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 Russell Investments Australian Government Bond ETF (the 'Fund') seeks to track the performance of the DBIQ 5-10 year Australian Government Bond Index ('the Index'), which comprises predominantly Australian government fixed income securities. The Fund aims to provide exposure to the largest and most liquid Australian Government bonds as identified by certain eligibility criteria including 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 creditors or borrowers.
The Fund is designed to be a core portfolio allocation for fixed income. It aims to track the performance of the Bloomberg Global-Aggregate Total Return Index Hedged AUD (before fees and expenses). The index is a flagship measure of fixed-rate global investment grade debt from global bond markets, hedged into Australian dollars. The Fund currently obtains its exposure via an underlying ETF (refer to the PDS for more information).
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.
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)
The Fund aims to provide investors with the performance of the Bloomberg MSCI Global Aggregate and Green Bond ESG SRI Index (Hedged to AUD), before fees and expenses. The index is designed to measure the AUD hedged performance of global investment grade ESG (environmental, social and governance) screened 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.
XGOV invests in a portfolio of Australian dollar denominated Australian Government Bonds with maturity dates between 10 and 20 years with the aim of providing investment returns (before fees and costs) that closely track the returns of the Index.
Attractive income from floating rate bonds issued by Australian banks
The SPDR® S&P®/ASX iBoxx Australian Bond ETF seeks to closely track, before fees and expenses, the returns of the S&P/ASX iBoxx Australian Fixed Interest Diversified 0+ Index.
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 investment objective of the Fund is to provide investors with access to an actively managed portfolio of fixed income strategies with an aim to deliver returns in excess of the Bloomberg AusBond Bank Bill Index, after fees and expenses (but before taxes), over the short to medium term.
The High Yield Fund offers fixed income credit products otherwise not available to retail investors, targeting capital stable higher yielding assets.
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.
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.
