-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NZ8x94MkUnDR/IlbvIbWzPWjN1moP/DcoGSYLshuHswCyyRlZVhxX4U3YPWmhSrK
 rn40AFRYUlF7HAAmh12j9Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001301112-04-000004.txt : 20040920
<SEC-HEADER>0001301112-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040920
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040920133037
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001301112-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040831
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040920
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040920

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000810943
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	UNKNOWN SIC - 0000 [0000]
		IRS NUMBER:				046562068
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0831

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		STREET 2:		MAILSTOP A 14
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8002251581

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQ
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20021107

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PUTNAM HIGH INCOME CONVERTIBLE & BOND FUND
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DURGARIAN KARNIG H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191608

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-05133
		FILM NUMBER:		041037197

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6172921104

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PUTNAM LLC
		STREET 2:		ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02109
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PUTNAM HIGH INCOME BOND FUND</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pcf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191608</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DURGARIAN KARNIG H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle>former Sr. Managing Director</officerTitle>
            <otherText>of Putnam, LLC</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Karnig H. Durgarian</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>karnigconfirm.txt
<DESCRIPTION>CONFIRMING STATEMENT
<TEXT>


Confirming Statement

I, as Reporting Person of Putnam Investment Management, LLC and/or
Putnam, LLC, the Issuer's Investment Adviser and Indirect Parent
Holding Company, respectively, hereby authorize and designate each and
every Managing Director, Senior Vice President and Vice President in
the Putnam Investments Legal and Compliance Department to file SEC
Exchange Act Forms 3, 4 or 5 on my behalf until further notice in
electronic format pursuant to Rule 101(b)(4) of Regulation S-T.

- ---------------------------

/s/  Karnig H. Durgarian



</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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