Bonds hit two and half year high level after govt scraps last bond auction for 2012-13

20 Feb 2013 Evaluate

Bond yields edged lower, with the bonds hitting its two and half years high level, after Government of India (GoI) on Feb 18 cancelled its last bond auction for 2012-13 that was expected to raise Rs 12,000 crore, thereby exuding confidence that fiscal deficit will be contained within target.

The cancellation of Rs 12,000 crore debt auction scheduled for this week comes after the government has already announced several spending cuts and accelerated its stake sales to meet the deficit target, building up its cash position.

Government’s cash position improved with flow of over Rs 14,000 crore through disinvestments alone in February. Up till now the government has collected around Rs 21,500 crore from PSU stake sales as against a fiscal target of Rs 30,000 crore.

On the global front, US Treasuries held steady in Asian trading on Wednesday, as investors awaited the release later in the session of the minutes of the Federal Reserve's January policy meeting for clues to its future bond-buying plans. Meanwhile, Brent crude dipped toward $117 a barrel on Wednesday on the prospect of more Saudi supply while investors look ahead to economic and inventory data from the United States for clues on demand in the world's largest oil consumer.

Back home, the yields on 10-year 8.79% - 2021 bonds were trading lower by 4 basis points at 7.78% from its previous close of 7.82% on Monday.

The benchmark five-year interest rate swaps were trading 2 basis points lower at 7.24% from its previous close of 7.26% on Monday.

The Reserve Bank of India has announced the auction of 91-day and 364-day Government of India Treasury Bills for notified amount of Rs 5,000 crore each respectively. The auction will be conducted on February 20, 2013 using 'Multiple Price Auction' method.

© 2026 The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. MoneyWorks4Me ® is a registered trademark of The Alchemists Ark Pvt. Ltd.

×