The total public debt (excluding liabilities under the 'Public Account') of the Government increased by 3.7 per cent (provisional) in Q1 of FY 15 on Q-o-Q basis compared with an increase of 0.5 per cent in the previous quarter (Q4 of FY14). Internal debt constituted 91.4 per cent of public debt as at end-June 2014, while marketable securities accounted for 83.4 per cent of total public debt. About 28.6 per cent of outstanding stock has a residual maturity of up to 5 years, which implies that over the next five years, on an average, 5.6 per cent of outstanding stock needs to be rolled over every year. Thus, the rollover risk in the debt portfolio continues to be low.
In the secondary market, bond yields opened at elevated levels. After initial hardening in yields, G-Secs traded in a narrow range in April 2014, balancing value buying as against poor inflation numbers, sharp depreciation of currency, etc. During May 2014, market remained generally buoyant amidst pre-election expectations of a clear majority for new government at centre, a decisive mandate in the general election, the commitment shown by the new government on inflation and fiscal deficit front, etc. The yields, however, hardened in quarter end on account of tensions in the Middle East, which pushed crude oil to its highest level in around nine months and kept INR under pressure. Overall bonds yields moderated across the curve as against previous quarter and the yield curve flattened at the longer end of the curve. Trading volumes, on an outright basis, were higher by 43.73 per cent over the previous quarter, primarily on account of pre-election expectations of a clear majority for new government and a decisive mandate in the general election. Foreign banks continued to be the dominant trading category though their share in total outright trading activity decreased.
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