February saw major domestic equity indexes driven higher on the hope of a new stimulus bill, improving COVID-19 vaccination numbers, and the gradual reopening of the economy. Most S&P 500 companies reported better-than-expected earnings, with positive surprises coming from the financials, IT, health care, and materials sectors. Japan saw its economy strengthen as a result of strong export numbers. Meanwhile, crude oil prices continued their climb, rising more than 25% for the year. Domestic government bonds experienced a sharp sell-off in late February as markets priced in a more robust economic recovery and higher future growth and inflation expectations.

The passage of the massive domestic stimulus bill highlighted March activity, leading to increased forecasts for U.S. growth in 2021. Domestic employment surged as COVID-19 vaccinations and an increasingly open economy spurred hiring. A majority of U.S. small companies reported they were operating at pre-pandemic capacity or higher. Value stocks continued their outperformance of growth stocks in the month, continuing the trend that started in late 2020. Meanwhile, most major developed global equity indexes are up month to date on the back of rising optimism regarding the outlook for global growth. While the U.S. and the U.K. have been the most successful in terms of the vaccine rollout, even in markets where the vaccine has lagged, such as in the eurozone and Japan, equity indexes in many of those countries have also been in positive territory for the year through March 2021.

Equity markets produced another strong showing in April. Domestically, the continued reopening of the economy had a strong impact on positive equity performance, as people started leaving their households and jobless claims continued to fall. Domestic corporate bonds performed well and the U.S. dollar weakened. Meanwhile, the U.S. government continued to seek to invest in the recovery, this time by outlining a package of over $2 trillion to improve infrastructure. The primary headwind in April was inflation, as investors tried to determine the breadth and longevity of recent price increases. Developed Europe has been supported by a meaningful increase in the pace of vaccinations. Unfortunately many emerging market countries have not been as successful. India in particular saw COVID-19 cases surge, serving as an example of the need to get vaccinations rolled out to less developed nations.

Vaccine rollouts continued in May, leading to loosened restrictions globally. As a result, equity markets in general saw a minor increase in returns. Concerns that the continued economic rebound could result in inflation increases becoming more than transitory were supported by the higher input costs businesses were experiencing. Meanwhile, those inflation concerns were tempered by the U.S. Federal Reserve (Fed), which stayed steady on its view of the economy and eased fears of a sudden and substantial policy change. Positive performance in the emerging market equity space was supported this month by steady consumer demand and strong commodity prices. Fixed-income markets were also slightly positive for the month, driven by inflation uncertainty and a softer U.S. dollar.

June witnessed the S&P 500 Index reach a new all-time high. 2021 economic growth and inflation forecasts were revised higher to reflect a strong economic recovery and some supply and demand imbalances. Late June saw a deal reached on a U.S. infrastructure package of approximately $1 trillion for road, bridge, and broadband network upgrades over the next eight years. The Fed’s June meeting yielded no change to policy, but its projections pointed to a possible interest rate rise in 2023. This, combined with a rebound in economic activity and investors searching for yield, led to U.S. Treasury yields being down for the month. Many European and Asian countries saw vaccination momentum increase, while the U.K. dealt with a rise in COVID-19 infections, specifically the Delta variant. Meanwhile, crude oil jumped over 10% in June on the back of the pickup in global economic activity and Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) slow pace of supply growth.

July began the month seeing vaccinations making progress, as several major developed countries eased restrictions, only to be threatened again by the spread of COVID-19’s Delta variant. Inflation continued to climb, aided by the continued supply bottleneck in the face of high demand. As it pertains to the equity area of the market, U.S. equities led the way in positive return territory followed by international developed markets. In contrast, emerging markets were well in negative territory for the month, hindered by China’s plans for new regulations on a number of sectors, specifically education and technology. The U.S. 10-year Treasury bond yield continued to decline, as strong demand swallowed up supply. After hitting a multiyear high earlier in the month, oil prices leveled off following an agreement by OPEC to raise oil production starting in August.

For purposes of the sleeve’s credit quality policies, if a security receives different ratings from nationally recognized securities rating organizations, the sleeve will use the rating that the portfolio managers believe is most representative of the security’s credit quality. The sleeve’s high yield securities may have fixed or variable principal payments and all types of interest rate and dividend payment and reset terms, including fixed rate, adjustable rate, contingent, deferred, payment in kind and auction rate features. The sleeve may invest in securities with a broad range of maturities.

The Fund’s high yield sleeve is managed following a rigorous investment process that emphasizes both quality and value. The research driven approach includes both a top-down review of macroeconomic factors and intensive, bottom-up scrutiny of individual securities. We consider both broad economic and issuer specific factors in selecting securities for the high yield sleeve. In assessing the appropriate maturity and duration for the Fund’s high yield sleeve and the credit quality parameters and weighting objectives for each sector and industry in this portion of the Fund’s portfolio, we consider a variety of factors that are expected to influence the economic environment and the dynamics of the high yield market. These factors include fundamental economic indicators, such as interest rate trends, the rates of economic growth and inflation, the performance of equity markets, commodities prices, Federal Reserve monetary policy and the relative value of the U.S. dollar compared to other currencies. Once we determine the preferable portfolio characteristics, we conduct further evaluation to determine capacity and inventory levels in each targeted industry. We also identify any circumstances that may lead to improved business conditions, thus increasing the attractiveness of a particular industry. We select individual securities based upon the terms of the securities (such as yields compared to U.S. Treasuries or comparable issues), liquidity and rating, sector and issuer diversification. We also employ due diligence and fundamental research to assess an issuer’s credit quality, taking into account financial condition and profitability, future capital needs, potential for change in rating, industry outlook, the competitive environment and management ability.

The analysis of issuers may include, among other things, historic and current financial conditions, current and anticipated cash flow and borrowing requirements, value of assets in relation to historical costs, strength of management, responsiveness to business conditions, credit standing, the company’s leverage versus industry norms and current and anticipated results of operations. While we consider as one factor in our credit analysis the ratings assigned by the rating services, we perform our own independent credit analysis of issuers.

In making decisions for the high yield sleeve, we rely on the knowledge, experience and judgment of our team who have access to a wide variety of research. We apply a strict sell discipline, which is as important as purchase criteria in determining the performance of this portion of this portfolio. We routinely meet to review profitability outlooks and discuss any deteriorating business fundamentals, as well as consider changes in equity valuations and market perceptions before selling securities.

In other than normal market conditions, when changing economic conditions and other factors cause the yield difference between lower rated and higher rated securities to narrow, the high yield bond sleeve may purchase higher rated U.S. debt instruments if we believe that the risk of loss of income and principal may be reduced substantially with only a relatively small reduction in yield.

We regularly review the investments of the portfolio and may sell a portfolio holding when it has achieved its valuation target, there is deterioration in the underlying fundamental of the business, or we have identified a more attractive investment opportunity.

Up to 10% of the debt securities in the sleeve may be below investment grade. The weighted average credit quality of the sleeve is expected to be investment grade.

Currency is managed as a separate asset class. We may purchase a foreign currency on a spot or forward basis in order to benefit from potential appreciation of such currency relative to the U.S. dollar or to other currencies. The sleeve may enter into foreign currency exchange contracts to gain or hedge currency exposure or control risk.

While we may purchase securities of any maturity or duration, under normal circumstances, we expect this sleeve of the Fund’s portfolio to maintain a dollar-weighted average effective maturity of between 5 and 14 years, and a dollar-weighted average effective duration of between 3 1/2 and 10 years. “Dollar-Weighted Average Effective Maturity” is a measure of the average time until the final payment of principal and interest is due on fixed income securities in this sleeve of the Fund. “Dollar-Weighted Average Effective Duration” is an aggregate measure of the sensitivity of a fund’s fixed income portfolio securities to changes in interest rates. As a general matter, the price of a fixed income security with a longer effective duration will fluctuate more in response to changes in interest rates than the price of a fixed income security with a shorter effective duration.

We use proprietary models and systems to assess and highlight areas of relative value around the world. Model-driven forecasts are created using fundamental economic inputs to generate economic forecasts on the global bond markets. With these forecasts, an optimization process accounts for multiple iteration scenarios to create, what we believe to be, an optimal portfolio strategy. The output of the model process is intended to provide relative valuations for determining an over, or underweight of country-specific bond markets. Similarly, currencies are valued for their potential returns or to hedge currency exposure. These macro ‘top-down’ quantitative models are used in conjunction with our investment expertise and aligned with a ‘bottom-up’ security selection process. Each of our quantitative models and investment expertise are equally important in our security selection process.

Sell decisions with respect to this sleeve are valuation-driven based on our models and our fundamental analysis. We may also sell a security held by this sleeve of the Fund due to changes in portfolio strategy or cash flow needs.

Under normal circumstances, we expect to maintain an average weighted credit quality rating for the sleeve of investment-grade (BBB-/Baa3 or better). As part of our mortgage-backed securities investment strategy, we may enter into dollar roll transactions for this sleeve of the Fund.

We employ a top-down, macroeconomic outlook to determine the portfolio’s duration, yield curve positioning, credit quality and sector allocation. Macroeconomic factors considered may include, among others, the pace of economic growth, employment conditions, corporate profits, inflation, monetary and fiscal policy, as well as the influence of international economic and financial conditions. In combination with our top-down macroeconomic approach, we employ a bottom-up process of fundamental securities analysis to determine the specific securities for investment. Elements of this evaluation may include credit research, duration measurements, historical yield spread relationships, volatility trends, mortgage refinance rates, as well as other factors. Our credit analysis may consider an issuer’s general financial condition, its competitive position and its management strategies, as well as industry characteristics and other factors. We may sell a security due to changes in credit characteristics or outlook, as well as changes in portfolio strategy or cash flow needs. A security may also be sold and replaced with one that presents a better value or risk/reward profile.

The Fund may enter into transactions including, among others, options, futures and forward contracts, loans of portfolio securities, swap contracts, and other derivatives, as well as when-issued, delayed delivery, or forward commitment transactions, that may in some circumstances give rise to a form of leverage. The Fund may use some or all of these transactions from time to time in the management of its portfolio, for hedging purposes, to adjust portfolio characteristics, or more generally for purposes of attempting to increase the Fund’s investment return. There can be no assurance that the Fund will enter into any such transactions at any particular time or under any specific circumstances. The Fund reserves the flexibility to issue preferred shares and debt securities, or to borrow money, for leveraging purposes. By using leverage, the Fund would seek to obtain a higher return for holders of common shares than if it did not use leverage. Leveraging is a speculative technique, and there are special risks involved. There can be no assurance that any leveraging strategies, if employed by the Fund, will be successful, and such strategies can result in losses to the Fund.

In contrast to the investment objectives of the Fund, which are fundamental, the investment policies of the Fund described above are non-fundamental and may be changed by the Board of Trustees of the Fund so long as shareholders are provided with at least 60 days prior written notice of any change to the extent required by the rules under the 1940 Act.

The underlying assets (e.g., loans) are subject to prepayments which shorten the securities’ weighted average maturity and may lower their return. If the credit support or enhancement is exhausted, losses or delays in payment may result if the required payments of principal and interest are not made. The value of these securities also may change because of changes in the market’s perception of the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the pool, or the financial institution or Fund providing the credit support or enhancement.

Instead of making periodic interest payments, zero-coupon securities are sold at discounts from face value. The interest earned by the investor from holding this security to maturity is the difference between the maturity value and the purchase price. Step-up coupon bonds are debt securities that do not pay interest for a specified period of time and then, after the initial period, pay interest at a series of different rates. Pay-in-kind securities normally give the issuer an option to pay cash at a coupon payment date or to give the holder of the security a similar security with the same coupon rate and a face value equal to the amount of the coupon payment that would have been made. To the extent these securities do not pay current cash income, the market prices of these securities would generally be more volatile and likely to respond to a greater degree to changes in interest rates than the market prices of securities that pay cash interest periodically having similar maturities and credit qualities.

Because many derivatives have a leverage component (i.e., a notional value in excess of the assets needed to establish and/or maintain the derivative position), adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, rate or index may result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself.