swap agreement. If a default or designated credit event does occur, the seller of credit protection must pay the buyer of credit protection the full value of the reference obligation. Credit default swaps increase counterparty risk when the Portfolio is the buyer. Commodity Futures Trading Commission rules require that certain credit default swaps be executed through a centralized exchange or regulated facility and be cleared through a regulated clearinghouse. As a general matter, these rates have increased costs in connection with trading these instruments.
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 risk. The primary risks associated with the Portfolio's use of derivatives are market risk, counterparty risk and hedging risk.
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.
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.
Counterparty Risk. Counterparty risk is the risk that a counterparty to a security, loan or derivative held by the Portfolio becomes bankrupt or otherwise fails to perform its obligations due to financial difficulties. The Portfolio may experience significant delays in obtaining any recovery in a bankruptcy or other reorganization proceeding, and there may be no recovery or limited recovery in such circumstances.
Call Risk. The risk that an issuer will exercise its right to pay principal on a debt obligation (such as a mortgage-backed security or convertible security) that is held by the Portfolio earlier than expected. This may happen when there is a decline in interest rates. Under these circumstances, the Portfolio may be unable to recoup all of its initial investment and will also suffer from having to reinvest in lower-yielding securities.
Credit Risk. Credit risk applies to most debt securities, but is generally not a factor for obligations backed by the "full faith and credit" of the U.S. Government. The Portfolio could lose money if the issuer of a debt security is unable or perceived to be unable to pay interest or to repay principal when it becomes due.
An issuer with a lower credit rating will be more likely than a higher rated issuer to default or otherwise become unable to honor its financial obligations. Issuers with low credit ratings typically issue junk bonds. In addition to the risk of default, junk bonds may be more volatile, less liquid, more difficult to value and more susceptible to adverse economic conditions or investor perceptions than other bonds.
Interest Rate Risk. Fixed income securities may be subject to volatility due to changes in interest rates. 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. Any future changes in monetary policy made by central banks and/or their governments are likely to affect the level of interest rates.
Issuer Risk. The value of a security may decline for a number of reasons directly related to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services.
Management Risk. The Portfolio is subject to management risk because it is an actively-managed investment portfolio. The Portfolio's portfolio managers