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It is not just big companies that issue bonds, but governments, too, who need money to grow their countries, to build roads, railways, schools, armies. UK government-issued bonds are known as gilts, US government-issued bonds are treasuries. Bonds are also known as 'fixed-income securities', because when you buy one (or lend to a company) you know exactly how much money you are going to get in return for it on maturity: the interest payment or 'yield' is laid out at the beginning of the agreement. If you buy a bond with a value of PS100, a yield of 5 per cent, and a maturity of ten years, you will receive PS5 a year for the next ten years, a total of PS50, on top of your PS100 that you'll get back at the end of it.