Convertible Bonds. Inputs used to value convertible bonds generally include underlying stock data, conversion rates, credit specific details, relevant listed bond and preferred stock prices and other market information, which may include benchmark yield curves, reported trades, broker-dealer quotes, issuer spreads, comparable securities, and reference data, such as market research publications, when available.
High Yield Securities. Inputs used to value high yield securities generally include a number of observations of equity and credit default swap curves related to the issuer and Other Market Information.
Index Linked Notes. The value of the index linked notes is determined by obtaining a valuation from a calculation agent and is primarily based on accrued interest, the underlying index change, participation rate related to the issuer and Other Market Information.
U.S. Treasury Obligations. Inputs used to value U.S. Treasury securities generally include quotes from several inter-dealer brokers and Other Market Information.
The value of loan assignments is determined by Management primarily by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services based on broker quotes (generally Level 2 or Level 3 inputs depending on the number of quotes available).
The value of futures contracts is determined by Management by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services at the settlement price at the market close (Level 1 inputs).
The value of total return swaps and total return basket swaps is determined by Management by obtaining valuations from independent pricing services using the underlying asset and stated benchmark interest rate (Level 2 inputs).
Management has developed a process to periodically review information provided by independent pricing services for all types of securities.
Investments in non-exchange traded investment companies are valued using the respective fund’s daily calculated net asset value per share (Level 2 inputs), when available.
If a valuation is not available from an independent pricing service, or if Management has reason to believe that the valuation received does not represent the amount a Fund might reasonably expect to receive on a current sale in an orderly transaction, Management seeks to obtain quotations from brokers or dealers (generally considered Level 2 or Level 3 inputs depending on the number of quotes available). If such quotations are not available, the security is valued using methods Management has approved in the good-faith belief that the resulting valuation will reflect the fair value of the security. Pursuant to Rule 2a-5 under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended the Funds' Board of Trustees designated Management as the Funds' valuation designee. As the Funds' valuation designee, Management is responsible for determining fair value in good faith for any and all Fund investments. Inputs and assumptions considered in determining the fair value of a security based on Level 2 or Level 3 inputs may include, but are not limited to, the type of the security; the initial cost of the security; the existence of any contractual restrictions on the security's disposition; the price and extent of public trading in similar securities of the issuer or of comparable companies; quotations or evaluated prices from broker-dealers and/or pricing services; information obtained from the issuer and/or analysts; an analysis of the company's or issuer's financial statements; an evaluation of the inputs that influence the issuer and the market(s) in which the security is purchased and sold.
The value of the Funds' investments in foreign securities is generally determined using the same valuation methods and inputs as other Fund investments, as discussed above. Foreign security prices expressed in local currency values are normally translated from the local currency into U.S. dollars using the exchange rates as of 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time on days the New York Stock Exchange is open for business. Management has approved the use of ICE Data Services (“ICE”) to assist in determining the fair value of foreign equity securities when