The Fund's investment process starts with PIMCO's annual secular forum at which the firm develops its 3- to 5-year outlook for the global economy and interest rates. Quarterly meetings are then held to discuss how the outlook applies to upcoming 3- to 12-month periods and to forecast specific influencing factors, including interest rate volatility, yield curve movements and credit trends. Taken together, these sessions set the firm's basic views on duration, yield-curve positioning, sector weighting and credit quality. Bottom-up strategies, including credit analysis, quantitative research and individual issue selection are provided by the sector specialists.
The Fund's investment approach may lead to concentrated exposure in areas of the bond market that entail greater risks. For example, the Fund may invest up to 40% of its total assets in below-investment-grade securities, which carry a higher degree of credit risk, and may be speculative and more volatile. The Fund may also investment without limitation in securities denominated in foreign currencies and in U.S. dollar-denominated securities of foreign issuers, and can assume up to 35% exposure in non-U.S. currency. The Fund also has the ability to invest up to 50% of its total assets in securities and instruments tied to emerging market countries. These non-U.S. investments entail specialized risks such as political and economic risks and the risk of currency fluctuations. The Fund may also invest all of its assets in derivative instruments, such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements.
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