Water is good for survival, and entertainment is good for taking a chill pill in life. But to get on the track of streamlined finance, you must remember your go-to partner, Gold. Gold holds a special place in people’s hearts in India, which clearly defines it as the idea of wealth and protection against financial crises. This brings Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) as popular and appealing gold investments to grow in popularity.
SGBs are backed by the government and provide the same level of security as physical Gold. Here, we will take a detailed look at the Sovereign Gold Bonds.
What is a Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme?
Sovereign Gold Bond Scheme is considered as the governor security defined in the grams of Gold. They are the ideal alternative to gripping on physical Gold. Investors get the right to redeem the bonds in cash provided they have paid off the issue price in cash.
RBI releases sovereign gold bonds in the name of the central government to resident Indian entities, individuals HUFs, trusts, universities and charitable institutions. The market instrument is long-term in nature.
In November 2015, the government introduced sovereign gold bonds to reduce gold demand and encourage domestic savings to be transferred to financial assets. Limited-term SGBs are offered by the government in tranches.
Features of Sovereign Gold Bonds
Price update
Sovereign Gold Bond pricing is determined as per the gold closing price of 999 purity as put across in the previous 3 days by Indian Bullion and Jewellery Association Limited (IBJA).
Payouts of periodic interest
Investors receive half-yearly payments under the sovereign gold bond scheme with a coupon rate of 2.5%.
Tenor fixed
The term of gold bonds is eight years, with premature withdrawal permitted after the 5th year.
The secondary market also allows investors to sell their securities at the market price for Gold.
Withdrawal prematurely
A mandatory 5-year holding period is required for individuals who wish to cash out their investments. Payouts will be processed on interest disbursement days for the 5th, 6th, and 7th years of the bond tenor.
Resale
The RBI may publish a notice notifying the secondary market about the possibility of trading in the Sovereign gold bond scheme after 14 days from its initial subscription date.
Gold prices on the date of the transaction, as well as stock market demand and supply, determine the prices at which these bonds are transacted.
For purposes of conducting transactions in the stock market, certificates must be digitized and stored in a Depository Receipt (Demat) account.
Subscription quantity
The subscription fee is set at grams of Gold for Sovereign Bonds. In many states, individuals and Hindu Undivided Families (HUF) must invest one gold gram, while the maximum is equal to four kilograms of Gold. Corporations and trusts have a maximum weight limit of 20kg.
At maturity, sovereign bonds are paid according to a simple average of Gold’s price over the past three days, which is published by the International Bond and Securities Association. Investing in Gold is a risk-free way for individuals to accumulate substantial wealth without taking on significant risks. Gold’s price generally appreciates significantly over time.
Advantages of Investing in Sovereign Gold Bonds
Risk is low
RBI is primarily responsible for issuing sovereign gold bonds based on the central government, as stated in the Government Security Act 2006. SGB gets open support from the government, which makes it among the safest investment options in India.
Added convenience
The central government launched sovereign gold bonds in November 2015 under the gold monetization scheme. As bullions and other physical forms of investments required safe and secure storage, such treasury bonds aimed to minimize the hassles associated with gold investments.
The holding certificate issued to investors for gold bonds serves as a declaration of the investment and proof thereof. The holding certificates can also be digitized and used in Demat accounts, enhancing investment security even further.
Appreciation of capital
Investing in sovereign gold bonds yields substantial returns as long-term gold prices tend to rise. Investors usually turn their ways towards investing in Gold during the stock market turmoil as it holds its value even during times of underperformance of major corporations.
Besides that, Gold continues to remain among the widely popular and useful precious metals and continues to rise high in demand despite global economic conditions and market fluctuations. Due to the low unsystematic risks attached to Gold, the investment corpus grows rapidly, allowing it to grow manifolds over time.
Invest in inflation hedges
Accordingly, gold prices have experienced substantial capital appreciation. A country’s inflation rate is considerably higher than the rate of growth of these assets, which makes them an important investment avenue. Thus, individuals can accumulate significant wealth over time through the accumulation of investments.
Investing in the long-term
Gold sovereign bonds have a holding period of eight years. Individuals seeking long-term investments with substantial capital gains and fund security will find this scheme ideal.
Access to loans
SGB brings multiple advantages to the table as it allows you to apply for a loan, keeping SGB as the collateral. BI regulations state that such bonds are allowed to be lent up to 75% of their market value.
Limitations of Gold Bonds
Stock Market-Inverse
The gold price has an inverse relationship with the stock market, so increases in stock returns lead to declines in gold prices. A surge in aggregate demand leads to an optimistic view of the stock market during an economic boom, as investors expect companies to perform well. Therefore, gold bonds’ demand declines, causing market prices to decline.e
Fluctuating currencies
The price at which Gold is traded tends to fluctuate with currency exchange rates. Increasing inflation rates cause gold prices to falter when the US dollar appreciates. When import costs rise significantly, the level of total investment in a country falls, and gold demand decreases.
Taxation of Sovereign Gold Bonds: A Breakdown
Before Budget 2024:
SGBs that were categorised as long-term capital assets (kept for more than 36 months) were subject to tax at 20% (with indexation benefit) or 10% (without indexation benefit), whichever was most advantageous, prior to finance budget 2024 overhauling the capital gains tax system. The Income Tax Act of 1961’s fourth proviso to section 48 expressly provides for the advantage of indexation on SGBs. In a similar vein, SGBs held for fewer than three years were categorised as short-term capital gain and was taxed at applicable tax-slab rates
After Budget 2024:
If kept for more than a year, SGBs will still be regarded as long-term capital assets. SGBs transferred on or after July 23, 2024, shall be subject to taxation at a rate of 12.5% without the benefit of indexation.
If an SGB is held for 12 months or less, it will still be treated as a short-term capital asset and subject to appropriate slab rates of taxation.
Who Should Invest in Sovereign Gold Bonds?
Sovereign Gold Bonds bring lots of benefits to the line with low restrictions, which makes them perfect yet profitable investment avenues. All those investors who are aiming for substantial returns on their corpus but cannot take on a high degree of risk can invest in SGB.
With sovereign gold bonds in play, investors enjoy the flexibility to diversify their portfolios, reducing the risk exposure on the stock market. The value of Gold continues to rise even when there is a stock market downturn, which minimizes investors’ overall portfolio risk.
Conclusion
The largest financial authority in the world can back sovereign gold bonds, making them potentially more profitable than physical gold investments and gold ETFs. Nevertheless, buying these sovereign bonds should be considered carefully, based on your financial goals and your investment timeline, since substantial funds must be invested to realize future returns. Additionally, individuals interested in purchasing sovereign gold bonds should keep track of the RBI’s website regularly.
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Disclaimer – This article is for educational purposes only and by no means intends to substitute expert guidance. Mutual fund investments are subject to market risks. Please read all scheme-related documents carefully before investing.
