T. Rowe Price fixed income strategies delivered higher average annualised returns than their benchmarks over time. And they showed better results in the vast majority of rolling monthly periods over a 20-year span.
This fixed income performance was the result of our rigorous global research and a collaborative process that drove better decision making and thoughtful risk management.
Put simply, our fixed income strategies delivered more return, more often.
That's the T. Rowe Price difference.
Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.
Ten-year periods, rolling monthly, over the last 20 years ended 12/31/23.
Analysis by T. Rowe Price. Represents a comparison of all marketable institutional fixed income composites compared to the official composite primary benchmark assigned to each. Excludes money market, and index/passive composites. In order to avoid double-counting in the analysis, specialized composites viewed as substantially similar to strategies already included (e.g. constrained strategies, ex-single country excluded strategies, etc.) are also excluded. Composite net returns are calculated using the highest applicable separate account fee schedule for institutional clients. All figures in USD. The performance of each T. Rowe Price composite was compared against its official composite primary benchmark using 10-year rolling monthly periods from 1/1/04 to 31/12/23.
Analysis aggregates and averages the performance history of 28 fixed income composites covering 2,555 periods.
Risks: For fund specific risks please refer to the prospectus
General Fund Risks
Capital risk - the value of your investment will vary and is not guaranteed. It will be affected by changes in the exchange rate between the base currency of the fund and the currency in which you subscribed, if different. Counterparty risk - an entity with which the portfolio transacts may not meet its obligations to the fund. ESG and Sustainability risk - may result in a material negative impact on the value of investment and performance of the fund. Geographic concentration risk - to the extent that a fund invests a large portion of its assets in a particular geographic area, its performance will be more strongly affected by events within that area. Hedging risk - a fund's attempts to reduce or eliminate certain risks through hedging may not work as intended. Investment fund risk - investing in funds involves certain risks an investor would not face if investing in markets directly. Management risk - the investment manager or its designees may at times find their obligations to a fund to be in conflict with their obligations to other investment funds they manage (although in such cases, all funds will be dealt with equitably). Operational risk - operational failures could lead to disruptions of fund operations or financial losses.
It's no longer cool to T'bill and chill
Duration measures a bond's sensitivity to changes in interest rates. It estimates how much a bond's price will change with a 1% change in interest rates. Understanding duration helps investors manage interest rate risk.
Duration is managed by selecting bonds with varyingmaturities and interest rate sensitivities. Portfolio managers may adjust theportfolio's duration based on interest rate forecasts and economic conditionsto mitigate risk.
Credit risk is the risk that a bond issuer will default on its payments. It is assessed by evaluating the issuer's financial health, credit ratings from agencies like Moody's or S&P, and market conditions.
Corporate bonds typically offer higher yields than government bonds, providing potentially greater income. They also offer diversification benefits and can be selected based on credit quality and industry exposure.
High-yield bonds are issued by companies with lower credit ratings and offer higher yields to compensate for credit risk. They carry a higher risk of default compared to investment-grade bonds.
When interest rates rise, existing bond prices fall, leading to higher yields for new investors. Conversely, when interest rates fall, bond prices rise, resulting in lower yields.
Bonds can reduce overall portfolio volatility and provide a steady income stream. They tend to have a low correlation with stocks, meaning they can perform differently under various market conditions, thus enhancing diversification.
Bond liquidity is assessed by examining trading volume, bid-ask spreads, and the presence of active market makers. Highly liquid bonds can be bought or sold quickly with minimal price impact.
Maturity refers to the date when a bond's principal is repaid to investors. It matters because it affects the bond's interest rate risk and price volatility; longer maturities typically involve greater risk and potential reward.
Derivatives play several roles in a bond portfolio, primarily aimed at enhancing portfolio management and risk control. For example, hedging against risk such as interest rate risk, currency risk, and credit risk. Allowing mangers to create leverage and access no traditional markets. They also allow for more efficient adjustments to portfolio duration, credit exposure, and currency exposure without the need to buy or sell the underlying bonds directly.
By investing across multiple sectors, investors can spread risk and reduce the impact of any single sector's downturn on their overall portfolio. This approach provides the flexibility to shift allocations based on changing market conditions, interest rates, and economic outlooks, potentially enhancing returns.
Credit risk is the chance that any of the portfolio's holdings will have their credit ratings downgraded or will default (fail to make scheduled interest or principal payments), potentially reducing the portfolio's income level and share price.
Risks
Fixed Income: Fixed-income securities are subject to credit risk, liquidity risk, call risk, and interest-rate risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices generally fall.
Inflation risk: high or sustained inflation levels will erode the purchasing power of distributions and the value of an investment.
Interest rate risk: the decline in bond prices that accompanies a rise in the overall level of interest rates.
Reinvestment risk: in a declining interest rate scenario, investors will reinvest distributions at a lower interest rate.
*All data as of 31/12/2024 unless otherwise stated.
¹The total fixed income assets managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., and its investment advisory affiliates. Total fixed income assets include all fixed income separate accounts and funds along with a portion of certain T. Rowe Price U.S.-registered multi-asset funds in U.S dollars (USD) as of 31/12/2024.
CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst® are registered trademarks owned by CFA Institute.
The Funds are sub-funds of the T. Rowe Price Funds SICAV, a Luxembourg investment company with variable capital which is registered with Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and which qualifies as an undertaking for collective investment in transferable securities (“UCITS”). Full details of the objectives, investment policies and risks are located in the prospectus which is available with the key investor information documents (KIID) and/or key information document (KID) in English and in an official language of the jurisdictions in which the Funds are registered for public sale, together with the articles of incorporation and the annual and semi-annual reports (together “Fund Documents”). Any decision to invest should be made on the basis of the Fund Documents which are available free of charge from the local representative, local information/paying agent or from authorised distributors. They can also be found along with a summary of investor rights in English at www.troweprice.com . The Management Company reserves the right to terminate marketing arrangements.
This material is being furnished for general informational and/or marketing purposes only. The material does not constitute or undertake to give advice of any nature, including fiduciary investment advice, nor is it intended to serve as the primary basis for an investment decision. Prospective investors are recommended to seek independent legal, financial and tax advice before making any investment decision. T. Rowe Price group of companies including T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. and/or its affiliates receive revenue from T. Rowe Price investment products and services. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up. Investors may get back less than the amount invested.
The material does not constitute a distribution, an offer, an invitation, a personal or general recommendation or solicitation to sell or buy any securities in any jurisdiction or to conduct any particular investment activity. The material has not been reviewed by any regulatory authority in any jurisdiction.
Information and opinions presented have been obtained or derived from sources believed to be reliable and current; however, we cannot guarantee the sources' accuracy or completeness. There is no guarantee that any forecasts made will come to pass. The views contained herein are as of the date noted on the material and are subject to change without notice; these views may differ from those of other T. Rowe Price group companies and/or associates. Under no circumstances should the material, in whole or in part, be copied or redistributed without consent from T. Rowe Price.
The material is not intended for use by persons in jurisdictions which prohibit or restrict the distribution of the material and in certain countries the material is provided upon specific request.
It is not intended for distribution to retail investors in any jurisdiction.
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