Showing posts with label credit rating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label credit rating. Show all posts

Saturday, 6 July 2013

New Fund: Eastspring Investments Target Income Fund 2

In the current low interest rate environment, investors continue to chase for yields which resulted in strong demand for close-ended bond funds that potentially offers higher return than fixed deposits. Keeping this in mind, Eastspring Investments is launching a new fund.


The fund endeavors to provide regular income during the tenure of the fund (3 years), by investing in local and/or foreign debt securities.

Investment Strategy
A minimum of 70% will be invested in local and/or foreign debt securities, while the remaining of not more than 40% may be invested either in non-rated debt securities and/or debt securities rated below investment grade rating.

  • lower than BBB3 rating by RAM; or
  • below investment grade rating by other rating agencies

Although the fund is expected to invest up to 40% in non-rated issuers and/or issuers rated below investment grade, there is a risk that this limit may be exceeded as issuers of investment grade debt securities held within the portfolio may be downgraded by rating agencies and thus resulting in the fund's over exposure in such category.


Additionally, up to 30% may invested in money market instruments, and worth to note that the fund may exercise Early Repayment. As such, this is a moderate risk fund, instead of low risk.

The fund is suitable for investors who:-

  • seek regular income distribution;
  • have 3 years investment horizon; and
  • have a moderate risk tolerance.


Monday, 29 October 2012

New Fund: AmTactical Bond

Still remember one fund called AmDynamic Bond fund? If yes, you definitely knew the superb performance of that bond fund, which had became the flagship fund for AmMutual for past years. However, it was sad that, since few months ago, no more subscription was being allowed for AmDynamic Bond fund because it has reached the maximum limit set by regulators. In other words, too hot the demand for that fund. Then how?


Because of that reason, AmMutual is proud to launch another new fund, AmTactical Bond fund, which was managed by using the same strategy, but with a little bit more flexibility. The Fund aims to provide income and to a lesser extent capital appreciation by investing primarily in bonds.

How Flexible is it?

The Fund seeks to achieve its objective by investing primarily in sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate bonds including convertible bonds. There is NO minimum rating for a security purchased or held by the Fund.


To construct the portfolio of the Fund, the Investment Manager will analyse the general economic and market conditions. The Investment Manager will also analyse and compare securities in terms of expected returns against assumed risk by analyzing credit rating and duration of the securities, where the Investment Manager will select securities that will deliver better returns for a given level of risk. In addition, the Investment Manager may also consider securities with a more favorable or improving credit or industry outlook that provide potential capital appreciation. The Fund’s investment is subject to active tactical duration management, where duration of the Fund will be monitored and modified according to interest rate outlook without any portfolio maturity limitation.


Asset Allocation


  • 70% - 98% invested in bonds;
  • 0% - 28% invested in other permitted investments; and
  • a minimum of 2% will be invested in Liquid Assets.


AmTactical Bond is suitable for investors who:



  • are willing to assume risks associated with investing in securities with long duration (i.e. there will be no portfolio maturity limitation) and low credit ratings (i.e. there will be no minimum rating for the securities purchased or held by the Fund); and
  • have an investment horizon of more than three (3) years.


Source: AmMutual

Friday, 29 June 2012

New Fund: AmDynamic Sukuk

After the spectacular performance of AmDynamic Bond fund, AmInvestment Services Bhd would like to replicate the success of the conventional fund into this newly launched shariah compliant fund.


The Fund aims to provide capital appreciation by investing primarily in Sukuk both locally and globally. To achieve the investment objective, the Fund will undertake active management to enhance and optimize returns from investing in sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate Sukuks. The sectorial weightings maybe adjusted to maximize the performance. There is no minimum rating for a Sukuk purchased or held by the Fund.

More about the Fund

Value-add of the Fund is derived from active tactical duration management, yield curve positioning and credit spread arbitrage. Credit spread arbitrage and yield curve positioning is part of relative value approach that involves analysis of general economic and market conditions and the use of models to analyze and compare expected returns as well as the assumed risks. The Investment Manager will focus on Sukuk that would deliver favourable return in light of the calculated risks.


In addition, the Investment Manager may also consider Sukuk with favourable or improving credit outlook that provide the potential for capital appreciation for these investments. The Fund may invest in Sukuk of varying maturities. The Fund’s investment maturity profile is subject to active tactical duration management in view of the interest rate scenario without any portfolio maturity limitation.




The Fund invests globally, including but not limited to Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Jersey, Bermuda, Brunei, China, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Hong Kong, United States of America and Germany. Notwithstanding the above, investments in foreign markets are limited to markets where the regulatory authority is a member of the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO).


AmDynamic Sukuk is suitable for investors who:
  • want steady growth in value by investing in Sukuk as an asset class;
  • have Medium to Long Term investment goals; and
  • are willing to assume additional interest rate risk, duration risk and liquidity risk associated with investing in Sukuks with longer duration and lower credit ratings.

Source: Fund's prospectus