gilts

Kames Capital's bond fund manager Stephen Snowden said the ongoing crisis in Europe has left gilts looking much more secure than bunds in the medium term.

Swiss bonds were returning a negative yield during trading today as the country's government sold 6 month paper at -0.148%.

Investors should have been buying portfolios of gilts, treasuries and bunds, as well as commodities, while avoiding major indices, to maximise returns in 2011.

Gilt yields fell to a new record low yesterday as investors sought out safe havens from the eurozone crisis.

Fidelity's star bond fund manager Ian Spreadbury has warned some parts of the bond markets are under more pressure than during the height of the credit crunch.

Fund inflows in September were at their lowest level since the credit crunch hit markets in October 2008, while quarterly figures were down two thirds on last year.

The UK's Debt Management Office (DMO) has launched what it believes to be the longest dated inflation-linked government bond in the world after unveiling a tranche of 50-year gilts.

UK gilts extended declines as the Bank of England refused to buy bonds maturing in 2017 in Monday's auction, after traders aggressively drove up prices.

Sterling and gilt yields have dived following the surprise announcement by the Bank of England it is increasing its quantitative easing programme by £75bn.

Fidelity manager prepares to add to corporate debt of winning companies with pricing power.