Bond yields globally are at multi-year highs; the US, Japan, and Europe are all seeing yields climb. In India, the 10-year is nudging 7%, driven by inflation, high government debt, and rising bond supply. Now, why does this matter for your debt fund?
Simple rule: when yields rise, bond prices fall. And your debt fund return is really two parts: accrual income plus mark-to-market gains or losses. So a fund yielding 8% net of expenses might deliver 6% if prices fall, or 8% if they rise. Who feels this most?
It's all about duration. Short-duration and money-market funds barely flinch. Corporate bond funds feel a moderate impact. But gilt and long-duration funds swing the most, in both directions. So should you worry? Indian yields have already moved up sharply - most of the pain is behind us.
Match your horizon to the fund's maturity, and short-term swings do not impact the portfolio. If you need the money in 6 months to a year, stick to money market funds, low duration, low volatility. For a 2 to 3 year horizon, short duration funds strike the right balance.
If you're investing for 3 to 4 years, corporate bond or banking & PSU debt funds make sense, with slightly higher duration, but still manageable. And if your horizon is genuinely long 10 years or more that's when gilt or long-duration funds fit, because you have enough time to ride out interim volatility and benefit from the higher accrual.