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Gilt-edged opportunities

UK government bonds are cheaper than US treasuries despite a slightly higher US base rate. What does this mean for investors?

  • Gilts of two-plus years are trading cheap to US treasuries, despite a slightly higher US base rate
  • With the UK facing unique inflationary pressures it is unlikely to support longer-term rates as high as in the US, contradicting market pricing
  • Either the long-run neutral rate has shifted or inflationary issues will persist for several years – providing an opportunity in government bonds

The UK and the wider world have endured many common inflationary woes. This has included surging energy and food prices following the invasion of Ukraine and Covid-induced supply chain bottlenecks pushing up the cost of input prices and final products alike. But the UK’s fight against inflation has been made more challenging by country-specific problems:

  • A strained NHS with record waiting times for treatment Since December 2019 this is contributing to an additional 412,000 adults out of the workforce due to long-term sickness1 – 1.25% of the UK’s employed population. Additionally, one in six of the UK’s workforce report that they suffer from long-term health problems, which reduces productivity and hours worked2
  • Being one of the largest net importers of food and drink This leaves the UK particularly exposed to rising global food prices3.
  • Brexit-induced labour shortages As of November 2022, 13.3% of businesses reported a shortage of workers, with a high proportion of sectors such as transportation and education citing a lack of EU applicants as the reason they are unable to fill vacancies4.
In light of this UK gilts are trading cheap to US treasuries: gilts with maturities of two-plus years currently give investors between 20bps-50bps of additional yield over US treasuries5. This is despite a slightly higher US base interest rate at 5.25%-5.50% versus 5.25% for the UK.  

Market expectations

Using the UK yield curve we can calculate the implied pricing of future short-term rates. At the time of writing6 the market expects:
  • 1-year rates at 5% in a year’s time
  • 1-year rates at 4.5% in three years’ time
  • 1-year rates at 4.8% in five years’ time

This is relative to one-year gilts trading at less than 1% from the financial crisis to 2022. This may reflect expectations of higher inflation for longer and would be contrary to recent Bank of England (BoE) guidance that inflation will be at 2% by early 20257.

Looking at implied pricing for the US yield curve8 we get:

  • 1-year rates at 4.5% in one year’s time
  • 1-year rates at 3.9% in three years’ time
  • 1-year rates at 4.2% in five years’ time
Two major technical factors have contributed to higher UK yields. The first is that rising government indebtedness is leading to a higher supply of gilts and in turn higher yields. Secondly, the impact of quantitative tightening (QT). The BoE is actively selling gilt purchases into the market. Gilt holdings peaked at £875 billion in February 2022, but this is now down to £784 billion9 and the BoE has indicated it will drop some way below the £728 billion seen in January 202110. This contrasts to the passive QT approach taken by the US Federal Reserve, which simply doesn’t re-invest maturing treasuries.

Where will rates go?

The theoretical answer is the neutral rate. This is the rate at which monetary policy is neither accommodative nor restrictive, a short-term rate consistent with the economy maintaining full employment with associated price stability. To get to this rate we would need inflation under control. The Fed sees the long-run neutral rate at 2.5%. Between 2016 and 2020 the UK largely had both full employment and inflation close to target but had a base rate of between 0.25% and 0.75% (Figure 1).

Figure 1: recent history of UK CPI and BoE base rate
Recent history of UK CPI and BoE base rate

Source: Bloomberg, as at 30 June 2023

If we focus on demand-pull inflation, which is too much demand chasing limited goods, then all else being equal one economy growing faster than another (or running hotter) will require a higher interest rate to keep price pressures in check. To assess which of the UK or US economies is likely to grow faster I lean on the “labour productivity accounting equation”, which says GDP growth is a result of the long-run growth in the labour force and labour productivity11.  

Labour force

While US and UK birth rates have recently converged (Figure 2), if we look at the period spanning 2005-09 the US birth rate was running at 13% above the UK. This means that from 2023-28, when this cohort turns 18, the US will have a greater boost to its home-grown labour force.

Figure 2: UK and US births per year per 1,000
UK and US births per year per 1,000

Source: Our World in Data, as at January 2022

Labour productivity

Labour productivity represents output per hour or per job, which is a measure of workforce efficiency. Productivity gains are associated with improvements to education, infrastructure and capital deepening per worker (better technology and machinery). To capture investment in labour productivity we use gross fixed capital formation (GFCF12) which represents an estimate of net capital expenditure by both public and private sectors. US GFCF as a percentage of GDP has been running consistently higher than in the UK since the 1990s, implying greater future productivity gains (Figure 3). This is within the context of the UK having the lowest fiscal headroom since the inception of the Office for Budget Responsibility and debt-to-GDP exceeding 100% for the first time since 196113. In contrast, US businesses will see the benefit of a combined $400 billion in tax credits, loans and subsidies from the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act particularly in high growth industries like semiconductors and clean energy14.
Figure 3: US and UK gross fixed capital formation (% of GDP)
US and UK gross fixed capital formation (% of GDP)

Source: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NE.GDI.FTOT.ZS?locations=US-GB

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the UK faces unique inflationary pressures and negative technicals factors, longer-run headwinds to relative GDP growth will likely mean the UK economy cannot support interest rates as high as the US in the longer term. This contradicts market pricing, indicating UK yields should be lower than that of the US in the longer term.

Market pricing in the US and UK suggests that either the long-run neutral rate has shifted dramatically or that current inflationary issues will persist five years into the future, which represents an opportunity in government bonds.

6 September 2023
Jake Lunness
Jake Lunness
Client Portfolio Analyst, High Yield and Emerging Market Debt
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Gilt-edged opportunities

1 Bank of England, May 2023

2 Bloomberg, Britain Is Rapidly Becoming a Sick Society, 17 March 2023

3 Reuters, Explainer: Why is inflation so high in the UK?, 21 June 2023

4 House of Commons Library, Skills and labour shortages, 10 January 2023

5 Bloomberg, as at 20 August 2023

6 Bloomberg, as at 20 August 2023

7 Bank of England, When will inflation in the UK come down?, 3 August 2023

8 Bloomberg, as at 20 August 2023

9 Bank of England, as at 9 August 2023

10 Reuters, Factbox: Giving up gilts: how the Bank of England plans to reverse QE, 1 February 2022

11 CFA Institute, Economic Growth, 2023

12 ONS, A short guide to gross fixed capital formation and business investment, 25 May 2017

13 House of Commons Library, Public Finances: Key Economic Indicators, 21 July 2023

14 FT.com, Inside the $220bn American cleantech project boom, 16 August 2023

 

Important Information

For use by professional clients and/or equivalent investor types in your jurisdiction (not to be used with or passed on to retail clients). For marketing purposes.

 

This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered representative of any particular investment. This should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments, or to provide investment advice or services. Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal. Your capital is at risk. Market risk may affect a single issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. The value of investments is not guaranteed, and therefore an investor may not get back the amount invested. International investing involves certain risks and volatility due to potential political, economic or currency fluctuations and different financial and accounting standards. The securities included herein are for illustrative purposes only, subject to change and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell. Securities discussed may or may not prove profitable. The views expressed are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change and may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) associates or affiliates. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, may not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not take into consideration individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Asset classes described may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either. Information and opinions provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This document and its contents have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority.

 

In Australia: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited [“TIS”], ARBN 600 027 414. TIS is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and relies on Class Order 03/1102 in respect of the financial services it provides to wholesale clients in Australia. This document should only be distributed in Australia to “wholesale clients” as defined in Section 761G of the Corporations Act. TIS is regulated in Singapore (Registration number: 201101559W) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289), which differ from Australian laws.

 

In Singapore: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited, 3 Killiney Road, #07-07, Winsland House 1, Singapore 239519, which is regulated in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289). Registration number: 201101559W. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

 

In Hong Kong: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited 天利投資管理香港有限公司. Unit 3004, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Hong Kong, which is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) to conduct Type 1 regulated activities (CE:AQA779). Registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622), No. 1173058.

 

In Japan: Issued by Columbia Threadneedle Investments Japan Co., Ltd. Financial Instruments Business Operator, The Director-General of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No.3281, and a member of Japan Investment Advisers Association and Type II Financial Instruments Firms Association.

 

In the UK: Issued by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, No. 573204 and/or Columbia Threadneedle Management Limited, No. 517895, both registered in England and Wales and authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

 

In the EEA: Issued by Threadneedle Management Luxembourg S.A., registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (Luxembourg), No. B 110242 and/or Columbia Threadneedle Netherlands B.V., regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), registered No. 08068841.

 

In Switzerland: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services AG, an unregulated Swiss firm or Columbia Threadneedle Management (Swiss) GmbH, acting as representative office of Columbia Threadneedle Management Limited, authorised and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

 

In the Middle East: This document is distributed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments (ME) Limited, which is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). For Distributors: This document is intended to provide distributors with information about Group products and services and is not for further distribution. For Institutional Clients: The information in this document is not intended as financial advice and is only intended for persons with appropriate investment knowledge and who meet the regulatory criteria to be classified as a Professional Client or Market Counterparties and no other Person should act upon it.

 

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

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Important Information

For use by professional clients and/or equivalent investor types in your jurisdiction (not to be used with or passed on to retail clients). For marketing purposes.

 

This document is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered representative of any particular investment. This should not be considered an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments, or to provide investment advice or services. Investing involves risk including the risk of loss of principal. Your capital is at risk. Market risk may affect a single issuer, sector of the economy, industry or the market as a whole. The value of investments is not guaranteed, and therefore an investor may not get back the amount invested. International investing involves certain risks and volatility due to potential political, economic or currency fluctuations and different financial and accounting standards. The securities included herein are for illustrative purposes only, subject to change and should not be construed as a recommendation to buy or sell. Securities discussed may or may not prove profitable. The views expressed are as of the date given, may change as market or other conditions change and may differ from views expressed by other Columbia Threadneedle Investments (Columbia Threadneedle) associates or affiliates. Actual investments or investment decisions made by Columbia Threadneedle and its affiliates, whether for its own account or on behalf of clients, may not necessarily reflect the views expressed. This information is not intended to provide investment advice and does not take into consideration individual investor circumstances. Investment decisions should always be made based on an investor’s specific financial needs, objectives, goals, time horizon and risk tolerance. Asset classes described may not be suitable for all investors. Past performance does not guarantee future results, and no forecast should be considered a guarantee either. Information and opinions provided by third parties have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but accuracy and completeness cannot be guaranteed. This document and its contents have not been reviewed by any regulatory authority.

 

In Australia: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited [“TIS”], ARBN 600 027 414. TIS is exempt from the requirement to hold an Australian financial services licence under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) and relies on Class Order 03/1102 in respect of the financial services it provides to wholesale clients in Australia. This document should only be distributed in Australia to “wholesale clients” as defined in Section 761G of the Corporations Act. TIS is regulated in Singapore (Registration number: 201101559W) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289), which differ from Australian laws.

 

In Singapore: Issued by Threadneedle Investments Singapore (Pte.) Limited, 3 Killiney Road, #07-07, Winsland House 1, Singapore 239519, which is regulated in Singapore by the Monetary Authority of Singapore under the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289). Registration number: 201101559W. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

 

In Hong Kong: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services Hong Kong Limited 天利投資管理香港有限公司. Unit 3004, Two Exchange Square, 8 Connaught Place, Hong Kong, which is licensed by the Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) to conduct Type 1 regulated activities (CE:AQA779). Registered in Hong Kong under the Companies Ordinance (Chapter 622), No. 1173058.

 

In Japan: Issued by Columbia Threadneedle Investments Japan Co., Ltd. Financial Instruments Business Operator, The Director-General of Kanto Local Finance Bureau (FIBO) No.3281, and a member of Japan Investment Advisers Association and Type II Financial Instruments Firms Association.

 

In the UK: Issued by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited, No. 573204 and/or Columbia Threadneedle Management Limited, No. 517895, both registered in England and Wales and authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

 

In the EEA: Issued by Threadneedle Management Luxembourg S.A., registered with the Registre de Commerce et des Sociétés (Luxembourg), No. B 110242 and/or Columbia Threadneedle Netherlands B.V., regulated by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), registered No. 08068841.

 

In Switzerland: Issued by Threadneedle Portfolio Services AG, an unregulated Swiss firm or Columbia Threadneedle Management (Swiss) GmbH, acting as representative office of Columbia Threadneedle Management Limited, authorised and regulated by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA).

 

In the Middle East: This document is distributed by Columbia Threadneedle Investments (ME) Limited, which is regulated by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA). For Distributors: This document is intended to provide distributors with information about Group products and services and is not for further distribution. For Institutional Clients: The information in this document is not intended as financial advice and is only intended for persons with appropriate investment knowledge and who meet the regulatory criteria to be classified as a Professional Client or Market Counterparties and no other Person should act upon it.

 

Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.

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