BlackRock adds new strategic bond fund to fixed income arsenal

Blackrock has launched a strategic bond fund to satisfy investor demand for “macro liquid strategies” in an increasingly challenging time for the fixed income sector.

BlackRock adds new strategic bond fund to fixed income arsenal

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The actively managed, multi-currency global bond fund will harness macroeconomic opportunities from deviating rates and currencies across emerging and developed markets.

BlackRock’s Strategic Global Bond Fund, managed by a team of five, uses a customised benchmark, comprised of 80% Barclay’s Global Aggregate Index (unhedged) and 20% emerging markets exposure.

The fund’s D share class has an annual management of 0.50% and an ongoing fee charge of 0.70%.

Scott Thiel, deputy CIO of fixed income at BlackRock and one of the fund’s portfolio managers, said the fund was devised to satisfy investor demand for “global, macro liquid strategies that can take advantage of the divergence in performance across different markets.”

“The challenges facing global bond investors are greater than ever,” Thiel stated. “Highly accommodative monetary policy has artificially boosted bond markets with yields on higher quality bonds continuing to decline. However, there are opportunities for active managers to identify sources of added value by capitalising on global opportunities and macroeconomic trends.”  

The fund is the fifth in BlackRock’s global bond fund range, which currently comprises over $40bn in assets.