Hey, want to hear a fun story about the UK Bond market?
Have you ever seen a headline along the lines of
'Gilt yields show bullish sentiment'
So what's a 'Gilt' and how did the term 'gilt' come to be?
Definition of Gilts -
"Gilts are a type of government bond issued by the UK government. They are essentially loans made by investors to the government, which promises to pay back the borrowed amount along with interest over a specified period."
There are 2 different types of Gilts available to 'investors'
Conventional Gilts: These pay a fixed interest rate (coupon), biannually (every 6 months) until maturity, at which point the principal is returned.
Index-linked Gilts: The interest and principal payments are linked to inflation, meaning they can rise with inflation rates.
The coupons (interest payments) are calculated based on the gilt’s nominal value and its fixed interest rate.
Gilts are marketed to retail and institutional investors with the following 'features'
Safety: Gilts are considered low-risk investments since they are backed by the UK government.
Liquidity: They can be easily bought and sold on the secondary market.
Returns: Investors receive regular interest payments, typically semi-annually, and the return of principal at maturity.
If you were to look at Pros and Cons, these are the points you would consider:
Pros first:
1. Low Risk
Government Backing: Gilts are issued by the UK government, making them one of the safest investment options available.
2. Regular Income
Semi-Annual Payments: Investors receive predictable interest payments twice a year, providing a steady cash flow.
3. Liquidity
Easily Tradable: Gilts can be bought and sold on the secondary market, allowing for flexibility and easy access to funds.
4. Stability
Capital Preservation: Compared to equities, gilts tend to be less volatile, making them a stable choice in uncertain economic times.
5. Inflation Protection (for Index-Linked Gilts)
Adjusted Payments: The interest and principal on index-linked gilts rise with inflation, providing protection against purchasing power erosion.
6. Diversification
Balanced Portfolio: Including gilts in an investment portfolio can reduce overall risk and volatility.
7. Tax Benefits
Tax Treatment: Interest income from gilts may have favorable tax treatment, depending on the investor’s location.
Cons:
1. Lower Returns
Comparative Yield: Gilts generally offer lower returns compared to riskier assets like stocks, which may limit wealth growth over time.
2. Interest Rate Risk
Price Sensitivity: If interest rates rise, the market value of existing gilts can fall, potentially leading to capital losses for those who sell before maturity.
3. Opportunity Cost
Potentially Higher Gains Elsewhere: Investing in gilts might mean missing out on higher returns from equities or other higher-yielding investments. (Bitcoin!?)
4. Inflation Risk (for Conventional Gilts)
Fixed Payments: Conventional gilts do not adjust for inflation, which can erode purchasing power over time if inflation rates are high.
5. Currency Risk (for Foreign Investors)
Exchange Rate Fluctuations: Foreign investors may face risks from currency fluctuations that can impact the returns on their investments.
6. Limited Growth Potential
Capital Growth: Gilts are primarily income-generating, which means they might not provide significant capital appreciation compared to growth-oriented assets.
7. Tax Considerations
Tax Impact on Returns: Depending on the investor’s tax bracket, interest income from gilts may still be subject to taxation, reducing net returns. (Theft)
Ok, so now we are up to speed as to what a 'gilt' actually is, let's turn our attention to the term itself.
Many migh think that 'GILT' is an acronym for something and just never thought to ask what or why.
Well, it isn't; it's much more nefarious than that, especially considering the term 'gilt' is still used to define this product.
Origin of the Term "Gilts"
The term "gilts" originates from the historical practice of issuing government bonds that were printed on high-quality paper with a gold lettering or gilded edges. This made the bonds visually distinguished and suggested a level of prestige and safety.
Want to know when this all started?
Well, we have to look back to the formation of the Bank Of England in 1694.
Shortly after its formation, the Bank of England issued the first gilt in 1694. This was part of its initial efforts to stabilise government finances.
Translated - 'to trick the public into buying government debt to build a war chest in order to invade France'
Over the course of the following decades and centuries of war, murder and general psychopathy the practice of gilding the edges of government bonds (gilts) gradually ceased, and by the early 20th century, most gilts were no longer physically gilded, nor even printed on 'High Quality Paper'.
Today’s 'gilts' are primarily electronic and held by a third-party custodian, completely eliminating the physical characteristics that originally defined "gilt-edged" securities.
In short, you own nothing but a claim to some coupon payments that the government promises to pay you, bro.
And we have seen how that can turn out!
As of recent estimates, the UK gilt market is approximately £2 trillion in outstanding debt.
This makes it one of the largest bond markets in the world.
But wait, how on earth can a government pay off all of that debt?
Read on if you want a laugh!
The UK government has several strategies for managing and servicing its gilt debts:
1. Tax Revenue (Translated - Theft)
Income Generation: The government collects taxes (e.g., income tax, corporate tax, VAT) to generate revenue, which is then used to pay interest on gilts and eventually repay the principal.
2. Refinancing (Translated - kicking the can down the road/Ponzi scheme)
Issuing New Debt: The government frequently issues new gilts to pay off maturing ones. This practice is known as "rollover," effectively refinancing existing debt rather than reducing it.
3. Economic Growth (Translated - LOL)
Increased Revenue: If the economy grows, tax revenues may increase, allowing the government to manage debt more effectively and ensure timely interest payments.
4. Monetary Policy (Translated - Economic Fuckery)
Central Bank Support: The Bank of England can influence interest rates and govern monetary policy, potentially making it easier for the government to service its debt.
5. Budget Surpluses (Translated - Mythical term in Gov Land)
In times of economic prosperity, the government may run a budget surplus, which can be used to pay down existing debts.
So, there you have it.
Now you know why they are called 'gilts', even though they are now completely digital, and no gilded edge of any high-quality paper that you could have self-custodied has existed for decades.
If you found this interesting, I can highly recommend the book 'The Great Taking' by David Rogers Webb.
Or listen to @nprofile1q... read it on his podcast.
Have you ever seen a headline along the lines of
'Gilt yields show bullish sentiment'
So what's a 'Gilt' and how did the term 'gilt' come to be?
Definition of Gilts -
"Gilts are a type of government bond issued by the UK government. They are essentially loans made by investors to the government, which promises to pay back the borrowed amount along with interest over a specified period."
There are 2 different types of Gilts available to 'investors'
Conventional Gilts: These pay a fixed interest rate (coupon), biannually (every 6 months) until maturity, at which point the principal is returned.
Index-linked Gilts: The interest and principal payments are linked to inflation, meaning they can rise with inflation rates.
The coupons (interest payments) are calculated based on the gilt’s nominal value and its fixed interest rate.
Gilts are marketed to retail and institutional investors with the following 'features'
Safety: Gilts are considered low-risk investments since they are backed by the UK government.
Liquidity: They can be easily bought and sold on the secondary market.
Returns: Investors receive regular interest payments, typically semi-annually, and the return of principal at maturity.
If you were to look at Pros and Cons, these are the points you would consider:
Pros first:
1. Low Risk
Government Backing: Gilts are issued by the UK government, making them one of the safest investment options available.
2. Regular Income
Semi-Annual Payments: Investors receive predictable interest payments twice a year, providing a steady cash flow.
3. Liquidity
Easily Tradable: Gilts can be bought and sold on the secondary market, allowing for flexibility and easy access to funds.
4. Stability
Capital Preservation: Compared to equities, gilts tend to be less volatile, making them a stable choice in uncertain economic times.
5. Inflation Protection (for Index-Linked Gilts)
Adjusted Payments: The interest and principal on index-linked gilts rise with inflation, providing protection against purchasing power erosion.
6. Diversification
Balanced Portfolio: Including gilts in an investment portfolio can reduce overall risk and volatility.
7. Tax Benefits
Tax Treatment: Interest income from gilts may have favorable tax treatment, depending on the investor’s location.
Cons:
1. Lower Returns
Comparative Yield: Gilts generally offer lower returns compared to riskier assets like stocks, which may limit wealth growth over time.
2. Interest Rate Risk
Price Sensitivity: If interest rates rise, the market value of existing gilts can fall, potentially leading to capital losses for those who sell before maturity.
3. Opportunity Cost
Potentially Higher Gains Elsewhere: Investing in gilts might mean missing out on higher returns from equities or other higher-yielding investments. (Bitcoin!?)
4. Inflation Risk (for Conventional Gilts)
Fixed Payments: Conventional gilts do not adjust for inflation, which can erode purchasing power over time if inflation rates are high.
5. Currency Risk (for Foreign Investors)
Exchange Rate Fluctuations: Foreign investors may face risks from currency fluctuations that can impact the returns on their investments.
6. Limited Growth Potential
Capital Growth: Gilts are primarily income-generating, which means they might not provide significant capital appreciation compared to growth-oriented assets.
7. Tax Considerations
Tax Impact on Returns: Depending on the investor’s tax bracket, interest income from gilts may still be subject to taxation, reducing net returns. (Theft)
Ok, so now we are up to speed as to what a 'gilt' actually is, let's turn our attention to the term itself.
Many migh think that 'GILT' is an acronym for something and just never thought to ask what or why.
Well, it isn't; it's much more nefarious than that, especially considering the term 'gilt' is still used to define this product.
Origin of the Term "Gilts"
The term "gilts" originates from the historical practice of issuing government bonds that were printed on high-quality paper with a gold lettering or gilded edges. This made the bonds visually distinguished and suggested a level of prestige and safety.
Want to know when this all started?
Well, we have to look back to the formation of the Bank Of England in 1694.
Shortly after its formation, the Bank of England issued the first gilt in 1694. This was part of its initial efforts to stabilise government finances.
Translated - 'to trick the public into buying government debt to build a war chest in order to invade France'
Over the course of the following decades and centuries of war, murder and general psychopathy the practice of gilding the edges of government bonds (gilts) gradually ceased, and by the early 20th century, most gilts were no longer physically gilded, nor even printed on 'High Quality Paper'.
Today’s 'gilts' are primarily electronic and held by a third-party custodian, completely eliminating the physical characteristics that originally defined "gilt-edged" securities.
In short, you own nothing but a claim to some coupon payments that the government promises to pay you, bro.
And we have seen how that can turn out!
As of recent estimates, the UK gilt market is approximately £2 trillion in outstanding debt.
This makes it one of the largest bond markets in the world.
But wait, how on earth can a government pay off all of that debt?
Read on if you want a laugh!
The UK government has several strategies for managing and servicing its gilt debts:
1. Tax Revenue (Translated - Theft)
Income Generation: The government collects taxes (e.g., income tax, corporate tax, VAT) to generate revenue, which is then used to pay interest on gilts and eventually repay the principal.
2. Refinancing (Translated - kicking the can down the road/Ponzi scheme)
Issuing New Debt: The government frequently issues new gilts to pay off maturing ones. This practice is known as "rollover," effectively refinancing existing debt rather than reducing it.
3. Economic Growth (Translated - LOL)
Increased Revenue: If the economy grows, tax revenues may increase, allowing the government to manage debt more effectively and ensure timely interest payments.
4. Monetary Policy (Translated - Economic Fuckery)
Central Bank Support: The Bank of England can influence interest rates and govern monetary policy, potentially making it easier for the government to service its debt.
5. Budget Surpluses (Translated - Mythical term in Gov Land)
In times of economic prosperity, the government may run a budget surplus, which can be used to pay down existing debts.
So, there you have it.
Now you know why they are called 'gilts', even though they are now completely digital, and no gilded edge of any high-quality paper that you could have self-custodied has existed for decades.
If you found this interesting, I can highly recommend the book 'The Great Taking' by David Rogers Webb.
Or listen to @nprofile1q... read it on his podcast.