Insights

India Sovereign Bonds Announcement of Index Inclusion

25 September 2023

Srinivasan Margabandu

Fixed Income Portfolio Specialist

David Patrick Furey

Global Head of Portfolio Strategists, Fixed Income, Cash and Currency

India is the largest Emerging Market economy that is yet to be included in commonly-followed bond indices, but this is about to change.
Foreign investors are now able to more easily invest in specified Indian debt via the Fully Accessible Route (FAR). This route was opened in April 2020 and removes quotas, which heretofore had been a major barrier to index inclusion. Issuance of this new type of debt is already at $400bn and is now more than a third of all outstanding central government debt.
Fiscal policies to cushion the economy from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and stimulate demand have led to increased borrowing, and India now must balance fiscal discipline vis-a-vis the need to fund infrastructure growth. Broadening the investor base will be a key plank of this strategy.
Leading index provider JP Morgan has announced the inclusion of India government bonds in their flagship GBI-EM GD Index. Inclusion will be phased-in starting in 2Q24, growing by 1% every month until it reaches the threshold at 10%.
Access to a diversified capital base could aid India to fund its balance of payment deficit, while foreign investors benefit from the strong diversification and attractive risk-return profile offered by India’s local currency bonds.

Disclosure

State Street Global Advisors Worldwide Entities

The views expressed in this material are the views of Srinivasan M and David Furey through the period September 2023 and are subject to change based on market and other conditions. This document contains certain statements that may be deemed forward looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. The whole or any part of this work may not be reproduced, copied or transmitted or any of its contents disclosed to third parties without SSGA’s express written consent.

All information is from SSGA unless otherwise noted and has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy is not guaranteed. There is no representation or warranty as to the current accuracy, reliability or completeness of, nor liability for, decisions based on such information and it should not be relied on as such.

The information contained in this communication is not a research recommendation or ‘investment research’ and is classified as a ‘Marketing Communication’ in accordance with the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2014/65/EU) or applicable Swiss regulation. This means that this marketing communication (a) has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research (b) is not subject to any prohibition on dealing ahead of the dissemination of investment research.

Currency Risk is a form of risk that arises from the change in price of one currency against another. Whenever investors or companies have assets or business operations across national borders, they face currency risk if their positions are not hedged.

Foreign investments involve greater risks than US investments, including political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations, all of which may be magnified in emerging markets.

This communication is directed at professional clients (this includes eligible counterparties as defined by the appropriate EU regulator) who are deemed both knowledgeable and experienced in matters relating to investments. The products and services to which this communication relates are only available to such persons and persons of any other description (including retail clients) should not rely on this communication.

The information provided does not constitute investment advice as such term is defined under the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (2014/65/EU) or applicable Swiss regulation and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell any investment. It does not take into account any investor’s or potential investor’s particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status, risk appetite or investment horizon. If you require investment advice you should consult your tax and financial or other professional advisor.

Investing in foreign domiciled securities may involve risk of capital loss from unfavorable fluctuation in currency values, withholding taxes, from differences in generally accepted accounting principles or from economic or political instability in other nations. Investments in emerging or developing markets may be more volatile and less liquid than investing in developed markets and may involve exposure to economic structures that are generally less diverse and mature and to political systems which have less stability than those of more developed countries.

Bonds generally present less short-term risk and volatility than stocks, but contain interest rate risk (as interest rates raise, bond prices usually fall); issuer default risk; issuer credit risk; liquidity risk; and inflation risk. These effects are usually pronounced for longer-term securities. Any fixed income security sold or redeemed prior to maturity may be subject to a substantial gain or loss.

More on Fixed Income

View All Insights