DMO mulls launch of 50-year gilts as demand spikes

The Debt Management Office is considering launching index-linked gilts with a maturity of 50 years in October after the idea of a new batch of ultra-long bonds was proposed to investors.

The 50-year gilt was widely supported by institutional investors at the latest quarterly meeting held by the DMO, it said, and comes at a time when demand for gilts is soaring. As investors search for safe havens amid falling equity markets and numerous sovereign debt crises, demand for gilts has pushed the yield on the ten-year bond to 2.24%, a record low. At the meeting gilt-edged market makers called for new 50-year securities to be released in October and November, the DMO said. "For the October syndication, a new 50-year index-linked gilt was the most popular choice with a ran...