Investors have received lower and lower returns on 10-year bonds issued by the Australian government between 2010 and 2020. Peaking at 5.79 percent in March 2010, the yield on 10-year bond yields fell to a low of 0.83 percent in October 2020. Since then, yields have increased again, reaching 4.46 percent as of January 2025.

The average yearly yield of Australian 10-year government bonds has shown a significant downward trend from 1990 to 2020. Starting above 12 percent in 1990, yields steadily declined, with slight fluctuations, reaching a low of 0.92 percent in 2020. After 2020, yields began to rise again, reflecting recent increases in interest rates and inflation expectations.

As of December 30, 2024, the major economy with the highest yield on 10-year government bonds was Turkey, with a yield of 27.38 percent. This is due to the risks investors take when investing in Turkey, notably due to high inflation rates potentially eradicating any profits made when using a foreign currency to investing in securities denominated in Turkish lira. Of the major developed economies, United States had one the highest yield on 10-year government bonds at this time with 4.59 percent, while Switzerland had the lowest at 0.27 percent. How does inflation influence the yields of government bonds? Inflation reduces purchasing power over time. Due to this, investors seek higher returns to offset the anticipated decrease in purchasing power resulting from rapid price rises. In countries with high inflation, government bond yields often incorporate investor expectations and risk premiums, resulting in comparatively higher rates offered by these bonds. Why are government bond rates significant? Government bond rates are an important indicator of financial markets, serving as a benchmark for borrowing costs, interest rates, and investor sentiment. They affect the cost of government borrowing, influence the price of various financial instruments, and serve as a reflection of expectations regarding inflation and economic growth. For instance, in financial analysis and investing, people often use the 10-year U.S. government bond rates as a proxy for the longer-term risk-free rate.

As of June 26, 2024, all Australian government debt securities had positive yields. Debt with a residual maturity of four years debt recorded the lowest yield at 4.12 percent, while debt with a residual of 20 years recorded the highest yield at 4.74 percent. It is usually the case that bonds with a longer maturity have a higher yield so as to compensate investors for the higher level of uncertainty about future market conditions.

Of the largest economies by GDP, the United States saw the sharpest fall in absolute terms for 10-year government bond yields due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. From a level of 1.51 percent in January 2020, yields on 10-year government bonds fell to 0.65 percent by April 2020, and had further fallen to 0.53 percent by July 2020 before starting to recover towards the end of the year. Conversely, countries that went into 2020 with already low bond yields like Japan, Germany and France actually saw a small increase in March 2020 - although these already low yields mean that these small changes are significant in relative terms. As of December 2024, the countries with the highest 10-year yields are the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia with 4.66, 4.54 and 4.46 percent, respectively.

The average yearly yield of German10-year government bonds has shown a significant downward trend from 1990 to 2023. Starting at nearly nine percent in 1990, yields steadily declined, with slight fluctuations, reaching a low of -0.51 percent in 2020. After 2020, yields began to rise again, reflecting recent increases in interest rates and inflation expectations. This long-term decline indicates decreasing inflation and interest rates in Australia over the past decades, with recent economic conditions prompting a reversal in bond yields.

Key information about Australia Short Term Interest Rate

• Australia Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Bank Acceptance Bills Rates: 90 days was reported at 4.12 % pa in Feb 2025, compared with 4.25 % pa in the previous month.
• Australia Short Term Interest Rate data is updated monthly, available from Jun 1969 to Feb 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 21.75 % pa in May 1974 and a record low of 0.01 % pa in Jan 2021.
• Short Term Interest Rate is reported by reported by Reserve Bank of Australia.

• In the latest reports, Australia Government Bond Yield: Australian Government: 10 Years was reported at 4.48 % pa in Jan 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Cash Target Rate) was set at 4.10 % pa in Feb 2025.
• Australia Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.49 (USD/AUD) in Jun 2023.

The average yearly yield of French 10-year government bonds has shown a significant downward trend from 1990 to 2023. Starting at nearly ten percent in 1990, yields steadily declined, with slight fluctuations, reaching a low of -0.14 percent in 2020. After 2020, yields began to rise again, reflecting recent increases in interest rates and inflation expectations. This long-term decline indicates decreasing inflation and interest rates in Australia over the past decades, with recent economic conditions prompting a reversal in bond yields.

As of Janaury 7, 2025, the Australian bond market displayed a positive spread of 57.5 basis points between 10-year and 2-year yields, indicating long-term rates above short-term ones. The 5-year versus 2-year spread was also positive, at 12.5 basis points. The 2-year versus 1-year spread, on the other hand, showed a negative value of -15.2 basis points.

The average yearly yield of UK 10-year government bonds has shown a significant downward trend from 1990 to 2023. Starting at nearly 12 percent in 1990, yields steadily declined, with slight fluctuations, reaching a low of 0.37 percent in 2020. After 2020, yields began to rise again, reflecting recent increases in interest rates and inflation expectations. This long-term decline indicates decreasing inflation and interest rates in Australia over the past decades, with recent economic conditions prompting a reversal in bond yields.