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.
Foreign Investment Risk. The Portfolio’s investments in the securities of foreign issuers or issuers with significant exposure to foreign markets involve additional risk. Foreign countries in which the Portfolio
invests may have markets that are less liquid, less regulated and more volatile
than U.S. markets. The value of the Portfolio’s investments may decline because of factors affecting the particular issuer as well as foreign markets and issuers generally, such as unfavorable
government actions, and political or financial instability and other conditions or
events (including, for example, military confrontations, war, terrorism,
sanctions, disease/virus, outbreaks and epidemics). Lack of relevant data and reliable public information may also affect the value of these securities. The risks of foreign investments
are heightened when investing in issuers in emerging market countries.
Foreign Sovereign Debt Risk. Foreign sovereign debt
securities are subject to the risk that a governmental entity may delay or refuse
to pay interest or to repay principal on its sovereign debt. If a governmental entity defaults, it may ask for more time in which to pay or for further loans.
Junk Bonds Risk. The Portfolio may invest significantly in junk bonds, which are considered speculative. Junk bonds carry a substantial risk of
default or changes in the issuer’s creditworthiness, or they may already be in default at
the time of purchase.
Derivatives
Risk. A derivative is any financial instrument whose value is based on, and determined by,
another security, index, rate 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, the 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 will be directly exposed to the risks of the contract. Unfavorable changes in the value of the underlying
security, index, rate or benchmark may cause sudden losses. Gains or losses from
the Portfolio’s use of derivatives may be substantially greater than the amount of the Portfolio’s investment. Certain derivatives have the potential for undefined loss. Derivatives are also associated
with various other risks, including market risk, leverage risk, hedging risk,
counterparty risk, valuation risk, regulatory risk, illiquidity risk and interest
rate fluctuations risk. The primary risks associated with the Portfolio’s use of derivatives are market risk, counterparty risk and hedging risk.
Hedging Risk. 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 involves the risk that changes in the value
of the related security will not match those of the instruments being hedged as expected, in which case any losses on the instruments being hedged may not be reduced. For gross currency hedges, there is
an additional risk, to the extent that these transactions create exposure to
currencies in which the Portfolio’s securities are not denominated.
Leverage Risk. The Portfolio may engage in certain
transactions that may expose it to leverage risk, such as reverse repurchase
agreements, loans of portfolio securities, and the use of when-issued, delayed delivery or forward commitment transactions and derivatives. The use of leverage may cause the
Portfolio to liquidate portfolio positions at inopportune times in order to meet
regulatory asset coverage requirements, fulfill leverage contract terms, or for
other reasons. Leveraging, including borrowing, tends to increase the Portfolio’s exposure to market risk, interest rate risk or other risks, and thus may cause the Portfolio to be more
volatile than if the Portfolio had not utilized leverage.
Emerging Markets Risk. Risks associated with investments in emerging markets may include: delays in settling portfolio securities
transactions; currency and capital controls; greater sensitivity to interest rate
changes; pervasive corruption and crime; exchange rate volatility; inflation,
deflation or currency devaluation; violent military or political conflicts; confiscations and other government restrictions by the United States or other governments; and government
instability. As a result, investments in emerging market securities tend to be
more volatile than investments in developed countries.
Foreign Currency Risk. The value of the Portfolio’s foreign investments may fluctuate due to changes in