What are fixed interest securities?

As you revise for an upcoming CII exam, you might be unclear on fixed interest securities. This article explains what they are, discusses risk and outlines the different types of fixed interest security – perfect reading for your AF1, AF4, AF5, CF1, R01, R02, R03 or R06 exam preparation.

What are fixed interest securities?

A fixed interest security is a bond that generates a fixed income over a given period.

In simple terms, the bond is an IOU to the investor from the lending organisation, such as a government, council or company, that guarantees a fixed return over an agreed term and then repayment of the original amount.

In finance, fixed interest securities are packaged as different products, like government or corporate bonds. Corporate and government bonds are traded on the stock market, so their value can rise and fall.

Risk

Bonds are rated by credit agencies like Moody’s or Standard and Poor’s. The highest rating is AAA.

Governments and companies have a credit score in the same way as individuals.

The rating looks at the risk involved in the bond issuer defaulting on the interest payments or loan.

Gilts have the triple-A rating, but corporate bonds can vary in risk. The idea is that by using a standard rating system, investors can compare the risk of different bonds without carrying out detailed due diligence on the issuer.

Generally, the lower the risk (higher the rating), the lower the interest paid on the bond.

Different Types of Fixed Interest Securities

Two of the most common forms of fixed interest securities in the UK are government ‘gilts’ and corporate bonds.

What are gilts?

A gilt is a bond issued by the Treasury and listed on the London Stock Exchange. The bond is called a ‘gilt’ – short for ‘gilt-edged security’ – as a reference to the low risk of the investment because the government has never failed to meet interest or repayments on gilts.

What are corporate bonds?

Corporate bonds work in exactly the same way as gilts.

The idea is companies can raise cheap finance by issuing bonds. Instead of savers putting money on deposit with a bank that then lends the money to a business, the bond cuts out the middleman and lets the saver invest direct.

The rate of interest is fixed and designed to generate a steady income. Investors often look to gain at least as good an interest rate as paid by the bank, while the company looks to borrow money at a cheaper rate than going to the bank.

Quantitative Easing

The Bank of England’s policy to put more cash back into the economy by quantitative easing (QE) is based on the strength of quality fixed interest securities.

QE involves creating digital money used to buy corporate and government debt in the form of bonds.  The aim is simple: by creating ‘new money’ the Bank of England hopes to boost spending and investment within the economy.

The securities sit on the Bank’s balance sheet as an asset that the Bank sets off against transferring money into the issuer’s bank account. The plan is that on a fixed date, the issuer has to buy the bonds back, cancelling out the money the Bank has injected into the economy.

Fixed interest securities were one of the Bank of England’s main tools for controlling money supply in the economy after the global recession in late 2008 as the underlying asset traded in the quantitative easing programme.

However, fixed interest securities are not only tools for high finance; they are also accessible investments for most individuals.

Grab the resources you need!

If you’re studying for your CII AF1 exam, and you’re wanting a feeling of confidence on exam day, grab our free taster to try out one of Brand Financial Training’s calculation workbooks for yourself.  Click the link to download the R01 mock paper taster now!

Alternatively, you can download the taster for AF1, AF4, AF5, CF1, R02, R03 or R06 if you’re studying for one of those exams.