RBI bond shopping for: RBI continues to buy US bonds for 4th month in a row

Mumbai: The Reserve Financial institution of India has prolonged its US bond shopping for spree to the fourth consecutive month, amid surging US treasury yields.

India’s funding in US treasury securities surged by a internet $9.2 billion in August to $221.2 billion, the best in almost two years, present newest information compiled by ETIG. A tiny a part of holdings may be coming from corporates.

Investing in US treasury has a twin benefit at a time when the US Federal Reserve is growing charges and the greenback is getting stronger, mentioned Financial institution of Baroda chief economist Madan Sabnavis. It helps achieve greater returns in the long run. “Additionally, funding worth stays robust. Every other foreign money will face depreciated worth on principal within the current setting,” he mentioned.

The Greenback Index, which measures the dollar in opposition to different main currencies, rose almost 11% throughout January-August. Since then, it has additional gained greater than 5%, and isn’t exhibiting any indicators of softness, with the US central financial institution mountain climbing charges.

India now ranks twelfth when it comes to US treasury holdings, after Brazil however forward of Canada. Japan stays on the high of the desk, proudly owning round $1.2 trillion of the sovereign securities.
With the US Federal Reserve waging a battle in opposition to sizzling costs, the benchmark bond yields have leapfrogged, factoring in aggressive price hikes.

International geopolitical tensions have despatched power costs skyrocketing with developed economies getting blighted by document excessive inflation, be in US or UK.

“At this level of time, the US greenback is perceived to be probably the most dependable foreign money,” mentioned Sandeep Bagla, chief government at Belief Mutual Fund. The US bond yields have in-built many of the anticipated Fed price hikes. It is smart for the RBI to extend their holdings in US authorities bonds which can be providing engaging yields, not seen previously a few years.”

The ten-year US Treasury yield spiked about 263 foundation factors this calendar yr. Final week, it rose to 4.29%, the best since 2007. The yield was 3.18% at end-August.

Holding in debt securities turns into unattractive when yields rise – greater yield suggests lower cost. From the stability sheet perspective of the investor, there’s a mark-to-market loss to the investor when yields rise, as the worth of the portfolio contracts.

However greater yield additionally means the US treasury securities, thought of to be the most secure, can be found for buy at a lower cost, and there’ll probably be beneficial properties in the long run.

“Whereas our central banks do probably not intention for fast beneficial properties, such investments enable the RBI to make strategic allocations amid ongoing world uncertainties,” Bagla mentioned.

Between January and August, the RBI has invested $22 billion in US treasury bonds versus $0.80 billion within the corresponding interval final yr, Bloomberg information confirmed. The inventory of US treasury securities held by India was $199.8 billion in December 2021.

In between, the RBI reported a pointy depletion within the nation’s foreign exchange reserves. Foreign exchange reserves dropped to $528.3 billion as on October 14 this yr in contrast with a document peak of $642 billion reported on September 3, 2021. Regardless of the erosion of greenback inventory, the reserves are nonetheless thought of wholesome.