Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities: All-Groups Index
|-
| [[Germany]]
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|-
|-
| [[Greece]]
| [[Greece]]

Revision as of 15:01, 14 February 2008

Inflation-indexed bonds (also known as linkers) are bonds where the principal is indexed to inflation, and thus purports to cut out the inflation risk[1]. The first known inflation-indexed bond was issued by the Massachusetts Bay Company in 1780. The market has grown dramatically since the British government began issuing inflation-linked Gilts in 1981. As of 2006, the asset class comprises over $1 trillion of the international debt market. The market primarily consists of sovereign debt, with privately issued inflation-linked bonds constituting a small portion of the market.

Structure

Inflation-indexed bonds pay a coupon that is equivalent to the sum of the increase in an inflation index and the real coupon rate. The relationship between coupon payments, breakeven inflation and real interest rates is given by the Fisher equation. A rise in coupon payments is a result of an increase in inflation expectations, real rates, or both.

A common misconception about these bonds is that the interest rate changes with inflation. What actually happens is that the underlying principal of the bond changes, which results in a higher interest payment when multiplied by the same rate. For example, if the coupon of a bond was 5%, and the underlying principal of the bond was 100 units, the bond would pay 5 |- units, assuming annual payments. If the inflation index then increased by 10%, the principal of the bond would then increase to 110 units. This is multiplied by the same coupon rate of 5%, which results in an interest payment of 5.5 units. The only known exception to this is the Australian Capital Indexed Bond, which also adjusts the interest rate.

Global issuance

The most liquid instruments are Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), a type of US Treasury security, with over $350 billion in issuance. The other important inflation-linked markets are the UK Index-linked Gilts with over $250 billion outstanding and the French OATi/OAT€i market with about $150 billion outstanding. France, Germany, Canada, Greece, Italy, Japan, Sweden and Iceland also issue inflation-indexed bonds; the Australian government stopped issuing the Capital Indexed Bond in 2003[2]

Country Issue Issuer Inflation Index
United States Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)[3] US Treasury US Consumer Price Index
United Kingdom Inflation-linked Gilt (ILG) UK Debt Management Office Retail Price Index (RPI)
France OATi and OAT€i[4] Agency France Trésor France CPI ex-tobacco (OATi), EU HICP (OAT€i)
Canada Real Return Bond (RRB)[5] Bank of Canada Canada All-Items CPI
Australia Capital Indexed Bonds Reserve Bank of Australia Weighted Average of Eight Capital Cities: All-Groups Index
Germany
Greece
Italy BTP€i Department of the Treasury EU HICP
Japan JGBi Bank of Japan Japan CPI (nationwide, ex-fresh-food)
Sweden Index-linked treasury bonds Swedish National Debt Office Swedish CPI
Iceland

Inflation-indexed bond indices

Inflation-indexed bond indices include Barclays World Government Inflation-Linked Index.

References

  1. ^ . Unfortunately, income taxes bring some inflation risk back to such bonds. See tax on the inflation tax
  2. ^ "Real Return Bonds". Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ "TIPS In Depth". Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "OAT€is AND BTAN€is". Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ "Government of Canada Market Debt Instruments". Retrieved 2006-06-30. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)

See also

Print

  • Deacon, Mark, Andrew Derry, and Dariush Mirfendereski; Inflation-Indexed Securities: Bonds, Swaps, and Other Derivatives (2nd edition, 2004) Wiley Finance. ISBN 0-470-86812-0.