Fueled by growing inflation concerns and attractive prices, particularly relative to nominal bonds, investors poured money into inflation-linked bonds in 2009. In the US, investors believe unprecedented fiscal and monetary stimulus will lead to more US dollar depreciation and higher inflation. In the UK, investors fear the Bank of England’s reluctance to raise rates will fuel inflation. While inflation has been muted in recent years, it remains a concern for pension funds, endowments and other institutional investors who must meet real, rather than nominal, liabilities. Inflation-linked bonds, such as US Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) and UK inflation-linked Gilts, can help hedge this risk because their principal is adjusted to reflect changes.
