Notes to Financial Statements
August 31, 2023 (unaudited) (continued)
5. Accounting for Other Instruments (continued)
(b)
In some instances, the actual collateral received and/or pledged may be more than the amount shown here due to overcollateralization.
(c)
Net amount represents the net amount receivable from the counterparty in the event of default.
(d)
Represents the amount of liabilities that could be offset by assets with the same counterparty under master netting or similar agreements that are not offset on the Statements of Assets and Liabilities.
(e)
Net amount represents the net amount payable to the counterparty in the event of default.
6. Significant Risks and Uncertainties
(a)
Credit and Market Risk. Certain Funds invest in high yield instruments that are subject to certain credit and market risks. The yields of high yield obligations reflect, among other things, perceived credit and market risks. Each Fund’s investment in securities rated below investment grade typically involve risks not associated with higher rated securities, including, among others, greater risk related to timely and ultimate payment of interest and principal, greater market price volatility and less liquid secondary market trading.
(b)
Foreign Investment and Currency Risks. Certain Funds’ investments in foreign securities may involve risks not present in domestic investments. Because securities may be denominated in foreign currencies and may require settlement in foreign currencies and pay interest or dividends in foreign currencies, changes in the relationship of these foreign currencies to the U.S. dollar can significantly affect the value of the investments and earnings of a Fund. Foreign investments may also subject the Fund to foreign government exchange restrictions, expropriation, taxation or other political, social or economic developments, all of which affect the market and/or credit risk of the investments. Periodic U.S. Government restrictions on investments in issuers from certain foreign countries may result in a Fund having to sell such prohibited securities at inopportune times. Such prohibited securities may have less liquidity as a result of such U.S. Government designation and the market price of such prohibited securities may decline, which may cause the Fund to incur losses. In addition, the recent large-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and resulting responses, including economic sanctions by the U.S. and other countries against certain Russian individuals and companies could negatively impact the Funds’ performance and cause losses on your investment in the Funds.
(c)
Emerging Markets Risk. In addition to foreign investment and currency risks, which tend to be amplified in emerging markets, emerging markets may experience rising interest rates, or, more significantly, rapid inflation or hyperinflation. The economies of emerging market countries may grow at slower rates than expected or suffer a downturn or recession. Emerging market securities may present market, credit, liquidity, legal, political and other risks different from, or greater than, the risks of investing in developed foreign countries.
(d)
Volatility Risk. Volatility risk refers to the magnitude of the movement, but not the direction of the movement, in a financial instrument’s price over a defined time period. Large increases or decreases in a financial instrument’s price over a relative time period typically indicate greater volatility risk, while small increases or decreases in its price typically indicate lower volatility risk.
(e)
Global Health Event Risks. Consumer, corporate and financial confidence may be adversely affected by current or future tensions around the world, fear of terrorist activity and/or military conflicts, localized or global financial crises or other sources of political, social or economic unrest. Such erosion of confidence may lead to or extend a localized or global economic downturn. Furthermore, such confidence may be adversely affected by local, regional or global health crises, including, but not limited to, the rapid and pandemic spread of novel viruses commonly known as SARS, MERS, and COVID-19. Such health crises could exacerbate political, social, and economic risks previously mentioned, and result in significant breakdowns, delays, shutdowns, social isolation, and other disruptions to important global, local and regional supply chains affected, with potential corresponding results on the operating performance of the Fund and its investments. A climate of uncertainty and panic, including the contagion of infectious viruses or diseases, may adversely affect global, regional, and local economies and reduce the availability of potential investment opportunities, and increases the difficulty of performing due diligence and modeling market conditions, potentially reducing the accuracy of financial projections.