Description

This fund is designed to offer broad access to high-quality debt instruments issued outside the United States. Its objective is to mirror the performance of an international benchmark index, investing in a mix of government, agency, and corporate bonds from various global markets, with a primary focus on developed nations but also including some emerging economies. Like all bond funds, it is susceptible to interest rate fluctuations; an increase in rates could lead to a decline in the value of the bonds held, thereby reducing the fund's net asset value. Furthermore, due to its global investment scope, the fund is exposed to additional risks such as specific country or regional instability. To minimize the effect of volatile currency exchange rates, the fund utilizes hedging strategies, aiming for investment returns that primarily reflect the underlying performance of its international bond holdings. This fund presents an attractive choice for long-term investors seeking to incorporate an international component into their fixed-income portfolio. Regarding 75% of its total assets, the fund operates under specific concentration rules: it is restricted from purchasing more than 10% of the voting shares of any single issuer, and no more than 5% of its overall assets can be invested in securities from one issuer. However, these limits may be exceeded if necessary to closely match the composition of its target index. It's also important to note that these particular diversification restrictions do not apply to debt obligations issued by the U.S. government or its related agencies.