Long-government portfolios have at least 90% of their bond holdings invested in bonds backed by the U.S. government or by government-linked agencies. This backing minimizes the credit risk of these portfolios, as the U.S. government is unlikely to default on its debt. They are not risk free, though. Because these portfolios have durations of more than six years (or, if duration is unavailable, average effective maturities greater than 10 years), they are more sensitive to interest rates, and thus riskier, than portfolios that have shorter durations.
Abbreviation: GL
Broad Asset Class: Taxable Bond
Primary Index: Barclays Aggregate Bond
Secondary Index: Barclays Long Term Govt Bond