Government bonds

The UK's Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR) has recently published its new forecasts. Among them is one that deserves more attention than it has received to date.

Strategic bond managers are adopting a defensive stance on their portfolios, cutting duration and selling down risk assets on fears over the global economy.

Contagion risk has heightened as a result of rising food price inflation, which could lead to political unrest in the Middle East spreading to other areas, warns veteran investor Jim Rogers.

Pimco's Bill Gross has completely exited US treasuries on the £146bn Total Return fund, in favour of cash.

Bill Gross, manager of the world's largest bond fund, says QE could 'flop' if the private sector fails to pick up the slack when the government stimulus is removed.

Blacksquare Capital's chief executive Christopher Peel gives his outlook for gilts and bonds this year.

Vanguard is bringing two government bond funds to market on 3 February, taking the number of products in its UK index-tracking range to 14.

The first AAA-rated bonds issued by the eurozone's new bailout fund have been snapped up by Asian and Middle East investors in a €5bn (£4.3bn) auction.

German bond yields are climbing as European leaders consider increasing the €750bn rescue fund to help countries needing bailouts.

M&G's Jim Leaviss says an interest rate rise in the UK could be "GDP suicide", although the Bank of England may still succumb to inflationary pressure.