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22.11.2023
Bonds on the Rise: Insights into European Household Finance
Bonds on the Rise: Insights into European Household Finance
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Key thoughts

  • European households are increasing their bond investments, currently at 2.5% of their financial assets, driven by rising interest rates.

  • Despite the surge in bond investments, a significant portion of European wealth (almost one-third) remains in deposits.

  • Hungarian households lead the bond investments in Europe, driven by soaring interest rates and high yields on government bonds.

  • Italian households have the highest absolute investment in bonds at 344 billion Euros, followed by Germany and France.

Hey there, finance enthusiasts! Have you noticed something interesting lately? European households are slowly getting into the bond game! While it's still a modest 2.5% of their financial assets invested in bonds, this number has been inching up since last year. Pretty cool, right?

Why the Sudden Interest in Bonds?

Household share of bond investment starts to catch up as eurozone interest rates rise.

Source: ECB

Well, it's no secret! Interest rates are climbing, making bonds look like a hotter investment choice than before. Who wouldn't want a piece of that pie?

Europe vs. USA: A Friendly Financial Face-Off

Let's take a quick look across the pond. US households are a bit ahead in this race – they've got 4.5% of their financial wealth in bonds. That's almost double what the Europeans are doing!

In absolute numbers, it's even more striking: US households have plunged a whopping 5.0 trillion dollars into bonds, while European households are sitting on 0.8 trillion bonds in US dollar terms. And note that this doesn't even count the bonds tucked away in various mutual funds and ETFs.

Where Does Europe's Money Really Go?

Curious about what European households are doing with the rest of their money?

Composition of household financial assets in 20 European countries at the end of 2nd quarter 2023.

Source: ECB

A big chunk (almost one-third) is chilling in deposits. Surprising, right? Especially since deposits aren't as profitable as bonds.

On the other side, American households seem less interested in deposits – only 12% of their financial wealth is there, and that includes cold hard cash too!

Spotlight on the Bond Investment Tigers of Europe

So, who in Europe is really into bond investments? Let's roll out the chart!

Debt securities as a share of total financial assets held by households.

Source: ECB

Top of the list? Hungarian households! They've never seen interest rates hit rock bottom like the Eurozone did. Plus, in 2022, Hungary's interest rates have skyrocketed, and its government bonds have recently been yielding nearly 15% annually - no wonder Hungarians are jumping on board!

Not far behind, we have Italian and Maltese households, followed by the Slovakians. But, the Dutch and Swedes? They're a bit more reserved in this arena.

Who's Leading the Bond Race in Absolute Terms?

In terms of big numbers, Italian households are now the kings of bonds with 344 billion Euros invested. Germany is next with 178 billion and France brings up the rear with 37 billion.

The Future Looks Bright for Bond Investments

With interest rates spiking and the bond market becoming more accessible thanks to a growing number of brokers, we're bound to see more people dipping their toes in bond investments. And guess what? We at Bondfish are super excited to guide you through everything you need to know about bond investments!

This article does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bondfish does not recommend using the data and information provided as the only basis for making any investment decision. You should not make any investment decisions without first conducting your own research and considering your own financial situation.