Government bonds

Bondholders in debt swap talks with Greece may get offered a sweetener in the form of a coupon linked to the future GDP growth of the country.

Ariel Bezalel, manager of the £593m Jupiter Strategic Bond fund, has opened his first ever short position in US treasuries, citing the opportunity for an asymmetric trade as the US economy recovers.

US treasuries have seen their worst start to a year since 2003 as investors grow more confident over the strength of the US and global economies.

NINE WORST ASSET BUBBLES

Kames Capital's fixed income team has said quantitative easing in Europe is a must in order to prevent Germany losing its AAA rating.

EURO BONDS

Franklin Templeton Investments' Michael Hasenstab has defended his Hungarian debt position amid reports the group owns 10% of the country's local bond market.

The European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) has sold €3bn of debt in an oversubscribed auction, passing its first major test of 2012.

Europe's single currency reached a 15-month low against the dollar following a French bond auction this morning which saw almost all of the €8bn of debt targeted being sold.

Hungarian bond yields soared above 10% yesterday after the government cancelled a bond swap auction, increasing fears the country will be the first in the EU to default on its debt.