CRED aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides intelligent exposure to a portfolio of senior, fixed-rate, investment grade Australian corporate bonds.
Betashares Geared Long US Treasury Bond Currency Hedged Complex ETF offers geared exposure to the returns of 10-year US Treasury Bonds, hedged for currency exposure.
The fund aims to generate attractive returns by dynamically investing in global fixed income instruments. It aims to provide diversification against equity risk as well as capital growth and some income.
The fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the Bloomberg Global Aggregate Corporate Bond Index (AUD Hedged), before fees and expenses. The index is designed to measure the AUD hedged performance of the global investment grade corporate fixed-rate debt market.
The Global X Australian Bank Credit ETF (BANK) is an index-based ETF that invests in a diversified portfolio of Australian banking debt across the full capital structure excluding shares. It comprises fixed and floating-rate bonds, senior and subordinated debt (Tier 2 Capital), and hybrid securities (Additional Tier 1 Capital)
1GOV invests in a portfolio of Australian dollar denominated Australian Government Bonds with maturity dates between 1 and 5 years with the aim of providing investment returns, before fees and other costs, that closely track the returns of the Index.
The Fund aims to outperform the Bloomberg AusBond Bank Bill Index over a rolling three-year basis (before fees). It aims to provide regular monthly distributions with some potential for growth. The Fund provides exposure to a diversified portfolio of subordinated bonds, which may offer higher levels of yield than cash or other investment grade bonds.
Consistent returns aiming for cash + 3.50%.
The Russell Investments Australian Select Corporate Bond ETF (the 'Fund') seeks to track the DBIQ 0-4 year Investment Grade Australian Corporate Bond Index ('the Index') which comprises predominantly investment-grade Australian corporate fixed income securities. The Fund aims to provide exposure to the largest and most liquid Australian corporate bonds, as identified by certain eligibility criteria including minimum credit rating, minimum issuance size and term to maturity. The Fund also aims to deliver diversified risk through equally weighting the securities on reconstitution to ensure that the exposure is not biased towards the largest borrowers.
Attractive income from diversified Australian bonds
Consistent returns aiming for cash + 1.50%
BSUB aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides exposure to a portfolio of floating rate subordinated bonds issued by the four major Australian banks.
The Mutual Income Fund is a portfolio of debt instruments issued by the major Australian banks and other Australian Authorised Deposit-taking Institutions (ADIs).
The Fund aims to outperform the Bloomberg AusBond Bank Bill Index over the medium term (before fees) by investing in a diversified portfolio of fixed income securities, which are generally expected to be higher yielding than traditional fixed income investments. It aims to provide higher distributions than cash and traditional fixed income investments.
UTIP aims to track the performance of an index (before fees and expenses) that provides exposure to a portfolio of US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (‘TIPS’), hedged into AUD. TIPS are a type of government bond issued by the US Treasury, whose face value and interest payments are adjusted for inflation, as measured by US CPI.
Bond investing is a fundamental part of the fixed-income securities market.
It involves purchasing debt instruments issued by governments, municipalities, and corporations.
Bond investing involves buying bonds to earn interest income and, potentially, to achieve capital appreciation.
A bond is essentially a loan made by an investor to a borrower (the issuer), who promises to pay back the principal amount at a specified maturity date, along with periodic interest payments, known as coupon payments.
There are several types of bonds, including:
The three main features of Bond investing are:
There are four main risks of Bond investing:
Investors can evaluate Bonds using several criteria:
Investors can invest in Bonds through various avenues:
It varies by bond type; some can be purchased for as little as $1,000.
Bond funds can be less risky than individual bonds due to their diversification benefits, but they can also be affected by market volatility.
Many brokerage platforms allow for the automatic reinvestment of interest payments.
Bond ratings are assessments of the creditworthiness of a bond issuer, ranging from AAA (highest quality) to D (default).
Higher-rated Bonds are generally considered safer, while lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields but come with increased risk.
Yield is the income return on an investment, typically expressed as a percentage.
For Bond investors, yield can refer to the coupon yield, current yield, or yield to maturity (YTM), which considers total returns if the bond is held to maturity.
Diversification in Bond investing can be achieved by investing in bonds with different maturities, credit qualities, and types (government, municipal, corporate).
This helps spread risk and can moderate the impact of interest rate fluctuations.
Inflation erodes purchasing power, which can negatively impact upon the real returns on bonds.
To mitigate this risk, Bond investors may look for inflation-protected securities, like TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities).
A Bond’s face value (or par value) is the amount paid back to the bondholder at maturity, whereas a Bond’s market value is the current price at which the Bond can be bought or sold in the market, which can fluctuate based on interest rates and issuer credit quality.
In summary, Bond investing provides a relatively stable income source with a lower level of risk compared to equities.
Understanding the types, features, and risks of Bond investing is essential for making informed investment decisions.
By comparing key metrics such as yield, credit ratings, and utilising diversified strategies like Bond funds, investors can optimise their bond portfolios effectively.
As market conditions evolve, staying informed and adapting investment strategies is crucial for successful Bond investing.
