Derivatives
Risk. Derivatives risk is both a direct and indirect risk of investing in the Portfolio. A
derivative is any financial instrument whose value is based on, and determined
by, another security, index or benchmark (i.e., stock options, futures, caps, floors, etc.). To the extent a derivative contract is used to
hedge another position in the Portfolio or an Underlying Portfolio, the Portfolio or Underlying Portfolio will be exposed to the risks associated with hedging described below. To
the extent an option, futures contract, swap, or other derivative is used to
enhance return, rather than as a hedge, the Portfolio or Underlying Portfolio will be directly exposed to the risks of the contract. Gains or losses from non-hedging positions may be substantially greater than the
cost of the position. Certain derivatives have the potential for undefined loss.
By purchasing over-the-counter derivatives, the Portfolio or Underlying Portfolio
is exposed to credit quality risk of the counterparty.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is both a direct and indirect risk of investing in the Portfolio. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty
to a security, loan or derivative held by the Portfolio or an Underlying Portfolio
becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial
difficulties. The Portfolio or an Underlying Portfolio may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding, and there may be no
recovery or limited recovery in such circumstances.
Leverage Risk. Leverage risk is a direct risk of investing in the Portfolio. Certain managed futures instruments, and some other derivatives the
Portfolio buys, involve a degree of leverage. Leverage occurs when an investor has the right to a return on an investment that exceeds the return that the investor would be expected
to receive based on the amount contributed to the investment. The Portfolio’s
use of certain economically leveraged futures and other derivatives can result in
a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the futures or other derivative itself. Certain futures and other derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the
size of the initial investment. When the Portfolio uses futures and other
derivatives for leverage, a shareholder’s investment in the Portfolio will
tend to be more volatile, resulting in larger gains or losses in response to the fluctuating prices of the Portfolio’s investments.
Bonds Risk. This is both a direct and indirect risk of investing in the Portfolio. As with any fund that invests significantly in bonds, the value of
an investment in the Portfolio or an Underlying Portfolio may go up or down in
response to changes in interest rates or defaults (or even the potential for
future defaults) by bond issuers. The market value of bonds and other fixed income securities
usually tends to vary inversely
with the level of interest rates; as interest rates rise the value of such securities typically falls, and as interest rates fall, the value of such securities typically rises.
Longer-term and lower coupon bonds tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest
rates.
Interest Rate Risk. Fixed income securities may be subject to volatility due to changes in interest rates. The value of fixed-income securities
may decline when interest rates go up or increase when interest rates go down.
The interest earned on fixed-income securities may decline when interest rates go down or increase when interest rates go up. Duration is a measure of interest rate risk that indicates how
price-sensitive a bond is to changes in interest rates. Longer-term and lower coupon bonds tend to be more sensitive to changes in interest rates. For example, a bond with a
duration of three years will decrease in value by approximately 3% if interest
rates increase by 1%. Changing interest rates may have unpredictable effects on
markets, may result in heightened market volatility, and could negatively impact
the Portfolio’s performance. Any future changes in monetary policy made by
central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates.
Credit Risk. Credit risk is both a direct and indirect
risk of investing in the Portfolio. Credit risk applies to most debt securities,
but is generally not a factor for obligations backed by the “full faith and credit” of the U.S. Government. The Portfolio or an Underlying Portfolio could lose money if the issuer of a debt
security is unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or repay principal
when it becomes due. Various factors could affect the issuer’s actual or
perceived willingness or ability to make timely interest or principal payments, including changes in the issuer’s financial condition or in general economic conditions.
An issuer with a lower credit rating will be more likely than a higher rated issuer to default
or otherwise become unable to honor its financial obligations. Issuers with low
credit ratings typically issue junk bonds. In addition to the risk of default,
junk bonds may be more volatile, less liquid, more difficult to value and more susceptible to adverse economic conditions or investor perceptions than other bonds.
Hedging Risk. A hedge is an investment made in order to reduce the risk of adverse price movements in a security, by taking an offsetting position in a related security (often a derivative, such as an option
or a short sale). While hedging strategies can be very useful and inexpensive
ways of reducing risk, they are sometimes ineffective due to unexpected changes
in the market. Hedging also