In these uncertain and volatile market conditions, investors are flocking to invest in debt securities to ensure not only stable and certain returns but more importantly capital protection.
The Global Meltdown
Across the globe, financial and economic markets have taken a severe beating and there are expectations of recession in developed countries. In this backdrop, the Indian markets have also been affected but not as badly as the others.
Better Safe than Sorry
Investors have seen their wealth, especially in shares, erode faster than they would have imagined or liked. Thus, investors are now increasingly flocking to invest in debt securities. So what are their options and the pros and cons of each investment avenue. Let’s take a look at some of the attractive ones:
Government Securities : The bond yield on short term (1-year) government securities (g-secs) is currently approximately 8% to 9% p.a. Due to the inverse relationship between bond prices (carrying fixed interest rates) and interest rates, the current trend of rising interest rates have brought down the prices of bonds and gains thereon. On account of this, the returns on medium-long-term debt funds, including MIP, have been very low over the last year.
Thus, it is advisable for investors to maintain/invest in lower portfolio durations i.e. short-term products (directly in g-secs or through mutual funds in debt mutual funds discussed hereunder) to minimise the impact of rate increases. From a tax standpoint, interest/ short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains from g-secs is taxed at the regular and lower rate of income tax, respectively.
Bank Fixed Deposits: Banks are now offering higher rate of interest say 10.50% on a FD of a year. From a tax standpoint, interest on FD is also taxed at the regular rate of income-tax ranging from 10.30% to 33.99% and subject to tax deduction at source (TDS) provisions.
Debt Mutual Fund : Debt funds are tax-efficient for investment since dividend on debt funds is tax-free (however the debt fund would be liable to pay tax on distributed income [DDT] ranging from 14.1625% to 28.325% depending upon the type of holder and type of debt fund) and long-term capital gain (holding period of more than 12 months) is taxable at the rate of 10.30% (without indexation) or 20.60% (with indexation).
For an investor falling in the highest tax bracket of 33.99% planning to park funds in debt funds, for short-term investment (holding period not exceeding 1 year) dividend option and for long-term investment (holding period exceeding 1 year) growth option would be more tax-efficient.
Zero Coupon Bonds : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is issuing ZCB as Bhavishya Nirman Bonds which a 10-year product having issue price of Rs 8,500, face (maturity) value of Rs 20,000 to be listed on the Stock Exchange implying a compounded annualised pre-tax yield of 8.9444%.
The table shows that the post-yield is different for each investment and one needs to decide as to invest in which debt instrument considering the pros and cons thereof and which tax bracket one falls in.
The Global Meltdown
Across the globe, financial and economic markets have taken a severe beating and there are expectations of recession in developed countries. In this backdrop, the Indian markets have also been affected but not as badly as the others.
Better Safe than Sorry
Investors have seen their wealth, especially in shares, erode faster than they would have imagined or liked. Thus, investors are now increasingly flocking to invest in debt securities. So what are their options and the pros and cons of each investment avenue. Let’s take a look at some of the attractive ones:
Government Securities : The bond yield on short term (1-year) government securities (g-secs) is currently approximately 8% to 9% p.a. Due to the inverse relationship between bond prices (carrying fixed interest rates) and interest rates, the current trend of rising interest rates have brought down the prices of bonds and gains thereon. On account of this, the returns on medium-long-term debt funds, including MIP, have been very low over the last year.
Thus, it is advisable for investors to maintain/invest in lower portfolio durations i.e. short-term products (directly in g-secs or through mutual funds in debt mutual funds discussed hereunder) to minimise the impact of rate increases. From a tax standpoint, interest/ short-term capital gains and long-term capital gains from g-secs is taxed at the regular and lower rate of income tax, respectively.
Bank Fixed Deposits: Banks are now offering higher rate of interest say 10.50% on a FD of a year. From a tax standpoint, interest on FD is also taxed at the regular rate of income-tax ranging from 10.30% to 33.99% and subject to tax deduction at source (TDS) provisions.
Debt Mutual Fund : Debt funds are tax-efficient for investment since dividend on debt funds is tax-free (however the debt fund would be liable to pay tax on distributed income [DDT] ranging from 14.1625% to 28.325% depending upon the type of holder and type of debt fund) and long-term capital gain (holding period of more than 12 months) is taxable at the rate of 10.30% (without indexation) or 20.60% (with indexation).
For an investor falling in the highest tax bracket of 33.99% planning to park funds in debt funds, for short-term investment (holding period not exceeding 1 year) dividend option and for long-term investment (holding period exceeding 1 year) growth option would be more tax-efficient.
Zero Coupon Bonds : National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is issuing ZCB as Bhavishya Nirman Bonds which a 10-year product having issue price of Rs 8,500, face (maturity) value of Rs 20,000 to be listed on the Stock Exchange implying a compounded annualised pre-tax yield of 8.9444%.
The table shows that the post-yield is different for each investment and one needs to decide as to invest in which debt instrument considering the pros and cons thereof and which tax bracket one falls in.
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