Biggest Holders of US Government Debt
By Paul Toscano | CNBC –For investors, government bills, notes and bonds are considered safe because they have a guaranteed rate of return, based on faith in future U.S. tax revenues. The government has been partially funding operations via Treasury securities for decades.
This borrowing adds to the national debt, which has recently surpassed $15 trillion and is rising every second. The amount of debt is quickly approaching the federal debt ceiling, a legal limit to borrowing that currently stands at $16.4 trillion.
Much of that debt is held by private sector, but about 40 percent is held by public entities, including parts of the government. Here's who owns the most. Foreign countries listed include private and public investors, according to monthly U.S. Treasury data.
1. Federal Reserve and Intragovernmental Holdings
U.S. debt holdings: $6.328 trillion
That’s right, the biggest single holder of U.S. government debt is inside the United States and includes the Federal Reserve system and other intragovernmental holdings. Of this number, The Fed's system of banks owns approximately $1.65 billion in U.S. Treasury securities (as of January 2012), while other U.S. intragovernmental holdings - which include large funds such as the Medicare Trust Fund and the Social Security Trust Fund - hold the rest.
In the monthly Treasury bulletin, both are combined into one category and the total accounts for a stunning $6.328 trillion in holdings as of September 2011 (the most recent number available). The amount is an all-time high as the Federal Reserve continues to expand its balance sheet, partially to purchase U.S. government debt securities. The Social Security Trust fund is required by law to invest in securities where the principal and interest is guaranteed by the Federal government.
About a decade ago, the total government holdings were "only" $2.5 trillion.
2. China
U.S. debt holdings: $1.132 trillion
The largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities, China currently has $1.132 trillion in American debt, although it is down from all time highs of $1.173 trillion in July 2011. For more on China and currency, see CNBC Explains.
3. Other Investors/Savings Bonds
U.S. debt holdings $1.107 trillion
With the most recent numbers from June 2011, this extremely diverse group includes individuals, government-sponsored enterprises, brokers and dealers, bank personal trusts, estates, savings bonds, corporate and noncorporate businesses for a total of $1.107 trillion.
Although the level of debt held in U.S. savings bonds has remained basically constant since 2000, the broad category of "other" investors has nearly quadrupled since reaching a four-year low in December 2007.
4. Japan
U.S. debt holdings: $1.038 trillion
One of the U.S.'s largest trade partners, Japan is also one of the U.S.'s largest debt holders, currently owning $1.038 trillion in Treasury securities.
5. Pension Funds
U.S. debt holdings: $842.2 billion
Pension funds control large amounts of money, reserved for personal retirements, and thus are obligated to make relatively safe investments. This group, which includes private and local government pension funds, holds $842.2 billion in U.S. debt. The private pension fund category also includes U.S. Treasury securities held by the Federal Employees Retirement System Thrift Savings Plan G Fund.
6. Mutual Funds
U.S. debt holdings: $653.5 billion
According to the Federal Reserve, mutual funds hold the sixth-largest amount of U.S. debt compared to any other group, although mutual fund holdings have diminished by more than $105 billion since December 2008. Including money market funds, mutual funds and closed-end funds, this group of investments managed about $653.5 billion in U.S. Treasury securities as of June 2011, which are the most recent numbers available.
7. State and Local Governments
U.S. debt holdings: $484.4 billion
U.S. state and local governments have nearly a half-trillion dollars invested in American debt, according to the Federal Reserve. The level of investment has remained stable since 2006, moving within the range of $484 billion and $576 billion. The current debt holdings, however, represent the lowest aggregate level for state and local governments since December 2005, when they stood at $481.4 billion.
8. The United Kingdom
U.S. debt holdings: $429.4 billion
The U.K. currently holds $429.4 billion in U.S. debt, but the country's investment has fluctuated dramatically during the past two years. Now at its all-time high (and rapidly increasing), British holdings were as low as $55 billion in June 2008.
9. Depository Institutions
U.S. debt holdings: $284.5 billion
As of June 2011 (the most recent numbers available), the Federal Reserve Board of Governors lists depository institutions as holding about $284.5 billion in U.S. debt.
This group includes commercial banks, savings banks and credit unions. In 2011, its holdings more than tripled from the 2008 low of $105 billion. Between June and September 2011, holdings for depository institutions fell by nearly $44 billion.
10. Insurance Companies
U.S. debt holdings: $250.1 billion
According to the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, insurance companies hold $250.1 billion in Treasury securities. This group includes property-casualty and life insurance firms.
Catitan Sut
Pelek juga sebuah negara yang begitu dihormati kerana nilai-nilai yang didukungnya, bahkan ditakuti kerana kekuatan ketenteraannya serta dicontohi kerana kemajuan sains dan technology nya mempunyai begitu banyak hutang.
Peleknya juga selain daripada hutang dalam negara, negara luar terbesar memberi hutang kepada Amerika adalah China. China tidak dikagumi oleh i masyarakat dunia ketiga sebagaimana mereka mengkagumi Amerika.
Sekarang ini sudah terdapat suatu trend di Amerika sendiri untuk mempersoalkan apakah sistem ekonomi capitalism itu adalah perkara sama dengan sistem politik demokrasi?. Apakah kebugaran Wall Sreet itu perlu diutamakan melebihi kebajikan rakyat jelata- sehingga berbillin-billion dollar perlu dicurahkan di situ untuk menyelamatkan beberapa syarikat gergasi yang tenat? Apakah dasar luar negara juga ditentu-arah oleh kehendak-kehendak pedagang-pedagang ini?.
Di negara kita pula, pemimpin utama berucap megah mengisytiharkan yang negara kita tidak perlu berhutang kepada pihak luar, tidak IMF dan tidak kepada World Bank; sekiranya secara jujur kita bertanya adalah hutang negara kita bertambah atau berkurang?. Berapa peratuskah Belanjawan kita digunakan untuk sekadar membayar bunga serta pokok hutang negara, bukan untuk pengurusan atau pembangunan?. Tidakkah sudah sampai masanya untuk kita dengan rendah diri mengaku dan tidak berselindung yang hutang negara kita semakin menjadi parah? Atau kita akan terus berbangga dengan memaklumkan kita akan terus gagah walaupun bebanan hutang semakin meningkat, lihat sahajalah Amerika, negara yang terkuat di dunia pun banyak hutangnya, itulah sebenarnya ciri-ciri negara yang kuat. Mungkin menjelang 2020 hutang kita semakin banyak dan kita semakin kuat, sekuat Amerika .. paling kurang dari segi kuat berhutang.
Rasulullah Sollallu 'alaihi wasallam mengajar kita agar berdoa minta berlindung dengan Allah dari dikalahkan oleh hutang dan dari digagahi oleh kekuatan lelaki yang lainnya......
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