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How to invest in bonds

INVESTMENT GUIDE: They may not be the most exciting investment, but they do offer the most stable returns.
May 23, 2008

Bonds are never going to be the most exciting part of the investment world, but they have a place in most investment portfolios. They offer more stable returns than those available from the stock market, so they're a good option for risk averse investors or those whose portfolios are already risky enough. The drawback is that profits can be greater elsewhere, but a good selection of bonds should still outperform cash over the long term.

Our guide kicks off with gilts, which are bonds issued by the UK government. Given that the country’s finances are far more secure than those of any individual company, government bonds are amongst the most safe available, albeit with a return that reflects that lack of risk. We take a look at what gilts are, and how to invest in them via funds.

The next section addresses corporate bonds, which is a far more varied investment proposition. At the top of the scale are the safe multinationals, which offer little risk but small returns. At the bottom are the so-called junk bonds, which are issued by very risky companies but offer tempting returns to match. We look at the worlds of corporate bonds as a whole, and then examine the merits of direct investment and investment via funds.

Then we take a look at bond prices, and how they move. Bond prices do not move in the same way as share prices, so it's important to have a good idea of what's driving them.

Finally, there is a link to our regular Bond of the Week feature.

Click on the links below for detailed guides on bonds:

Bond of the week