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How do you invest in the bond market? A beginner’s guide

Protect your portfolio against volatility by investing in government or corporate bonds.

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Kylie Purcell
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Government and corporate bonds are considered one of the safest investments in the market. When you invest in the bond market, you're essentially lending money to a business or to the government at a fixed interest rate.

While you can’t usually expect the same high returns by investing in bonds as you get from shares, you can expect a lot more security. For this reason, the bond market does especially well as the share market becomes more volatile and interest rates fall.

If you're ready to start investing in bonds, there are several avenues that you can take, including wholesale investing via a company or broker, and through investment products listed on the ASX, such as exchange traded bonds and bond-themed exchange traded funds (ETFs).

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Compare online brokers to invest in bonds

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Name Product Brokerage on AU ETFs Inactivity fee Markets
eToro (global stocks)
eToro (global stocks)
N/A
US$10 per month if there’s been no login for 12 months
Global shares, US shares, ETFs
Zero brokerage share trading on US, Hong Kong and European stocks with trades as low as $50.
Note: This broker offers CFDs which are volatile investment products and most clients lose money trading CFDs with this provider.
Join the world’s biggest social trading network when you trade stocks, commodities and currencies from the one account.
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IG Share Trading
IG Share Trading
AUD $8 or 0.1%
$50 per quarter if you make fewer than three trades in that period
ASX shares, Global shares
$0 brokerage for US and global shares plus get an active trader discount of $5 commission on Australian shares.
Enjoy some of the lowest brokerage fees on the market when trading Australian shares, international shares, plus get access to 24-hour customer support.
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Superhero share trading
Superhero share trading
AUD $0
No
ASX shares, US shares
Australia’s lowest-cost broker for ASX shares and ETFs.
Pay zero brokerage on US stocks and all ETFs and just $5 (flat fee) to trade Australian shares from your mobile or desktop.
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ThinkMarkets Share Trading
ThinkMarkets Share Trading
AUD $8
No
ASX shares
Limited-time offer: Get 10 free ASX trades ($0 brokerage) when you open a share trading account with ThinkMarkets before 31 December 2021(T&Cs apply). $8 flat fee brokerage for CHESS Sponsored ASX stocks (HIN ownership), plus free live stock price data on an easy to use mobile app.
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Bell Direct Share Trading
Exclusive
Bell Direct Share Trading
AUD $15
No
ASX shares, mFunds, ETFs
Finder Exclusive: Get 5 free stock trades and unlimited ETF trades until 31 Dec 2021, when you join Bell Direct. T&Cs apply.
Bell Direct offers a one-second placement guarantee on market-to-limit ASX orders or your trade is free, plus enjoy extensive free research reports from top financial experts.
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SelfWealth (Basic account)
SelfWealth (Basic account)
AUD $9.5
No
ASX shares, US shares
Trade ASX and US shares for a flat fee of $9.50, regardless of the trade size.
New customers receive free access to Community Insights with SelfWealth Premium for the first 90 days. Follow other investors and benchmark your portfolio performance.
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Saxo Capital Markets (Classic account)
Saxo Capital Markets (Classic account)
AUD $5
No
ASX shares, Global shares, Forex, CFDs, Margin trading, Options trading, ETFs
Access 3,000+ ETFs on 30+ exchanges worldwide
Low fees for Australian and global ETF investing, no inactivity fees and foreign currency accounts available.
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CMC Markets Invest
CMC Markets Invest
AUD $11 or 0.1%
No
ASX shares, Global shares, mFunds, ETFs
$0 brokerage on global shares including US, UK and Japan markets.
Trade up to 9,000 products, including shares, ETFs and managed funds, plus access up to 15 major global and Australian stock exchanges.
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HSBC Online Share Trading
HSBC Online Share Trading
AUD $19.95
No
ASX shares, mFunds, ETFs, Bonds
Limited time offer: Get up to $100 in brokerage rebates on your first 5 trades when you sign up to a HSBC Online Share Trading account (T&Cs apply). Make trades online with brokerage fees starting from just $19.95 with an HSBC Online Share Trading account. Plus gain access to complimentary expert research, trading ideas and tools.
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Important: Share trading can be financially risky and the value of your investment can go down as well as up. Standard brokerage is the cost to purchase $1,000 or less of equities without any qualifications or special eligibility. Where both CHESS sponsored and custodian shares are offered, we display the cheapest option.

What is a bond?

Simply put, a bond is a loan that you make to either the Australian government or a company at a fixed interest rate for a pre-determined period of time. In return, you receive interest payments on your investment on a regular basis, with the principal amount paid back to you at the end of the term.

Where shares normally return value as the stock markets rise, bonds act as a counterweight to a portfolio because they tend to do better when the economy is under-performing. Before making a choice, you should carefully compare your options as some will pose more risk than others.

What are the different types of bonds?

In Australia you have a few different options when investing in bonds. Each choice has its own risk and return potential, making it important that you compare your options carefully before deciding on any one product:

  • Australian government bonds. Commonwealth Government Securities (CGS) are issued by the Australian government. These can be bought directly over the counter (OTC) or via the ASX through a broker or an online trading account. The face value of these types of bonds is fixed along with the interest rate, with payments made to you every 3-6 months over the life of the security.
  • Corporate bonds. This type of bond is usually a part of a public offer, where a company will issue a prospectus and investors are able to make a direct investment. This is different from buying shares, where you are a part owner and your investment is affected by the cashflow of the business. With corporate bonds, you are a creditor and your return is limited to the agreed upon interest payments and the return of your principal investment.

List of exchange traded corporate bonds (XTBs)

When looking at your bond options, you should also check how the interest rate works. In some cases you could find a floating rate bond, where the interest varies in line with the benchmark interest rate. You have the opportunity to earn higher returns with this type of investment, but there is also a risk of lower returns if the interest rate drops.

How are bonds valued?

A bond’s capital value can increase or even decrease before the maturity date based on current interest rates. The amount of interest accrued since the last coupon payment will also have an effect on the value of a bond. If interest rates drop, you will see an increase in the value of your bonds, whereas when they rise the value of your bonds will drop as a result. These fluctuations are only relevant if you have invested in floating rate bonds as opposed to fixed rate bonds.

How do I start investing in bonds?

You can invest in bonds either over the counter (OTC) or via the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). In both cases you'll be required to have a broker or fund manager. OTC bond investing usually requires a high minimal investment (upwards of $500,000); however, your rate of interest and return is guaranteed for the life of your investment. Investing in bond products via the ASX means you can invest for as little as a few hundred dollars through a broker or online trading platform.

Invest in bonds over the ASX

An easy and relatively cheap way to access the bond market is through exchange traded funds (ETFs) or exchange traded bonds (XTBs + ETBs). These products can be bought and sold on a stock exchange through an online trading platform or a full service broker. If you're considering investing in bonds through an online broker, be aware that there may be additional risks involved – especially if you don't understand the product.

  • Bond ETFs. An exchange traded fund is a bundle of securities that has been listed on a stock exchange. Bond ETFs typically track a corporate or government bond index to imitate its returns; however, it's important to note that not all fixed interest ETFs are the same or are necessarily safe. Hybrid bond ETFs may contain additional riskier derivatives products – always do your research.
  • Exchange traded corporate bonds. While most bond ETFs track an index or basket of bonds, an exchange-traded bond unit (XTB) relates to a single ASX-listed corporate bond. Each XTB mirrors a specific underlying bond. This means they provide predictable income amounts, dates (coupons) and fixed maturity dates before you invest. Still relatively new, XTBs launched in Australia in 2015. Like ETFs, you buy and sell XTB units on the ASX with minimum amounts starting from $500. There are currently around 50 XTBs available on the ASX.
  • Exchange traded Australian government bonds. Exchange-traded treasury bonds (ETBs) and exchange-traded treasury indexed bonds (ETIBs) work the same way as XTBs; however, they track government bonds. Both provide fixed interest returns for the life of the security, but the value of ETIBs is adjusted with the consumer price index (CPI), meaning the interest received can fluctuate.

Invest in bonds via CFDs

An alternative to buying bonds is to speculate on their price movements through CFD investing in the futures market. CFD investors seek to profit from bond price movements – whether up or down. That means that even if bond values are falling, CFD investors can still make a profit. However, because CFDs can be highly risky and are complex derivative products, CFDs are better suited to advanced traders. You can read more about CFDs in our comprehensive guide.

How are bonds and savings accounts similar and different?

Are you thinking of moving your funds from a savings account into government bonds? If so, there are several considerations you need to be aware of, such as the bond's maturity date and minimal investment requirement. Below are some pros and cons of investing in bonds versus keeping funds in a savings account.

BondsSavings accounts
Pros
  • Australian government bonds are considered safe due to Australia's credit rating
  • Deemed low risk
  • Could receive a higher return than savings
  • Protected by the Government Guarantee
  • Deemed low risk
  • Able to earn compound interest
  • At-call access to funds
Cons
  • Required to wait until the maturity date
  • Interest payments less frequent
  • Requires a high investment amount
  • Could receive a lower return than bonds

Remember, before you get started, it pays to asses your financial situation to determine whether investing in government bonds is right for you.

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Disclaimer: This information should not be interpreted as an endorsement of futures, stocks, ETFs, options or any specific provider, service or offering. It should not be relied upon as advice or construed as providing recommendations of any kind. Futures, stocks, ETFs and options trading involve substantial risk of loss and therefore are not appropriate for all investors. Past performance is not an indication of future results. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before making any trades.

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4 Responses

    Default Gravatar
    SumonJanuary 21, 2020

    Hi, Thanks for the useful article. You mentioned that we could buy bonds over the counter (OTC), could you provide some details – where to buy government bonds over the counter?

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      NikkiJanuary 22, 2020

      Hi Sumon,

      Thanks for your comment and I hope you are doing well.

      You are able to buy bonds over the counter from a broker or fund manager. Hope this helps and feel free to reach out to us again for further assistance.

      Best,
      Nikki

      Reply
    Default Gravatar
    DanJune 26, 2017

    Say there is a severe global financial crisis (much worse than 2008 GFC) and the Australian Government cannot or decides not to meet its obligations under Australian Government Guarantee Scheme would a deposit in Australian Government bond be safer?
    Many thanks, Dan

    Reply
      Default Gravatar
      JonathanJune 27, 2017

      Hi Dan!

      Interesting question you have there! :)

      Bonds, even government bonds carry a little risk than the average deposit account, because of they are influenced by several economic factors and political instability. But compared to savings account, interest payments or also known as “coupon payments” are usually higher.

      Most savings account have fixed rates and are covered under Australian Guarantee. But their rates are lower than bonds.

      This is where diversification and thorough research are both very important. Different precautions you might take are to never “put all your eggs in one basket”, invest in different bonds if you’re uncomfortable with stocks, and spreading out your deposits.

      IF you’re uncertain about the strategy you’d take, you may speak to a financial adviser.

      Hope this helps.

      Cheers,
      Jonathan

      Reply
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