Inflation-Linked Bonds

Abstract

Abstract Inflation is a critical factor that can influence investment strategies and returns. The relation between realized inflation and expected inflation are driving factors for both interest rates and the performance of fixed income products. Adding inflation-linked bonds to existing portfolios can help to minimize the risk associated with future inflation. Although nominal bonds offer protection from current inflation expectations, which is sometimes measured by the break-even inflation rate, inflation-linked bonds offer a guaranteed real return with inherent protection from unexpected inflation. The relative performance of inflation-linked bonds versus nominal bonds is primarily dependent on changes in both inflation and the real interest rate. This chapter focuses on the fundamentals of inflation-linked bonds including issuers, pricing, and measuring inflation expectations. It examines how such bonds reduce inflation risk and discusses the type of market environments that favor investments in inflation-linked bonds relative to nominal bonds.