Description

This index fund provides investors low-cost, diversified exposure to large-, mid-, and small-capitalization companies in developed markets outside of the United States. Since its focus is on non-U.S. stocks, the fund can be more volatile than a domestic fund. In addition to stock market risk, the fund is also subject to currency risk and because the fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of companies located in any one country or region, its performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Long-term investors may wish to consider this fund as a complement to a well-balanced domestic equity portfolio.