Bonds are back, but how attractive is the risk-reward proposition?

THAT bonds are back, as numerous strategists proclaim, is reason to celebrate. Finally, yields have become attractive for higher quality issues, after plumbing very low levels over the past few years.

After all, even for younger investors, fixed income assets are a mainstay for portfolios despite a very poor performance last year.

But the big question is – are bonds’ risk-reward tradeoffs attractive enough given today’s fairly high interest rates for safe alternatives?