Fixed Income

BlackRock Absolute Return Bond Fund

Overview

Important Information: Capital at Risk. The value of investments and the income from them can fall as well as rise and are not guaranteed. Investors may not get back the amount originally invested.

The value of your investment and the income from it will vary and your initial investment amount is not guaranteed.


Two main risks related to fixed income investing are interest rate risk and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in the market value of bonds. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the issuer of the bond will not be able to repay the principal and make interest payments. The Fund invests in fixed interest securities issued by companies. There is a risk of default where the issuing company may not pay income or repay capital to the Fund when due.

All currency hedged share classes of this fund use derivatives to hedge currency risk. The use of derivatives for a share class could pose a potential risk of contagion (also known as spill-over) to other share classes in the fund. The fund’s management company will ensure appropriate procedures are in place to minimise contagion risk to other share class. Using the drop down box directly below the name of the fund, you can view a list of all share classes in the fund – currency hedged share classes are indicated by the word “Hedged” in the name of the share class. In addition, a full list of all currency hedged share classes is available on request from the fund’s management company

The Fund uses derivatives as part of its investment strategy including the establishment of both ‘long’ and ‘synthetic short’ positions and the creation of market leverage for the purposes of increasing the economic exposure of a Fund beyond the value of its net assets. The Manager employs a risk management process to oversee and manage derivative exposure within the Fund. However, the use of derivatives in this manner may have the effect of increasing the overall risk profile of the Fund. Investors should understand that the Fund is not guaranteed to produce a positive return and as an absolute return product, performance may not move in line with general market trends or fully benefit from a positive market environment.
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Performance

Performance

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This chart shows the fund's performance as the percentage loss or gain per year over the last 10 years.

  2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Total Return (%) 2.2 -0.1 1.0 1.5 2.7 -1.6 2.7 4.9 -1.3 0.8
Comparator Benchmark 1 (%) 0.5 0.5 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.7 0.8 0.3 0.1 1.4

Performance is shown after deduction of ongoing charges. Any entry and exit charges are excluded from the calculation.

  1y 3y 5y 10y Incept.
0.26 1.73 0.84 0.98 1.36
Comparator Benchmark 1 (%) 2.53 0.94 0.87 0.69 0.70
  YTD 1m 3m 6m 1y 3y 5y 10y Incept.
-1.12 0.14 -2.03 1.33 0.26 5.29 4.25 10.25 16.88
Comparator Benchmark 1 (%) 1.28 0.34 0.98 1.78 2.53 2.84 4.44 7.10 8.43
  From
31-Mar-2018
To
31-Mar-2019
From
31-Mar-2019
To
31-Mar-2020
From
31-Mar-2020
To
31-Mar-2021
From
31-Mar-2021
To
31-Mar-2022
From
31-Mar-2022
To
31-Mar-2023
Total Return (%)

as of 31/Mar/2023

-0.36 -3.67 11.63 -3.02 0.28
Comparator Benchmark 1 (%)

as of 31/Mar/2023

0.80 0.76 0.14 0.16 2.24

The figures shown relate to past performance. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. Markets could develop very differently in the future. It can help you to assess how the fund has been managed in the past

Share Class and Benchmark performance displayed in GBP hedged Share Class Benchmark performance is displayed in GBP.

Performance is shown on a Net Asset Value (NAV) basis, with gross income reinvested where applicable. The return of your investment may increase or decrease as a result of currency fluctuations if your investment is made in a currency other than that used in the past performance calculation. Source: Blackrock

Key Facts

Key Facts

Net Assets of Fund as of 02/Jun/2023 GBP 1,272,070,588
Share Class launch date 30/Sep/2011
Fund Launch Date 30/Sep/2011
Share Class Currency GBP
Fund Base Currency GBP
Asset Class Fixed Income
Comparator Benchmark 1 3 month SONIA Compounded in Arrears
Investment Association Category -
Initial Charge 0.00%
Ongoing Charges Figures 0.56%
Annual Management Fee 0.50%
Performance Fee 0.00%
Minimum Initial Investment GBP 100,000.00
Minimum Subsequent Investment GBP 100.00
Use of Income Accumulating
Domicile United Kingdom
Regulatory Structure UCITS
Management Company BlackRock Fund Managers Ltd
Morningstar Category Global Flexible Bond - GBP Hedged
Dealing Settlement Trade Date + 3 days
Dealing Frequency Daily, forward pricing basis
Bloomberg Ticker BRARBDA
ISIN GB00B618DS31
SEDOL B618DS3

Portfolio Characteristics

Portfolio Characteristics

Number of Holdings as of 28/Apr/2023 1092
Standard Deviation (3y) as of 30/Apr/2023 3.16%
3y Beta as of 30/Apr/2023 -0.413
Yield to Maturity as of 28/Apr/2023 5.57
Modified Duration as of 28/Apr/2023 0.39
Weighted Average YTM as of 28/Apr/2023 5.63%
Effective Duration as of 28/Apr/2023 0.51
Weighted Avg Maturity as of 28/Apr/2023 3.86
WAL to Worst as of 28/Apr/2023 3.86

Sustainability Characteristics

Sustainability Characteristics

To be included in MSCI ESG Fund Ratings, 65% (or 50% for bond funds and money market funds) of the fund’s gross weight must come from securities with ESG coverage by MSCI ESG Research (certain cash positions and other asset types deemed not relevant for ESG analysis by MSCI are removed prior to calculating a fund’s gross weight; the absolute values of short positions are included but treated as uncovered), the fund’s holdings date must be less than one year old, and the fund must have at least ten securities. MSCI Ratings are currently unavailable for this fund.

Business Involvement

Business Involvement

Business Involvement metrics can help investors gain a more comprehensive view of specific activities in which a fund may be exposed through its investments.


Business Involvement metrics are not indicative of a fund’s investment objective, and, unless otherwise stated in fund documentation and included within a fund’s investment objective, do not change a fund’s investment objective or constrain the fund’s investable universe, and there is no indication that an ESG or Impact focused investment strategy or exclusionary screens will be adopted by a fund. For more information regarding a fund's investment strategy, please see the fund's prospectus.


Review the MSCI methodology behind the Business Involvement metrics, using links below.

MSCI - Controversial Weapons as of 28/Apr/2023 0.00%
MSCI - UN Global Compact Violators as of 28/Apr/2023 3.04%
MSCI - Nuclear Weapons as of 28/Apr/2023 0.05%
MSCI - Thermal Coal as of 28/Apr/2023 0.04%
MSCI - Civilian Firearms as of 28/Apr/2023 0.00%
MSCI - Oil Sands as of 28/Apr/2023 0.01%
MSCI - Tobacco as of 28/Apr/2023 0.88%

Business Involvement Coverage as of 28/Apr/2023 56.83%
Percentage of Fund not covered as of 28/Apr/2023 43.17%
BlackRock business involvement exposures as shown above for Thermal Coal and Oil Sands are calculated and reported for companies that generate more than 5% of revenue from thermal coal or oil sands as defined by MSCI ESG Research. For the exposure to companies that generate any revenue from thermal coal or oil sands (at a 0% revenue threshold), as defined by MSCI ESG Research, it is as follows: Thermal Coal 0.75% and for Oil Sands 1.30%.

Business Involvement metrics are calculated by BlackRock using data from MSCI ESG Research which provides a profile of each company’s specific business involvement. BlackRock leverages this data to provide a summed up view across holdings and translates it to a fund's market value exposure to the listed Business Involvement areas above.


Business Involvement metrics are designed only to identify companies where MSCI has conducted research and identified as having involvement in the covered activity. As a result, it is possible there is additional involvement in these covered activities where MSCI does not have coverage. This information should not be used to produce comprehensive lists of companies without involvement. Business Involvement metrics are only displayed if at least 1% of the fund’s gross weight includes securities covered by MSCI ESG Research.

ESG Integration

ESG Integration

ESG integration is the practice of incorporating material environmental, social and governance (ESG) information or insights alongside traditional measures into the investment decision process to improve long term financial outcomes of portfolios. Unless otherwise stated in Fund documentation or included within the Fund’s investment objective, inclusion of this statement does not imply that the Fund has an ESG-aligned investment objective, but rather describes how ESG information is considered as part of the overall investment process.


The Fund manager includes ESG considerations in combination with other information in the research and due diligence phase of the investment process. ESG information may be sourced internally, via collaboration with the BlackRock Investment Stewardship team in engaging issuers on material environmental, social or governance topics, or from third-party providers. The Fund manager’s ongoing monitoring of the portfolio involves regular portfolio risk reviews with the Risk and Quantitative Analysis group. These reviews include discussion of the portfolio’s exposure to material ESG risks, as well as exposure to sustainability-related business involvements, climate-related metrics, and other factors.

Risk Indicator

Risk Indicator

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Low Risk High Risk
Typically low rewards Typically high rewards

Ratings

Ratings

Morningstar Rating

3 stars
Overall Morningstar Rating for BlackRock Absolute Return Bond Fund, Class D, as of 31/May/2023 rated against 577 Global Flexible Bond - GBP Hedged Funds.

Holdings

Holdings

as of 28/Apr/2023
Name Weight (%)
ISHARES CORPORATE BOND 0-5YR UCIT 6.58
ISH CORE EURO CORP BND ETF EUR DIS 1.47
PETROLEOS MEXICANOS MTN RegS 3.75 02/21/2024 1.31
EUROPEAN UNION RegS 3 03/04/2053 0.98
SAUDI ARABIA (KINGDOM OF) MTN RegS 0 03/03/2024 0.92
Name Weight (%)
NATWEST GROUP PLC MTN RegS 3.622 08/14/2030 0.85
NEXTERA ENERGY OPERATING PARTNERS 144A 4.25 07/15/2024 0.74
BLACKROCK SYSTEMATIC MULTI-S CLX 0.68
ITALY (REPUBLIC OF) 4.35 11/01/2033 0.62
EUROPEAN UNION RegS 3.375 11/04/2042 0.61
Holdings subject to change

Exposure Breakdowns

Exposure Breakdowns

as of 28/Apr/2023

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 28/Apr/2023

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 28/Apr/2023

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 28/Apr/2023

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
as of 28/Apr/2023

% of Market Value

Type Fund Benchmark Net
Negative weightings may result from specific circumstances (including timing differences between trade and settle dates of securities purchased by the funds) and/or the use of certain financial instruments, including derivatives, which may be used to gain or reduce market exposure and/or risk management. Allocations are subject to change.

Pricing & Exchange

Pricing & Exchange

Investor Class Currency Distribution Frequency Bid Price Offer Price ISIN TIS
Class D GBP None 1.15 1.16 GB00B618DS31 -
Class X GBP None 1.23 1.23 GB00B66YXP33 -
Class P GBP None 1.09 1.10 GB00B5LVV365 -

Portfolio Managers

Portfolio Managers

Simon Blundell

Managing Director, is Head of the Fundamental Sterling Team within BlackRock's Global Fixed Income (GFI) Group.

Joe Di Censo
Portfolio manager, BlackRock’s Global Fixed Income Group

     

Rekesh Varsani
Rekesh Varsani

Literature

Literature