As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2013
1933 Act File No. 33-34502
1940 Act File No. 811-6102
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM N-1A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 37
AND
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940
AMENDMENT NO. 39
MFS® SERIES TRUST VI
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: 617-954-5000
Susan S. Newton, Massachusetts Financial Services Company
111 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02199
(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
APPROXIMATE DATE OF PROPOSED PUBLIC OFFERING:
It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box)
ý immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b)
o on [date] pursuant to paragraph (b)
o 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
o on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(i)
o 75 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii)
o on [date] pursuant to paragraph (a)(ii) of rule 485.
If appropriate, check the following box:
o this post-effective amendment designates a new effective date for a previously filed post-effective amendment
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for effectiveness of this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 485(b) under the Securities Act of 1933 and has duly caused this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized, in the City of Boston and The Commonwealth of Massachusetts on the 20th day of March 2013.
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MFS® SERIES TRUST VI | |
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By: |
JOHN M. CORCORAN* |
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Name: |
John M. Corcoran |
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Title: |
President |
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to its Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on March 20, 2013.
SIGNATURE |
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JOHN M. CORCORAN* |
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President (Principal Executive Officer) |
John M. Corcoran |
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DAVID L. DILORENZO* |
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Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
David L. DiLorenzo |
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ROBERT E. BUTLER* |
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Trustee |
Robert E. Butler |
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MAUREEN R. GOLDFARB* |
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Trustee |
Maureen R. Goldfarb |
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DAVID H. GUNNING* |
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Trustee |
David H. Gunning |
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WILLIAM R. GUTOW* |
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Trustee |
William R. Gutow |
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MICHAEL HEGARTY* |
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Trustee |
Michael Hegarty |
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JOHN P. KAVANAUGH* |
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Trustee | |
John P. Kavanaugh |
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ROBERT J. MANNING* |
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Trustee | |
Robert J. Manning |
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J. DALE SHERRATT* |
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Trustee | |
J. Dale Sherratt |
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LAURIE J. THOMSEN* |
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Trustee | |
Laurie J. Thomsen |
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ROBERT W. UEK* |
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Trustee | |
Robert W. Uek |
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*By: |
SUSAN S. NEWTON |
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Name: |
Susan S. Newton |
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as Attorney-in-fact |
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Executed by Susan S. Newton on behalf of those indicated pursuant to a Power of Attorney, dated December 7, 2012 (Trustees) and a Power of Attorney, dated December 7, 2012 (Corcoran) (DiLorenzo); filed herewith. |
MFS Series Trust I
MFS Series Trust II
MFS Series Trust III
MFS Series Trust IV
MFS Series Trust V
MFS Series Trust VI
MFS Series Trust VII
MFS Series Trust VIII
MFS Series Trust IX
MFS Series Trust X
MFS Series Trust XI
MFS Series Trust XII
MFS Series Trust XIII
MFS Series Trust XIV
MFS Series Trust XV
MFS Series Trust XVI
Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
Massachusetts Investors Trust
MFS Institutional Trust
MFS Municipal Series Trust
MFS Variable Insurance Trust
MFS Variable Insurance Trust II
MFS Variable Insurance Trust III
MFS California Municipal Fund
MFS Charter Income Trust
MFS Government Markets Income Trust
MFS High Income Municipal Trust
MFS High Yield Municipal Trust
MFS InterMarket Income Trust I
MFS Intermediate High Income Fund
MFS Intermediate Income Trust
MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust
MFS Multimarket Income Trust
MFS Municipal Income Trust
MFS Special Value Trust
(each a Registrant)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned, a Trustee of each of the above-mentioned Registrants, hereby severally constitutes and appoints Mark N. Polebaum, Susan S. Newton, Christopher R. Bohane, Thomas H. Connors, Brian E. Langenfeld and Susan A. Pereira, and each of them singly, as true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for each of the undersigned, in the names of, and in the
capacities indicated below, any Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering the Registrant as a management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and/or the shares issued by the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 granting unto my said attorneys, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary or desirable to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hand on this 7th day of December, 2012.
ROBERT E. BUTLER |
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Trustee |
Robert E. Butler |
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MAUREEN R. GOLDFARB |
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Trustee |
Maureen R. Goldfarb |
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DAVID H. GUNNING |
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Trustee |
David H. Gunning |
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WILLIAM R. GUTOW |
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Trustee |
William R. Gutow |
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MICHAEL HEGARTY |
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Trustee |
Michael Hegarty |
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JOHN P. KAVANAUGH |
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Trustee |
John P. Kavanaugh |
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ROBERT J. MANNING |
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Trustee |
Robert J. Manning |
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J. DALE SHERRATT |
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Trustee |
J. Dale Sherratt |
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LAURIE J. THOMSEN |
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Trustee |
Laurie J. Thomsen |
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ROBERT W. UEK |
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Trustee |
Robert W. Uek |
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MFS Series Trust I
MFS Series Trust II
MFS Series Trust III
MFS Series Trust IV
MFS Series Trust V
MFS Series Trust VI
MFS Series Trust VII
MFS Series Trust VIII
MFS Series Trust IX
MFS Series Trust X
MFS Series Trust XI
MFS Series Trust XII
MFS Series Trust XIII
MFS Series Trust XIV
MFS Series Trust XV
MFS Series Trust XVI
Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Fund
Massachusetts Investors Trust
MFS Institutional Trust
MFS Municipal Series Trust
MFS Variable Insurance Trust
MFS Variable Insurance Trust II
MFS Variable Insurance Trust III
MFS California Municipal Fund
MFS Charter Income Trust
MFS Government Markets Income Trust
MFS High Income Municipal Trust
MFS High Yield Municipal Trust
MFS InterMarket Income Trust I
MFS Intermediate High Income Fund
MFS Intermediate Income Trust
MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust
MFS Multimarket Income Trust
MFS Municipal Income Trust
MFS Special Value Trust
(each a Registrant)
POWER OF ATTORNEY
The undersigned, being the President and Principal Executive Officer, and Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer, respectively, of each of the above-mentioned Registrants, hereby severally constitutes and appoints Mark N. Polebaum, Susan S. Newton, Christopher R. Bohane,
Thomas H. Connors, Brian E. Langenfeld and Susan A. Pereira, and each of them singly, as true and lawful attorneys, with full power to them and each of them to sign for each of the undersigned, in the names of, and in the capacities indicated below, any Registration Statement and any and all amendments thereto and to file the same with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the purpose of registering the Registrant as a management investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and/or the shares issued by the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 granting unto my said attorneys, and each of them, acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary or desirable to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys or any of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have hereunto set their hand on this 7th day of December, 2012.
JOHN M. CORCORAN |
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President (Principal Executive Officer) |
John M. Corcoran |
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DAVID L. DILORENZO |
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Principal Financial and Accounting Officer |
David L. DiLorenzo |
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MFS SERIES TRUST VI
MFS® Global Equity Fund
MFS® Global Total Return Fund
MFS® Utilities Fund
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT NO. |
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DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT |
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PAGE NO. |
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101 |
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Risk/return summary of each funds prospectus as an Interactive Data File using eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) |
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Label | Element | Value | ||
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | MFS Utilities Fund Summary of Key Information | ||
Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | Investment Objective | ||
Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The fund’s investment objective is to seek total return. |
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Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | Fees and Expenses | ||
Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay when you buy and hold shares of the fund. The annual fund operating expenses for Class R5 shares are based on estimated “Other Expenses” for the current fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fund’s estimated average net assets during the period. You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in MFS Funds. More information about these and other waivers and reductions is available from your financial intermediary and in “Sales Charges and Waivers or Reductions” on page 8 of the fund’s prospectus and “Waivers of Sales Charges” on page I-14 of the fund’s statement of additional information Part I. |
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Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): | ||
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment): | ||
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | Portfolio Turnover | ||
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” or in the “Example,” affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 46% of the average value of its portfolio. |
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Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 46.00% | ||
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts | You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in MFS Funds. | ||
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount | $ 50,000 | ||
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] | rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates | The annual fund operating expenses for Class R5 shares are based on estimated "Other Expenses" for the current fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fund's estimated average net assets during the period. | ||
Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | Example | ||
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that: you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and you redeem your shares at the end of the time periods (unless otherwise indicated); your investment has a 5% return each year; and the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. |
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Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] | rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption | Although your actual costs will likely be higher or lower, under these assumptions your costs would be: | ||
Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | Principal Investment Strategies | ||
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | MFS (Massachusetts Financial Services Company, the fund’s investment adviser) normally invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in securities of issuers in the utilities industry. Issuers in the utilities industry include issuers engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, sale or distribution of electric, gas or other types of energy, and issuers engaged in telecommunications, including wireless, telephone, and cable (but not engaged in public broadcasting). MFS primarily invests the fund’s assets in equity securities, but may also invest in debt instruments, including less than investment grade quality debt instruments (lower quality debt instruments). Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into stocks, and depositary receipts for such securities. Debt instruments include corporate bonds. MFS may invest the fund’s assets in companies of any size. MFS may invest the fund’s assets in U.S. and foreign securities, including emerging market securities. While MFS may use derivatives for any investment purpose, to the extent MFS uses derivatives, MFS expects to use derivatives primarily to increase or decrease currency exposure. Derivatives include futures, forward contracts, options, structured securities, inverse floating rate instruments, and swaps. MFS uses a bottom-up investment approach to buying and selling investments for the fund. Investments are selected primarily based on fundamental analysis of individual issuers and instruments. Quantitative models that systematically evaluate issuers and instruments may also be considered. |
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Strategy Portfolio Concentration [Text] | rr_StrategyPortfolioConcentration | MFS (Massachusetts Financial Services Company, the fund's investment adviser) normally invests at least 80% of the fund's net assets in securities of issuers in the utilities industry. Issuers in the utilities industry include issuers engaged in the manufacture, production, generation, transmission, sale or distribution of electric, gas or other types of energy, and issuers engaged in telecommunications, including wireless, telephone, and cable (but not engaged in public broadcasting). | ||
Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | Principal Risks | ||
Risk Narrative [Text Block] | rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock | As with any mutual fund, the fund may not achieve its objective and/or you could lose money on your investment in the fund. An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of investing in the fund are: Stock Market/Company Risk: Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to issuer, market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions, as well as to investor perceptions of these conditions. The price of an equity security can decrease significantly in response to these conditions, and these conditions can affect a single issuer or type of security, issuers within a broad market sector, industry or geographic region, or the market in general. Utilities Concentration Risk: The fund’s performance will be closely tied to the performance of utilities issuers and, as a result, can be more volatile than the performance of more broadly-diversified funds. The price of stocks in the utilities sector can be very volatile due to supply and/or demand for services or fuel, financing costs, conservation efforts, the negative impact of regulation, and other factors. Interest Rate Risk: The price of a debt instrument falls when interest rates rise and rises when interest rates fall. Instruments with longer maturities, or that do not pay current interest, are more sensitive to interest rate changes. Credit Risk: The price of a debt instrument depends, in part, on the credit quality of the issuer, borrower, counterparty, or underlying collateral or assets and the terms of the instrument. The price of a debt instrument can decline in response to changes in the financial condition of the issuer, borrower, counterparty, or underlying collateral or assets, or changes in specific or general market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions. Lower quality debt instruments (commonly referred to as “high yield securities” or “junk bonds”) can involve a substantially greater risk of default or can already be in default, and their values can decline significantly. Lower quality debt instruments are regarded as having predominantly speculative characteristics. Lower quality debt instruments tend to be more sensitive to adverse news about the issuer, or the market or economy in general, than higher quality debt instruments. Foreign and Emerging Markets Risk: Exposure to foreign markets, especially emerging markets, through issuers or currencies can involve additional risks relating to market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions. These factors can make foreign investments, especially those in emerging markets, more volatile and less liquid than U.S. investments. In addition, foreign markets can react differently to these conditions than the U.S. market. Emerging markets can have less developed markets, greater custody and operational risk, less developed legal, regulatory, and accounting systems, and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets. Currency Risk: The value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar fluctuates in response to market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions, and a decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar reduces the value in U.S. dollars of investments denominated in that foreign currency. Geographic Concentration Risk: The fund’s performance could be closely tied to the market, currency, economic, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions in the countries or regions in which the fund invests and could be more volatile than the performance of more geographically-diversified funds. Derivatives Risk: Derivatives can be highly volatile and involve risks in addition to the risks of the underlying indicator(s) on which the derivative is based. Gains or losses from derivatives can be substantially greater than the derivatives’ original cost. Derivatives can involve leverage. Leveraging Risk: Leverage involves investment exposure in an amount exceeding the initial investment. Leverage can cause increased volatility by magnifying gains or losses. Investment Selection Risk: MFS’ investment analysis and its selection of investments may not produce the intended results and/or can lead to an investment focus that results in the fund underperforming other funds with similar investment strategies and/or underperforming the markets in which the fund invests. Counterparty and Third Party Risk: Transactions involving a counterparty or third party other than the issuer of the instrument are subject to the credit risk of the counterparty or third party, and to the counterparty’s or third party’s ability to perform in accordance with the terms of the transaction. Liquidity Risk: It may not be possible to sell certain investments, types of investments, and/or segments of the market at any particular time or at an acceptable price. |
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Risk Lose Money [Text] | rr_RiskLoseMoney | As with any mutual fund, the fund may not achieve its objective and/or you could lose money on your investment in the fund. | ||
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] | rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. | ||
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | Performance Information | ||
Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The bar chart and performance table below are intended to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance over time and how the fund’s performance over time compares with that of a broad measure of market performance and one or more other measures of performance for markets in which the fund may invest. The fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available online at mfs.com or by calling 1-800-225-2606. |
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Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | The bar chart and performance table below are intended to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund's performance over time and how the fund's performance over time compares with that of a broad measure of market performance and one or more other measures of performance for markets in which the fund may invest. | ||
Performance Availability Phone [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone | 1-800-225-2606 | ||
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | mfs.com | ||
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the fund will perform in the future. | ||
Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | Class A Bar Chart. | ||
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] | rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock | The bar chart does not take into account any sales charges (loads) that you may be required to pay upon purchase or redemption of the fund's shares. If these sales charges were included, they would reduce the returns shown.
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Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] | rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads | The bar chart does not take into account any sales charges (loads) that you may be required to pay upon purchase or redemption of the fund's shares. If these sales charges were included, they would reduce the returns shown. | ||
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock | During the period(s) shown in the bar chart, the highest quarterly return was 20.70% (for the calendar quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was (24.12)% (for the calendar quarter ended September 30, 2008). |
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Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | highest quarterly return | ||
Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2009 | ||
Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 20.70% | ||
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | lowest quarterly return | ||
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Sep. 30, 2008 | ||
Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (24.12%) | ||
Performance Table Heading | rr_PerformanceTableHeading | Performance Table. | ||
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] | rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes | (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | ||
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. | ||
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your own tax situation, and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. | ||
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | The after-tax returns are shown for only one of the fund's classes of shares, and after-tax returns for the fund's other classes of shares will vary from the returns shown. | ||
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your own tax situation, and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one of the fund’s classes of shares, and after-tax returns for the fund’s other classes of shares will vary from the returns shown. |
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Caption | rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption | Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2012) | ||
Standard & Poor’s 500 Stock Index
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | Index Comparisons (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) Standard & Poor's 500 Stock Index | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 16.00% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.66% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 7.10% | ||
Standard & Poor’s 500 Utilities Index
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | Index Comparisons (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) Standard & Poor's 500 Utilities Index | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 1.29% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 0.36% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 10.43% | ||
A
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | 5.75% | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | [1] | |
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.02% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 673 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 881 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,106 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,751 | ||
Annual Return 2003 | rr_AnnualReturn2003 | 35.96% | ||
Annual Return 2004 | rr_AnnualReturn2004 | 29.88% | ||
Annual Return 2005 | rr_AnnualReturn2005 | 16.81% | ||
Annual Return 2006 | rr_AnnualReturn2006 | 31.55% | ||
Annual Return 2007 | rr_AnnualReturn2007 | 27.58% | ||
Annual Return 2008 | rr_AnnualReturn2008 | (37.54%) | ||
Annual Return 2009 | rr_AnnualReturn2009 | 32.87% | ||
Annual Return 2010 | rr_AnnualReturn2010 | 13.57% | ||
Annual Return 2011 | rr_AnnualReturn2011 | 6.58% | ||
Annual Return 2012 | rr_AnnualReturn2012 | 13.33% | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | A Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 6.81% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.42% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 14.02% | ||
A | After Taxes on Distributions
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | A Shares Returns After Taxes on Distributions | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 6.32% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 0.91% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 13.50% | ||
A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | A Shares Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 5.04% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.11% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 12.56% | ||
R4
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.77% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 79 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 246 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 428 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 954 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R4 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.61% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.88% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 14.94% | ||
B
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 4.00% | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.77% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 580 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 857 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,159 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,886 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 180 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 557 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 959 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 1,886 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | B Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 8.47% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.50% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 14.03% | ||
C
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.77% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 280 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 557 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 959 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,084 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 180 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 557 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 959 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,084 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | C Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 11.47% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.86% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 13.85% | ||
I
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.77% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 79 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 246 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 428 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 954 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | I Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.57% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.89% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 14.99% | ||
R1
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.77% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 180 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 557 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 959 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,084 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R1 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 12.48% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.86% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 13.77% | ||
R2
|
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.50% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.27% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 129 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 403 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 697 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,534 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R2 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.01% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.37% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 14.29% | ||
R3
|
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.02% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 104 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 325 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 563 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,248 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R3 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.35% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.62% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 14.61% | ||
R5
|
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.58% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.10% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 0.68% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 69 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 218 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 379 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | $ 847 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R5 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 13.62% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.90% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 15.00% | ||
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Label | Element | Value | ||
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Risk/Return [Heading] | rr_RiskReturnHeading | MFS Global Equity Fund Summary of Key Information | ||
Objective [Heading] | rr_ObjectiveHeading | Investment Objective | ||
Objective, Primary [Text Block] | rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock | The fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation. |
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Expense [Heading] | rr_ExpenseHeading | Fees and Expenses | ||
Expense Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock | This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay when you buy and hold shares of the fund. The annual fund operating expenses for Class R5 shares are based on estimated “Other Expenses” for the current fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fund’s estimated average net assets during the period. You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in MFS Funds. More information about these and other waivers and reductions is available from your financial intermediary and in “Sales Charges and Waivers or Reductions” on page 7 of the fund’s prospectus and “Waivers of Sales Charges” on page I-14 of the fund’s statement of additional information Part I. |
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Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] | rr_ShareholderFeesCaption | Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment): | ||
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] | rr_OperatingExpensesCaption | Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment): | ||
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading | Portfolio Turnover | ||
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] | rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock | The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when shares are held in a taxable account. These transaction costs, which are not reflected in “Annual Fund Operating Expenses” or in the “Example,” affect the fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 13% of the average value of its portfolio. |
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Portfolio Turnover, Rate | rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate | 13.00% | ||
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts | You may qualify for sales charge reductions if you and certain members of your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $50,000 in MFS Funds. | ||
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] | rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount | $ 50,000 | ||
Other Expenses, New Fund, Based on Estimates [Text] | rr_OtherExpensesNewFundBasedOnEstimates | The annual fund operating expenses for Class R5 shares are based on estimated "Other Expenses" for the current fiscal year expressed as a percentage of the fund's estimated average net assets during the period. | ||
Expense Example [Heading] | rr_ExpenseExampleHeading | Example | ||
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] | rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock | This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that: you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and you redeem your shares at the end of the time periods (unless otherwise indicated); your investment has a 5% return each year; and the fund’s operating expenses remain the same. |
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Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] | rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption | Although your actual costs will likely be higher or lower, under these assumptions your costs would be: | ||
Strategy [Heading] | rr_StrategyHeading | Principal Investment Strategies | ||
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] | rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock | MFS (Massachusetts Financial Services Company, the fund’s investment adviser) normally invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in equity securities. Equity securities include common stocks, preferred stocks, securities convertible into stocks, and depositary receipts for such securities. In selecting investments for the fund, MFS is not constrained to any particular investment style. MFS may invest the fund’s assets in the stocks of companies it believes to have above average earnings growth potential compared to other companies (growth companies), in the stocks of companies it believes are undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies), or in a combination of growth and value companies. While MFS may invest the fund’s assets in companies of any size, MFS generally focuses on companies with large capitalizations. MFS may invest the fund’s assets in U.S. and foreign securities, including emerging market securities. MFS may invest a large percentage of the fund’s assets in issuers in a single country, a small number of countries, or a particular geographic region. MFS uses a bottom-up investment approach to buying and selling investments for the fund. Investments are selected primarily based on fundamental analysis of individual issuers. Quantitative models that systematically evaluate issuers may also be considered. |
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Risk [Heading] | rr_RiskHeading | Principal Risks | ||
Risk Narrative [Text Block] | rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock | As with any mutual fund, the fund may not achieve its objective and/or you could lose money on your investment in the fund. An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. The principal risks of investing in the fund are: Stock Market/Company Risk: Stock markets are volatile and can decline significantly in response to issuer, market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions, as well as to investor perceptions of these conditions. The price of an equity security can decrease significantly in response to these conditions, and these conditions can affect a single issuer or type of security, issuers within a broad market sector, industry or geographic region, or the market in general. Foreign and Emerging Markets Risk: Exposure to foreign markets, especially emerging markets, through issuers or currencies can involve additional risks relating to market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions. These factors can make foreign investments, especially those in emerging markets, more volatile and less liquid than U.S. investments. In addition, foreign markets can react differently to these conditions than the U.S. market. Emerging markets can have less developed markets, greater custody and operational risk, less developed legal, regulatory, and accounting systems, and greater political, social, and economic instability than developed markets. Currency Risk: The value of foreign currencies relative to the U.S. dollar fluctuates in response to market, economic, industry, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions, and a decline in the value of a foreign currency versus the U.S. dollar reduces the value in U.S. dollars of investments denominated in that foreign currency. Geographic Concentration Risk: The fund’s performance could be closely tied to the market, currency, economic, political, regulatory, geopolitical, and other conditions in the countries or regions in which the fund invests and could be more volatile than the performance of more geographically-diversified funds. Investment Selection Risk: MFS’ investment analysis and its selection of investments may not produce the intended results and/or can lead to an investment focus that results in the fund underperforming other funds with similar investment strategies and/or underperforming the markets in which the fund invests. Liquidity Risk: It may not be possible to sell certain investments, types of investments, and/or segments of the market at any particular time or at an acceptable price. |
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Risk Lose Money [Text] | rr_RiskLoseMoney | As with any mutual fund, the fund may not achieve its objective and/or you could lose money on your investment in the fund. | ||
Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text] | rr_RiskNotInsuredDepositoryInstitution | An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other governmental agency. | ||
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] | rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading | Performance Information | ||
Performance Narrative [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock | The bar chart and performance table below are intended to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund’s performance over time and how the fund’s performance over time compares with that of a broad measure of market performance. The fund’s past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the fund will perform in the future. Updated performance is available online at mfs.com or by calling 1-800-225-2606. |
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Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] | rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns | The bar chart and performance table below are intended to provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund by showing changes in the fund's performance over time and how the fund's performance over time compares with that of a broad measure of market performance. | ||
Performance Availability Phone [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone | 1-800-225-2606 | ||
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] | rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress | mfs.com | ||
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] | rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture | The fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the fund will perform in the future. | ||
Bar Chart [Heading] | rr_BarChartHeading | Class A Bar Chart. | ||
Bar Chart Narrative [Text Block] | rr_BarChartNarrativeTextBlock | The bar chart does not take into account any sales charges (loads) that you may be required to pay upon purchase or redemption of the fund's shares. If these sales charges were included, they would reduce the returns shown.
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Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] | rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads | The bar chart does not take into account any sales charges (loads) that you may be required to pay upon purchase or redemption of the fund's shares. If these sales charges were included, they would reduce the returns shown. | ||
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] | rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock | During the period(s) shown in the bar chart, the highest quarterly return was 18.83% (for the calendar quarter ended June 30, 2009) and the lowest quarterly return was (18.24)% (for the calendar quarter ended December 31, 2008). |
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Highest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel | highest quarterly return | ||
Highest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate | Jun. 30, 2009 | ||
Highest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn | 18.83% | ||
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label | rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel | lowest quarterly return | ||
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate | Dec. 31, 2008 | ||
Lowest Quarterly Return | rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn | (18.24%) | ||
Performance Table Heading | rr_PerformanceTableHeading | Performance Table. | ||
Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text] | rr_IndexNoDeductionForFeesExpensesTaxes | (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) | ||
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate | rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. | ||
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred | rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred | Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your own tax situation, and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. | ||
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] | rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown | The after-tax returns are shown for only one of the fund's classes of shares, and after-tax returns for the fund's other classes of shares will vary from the returns shown. | ||
Performance Table Closing [Text Block] | rr_PerformanceTableClosingTextBlock | After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Your actual after-tax returns will depend on your own tax situation, and may differ from those shown. The after-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one of the fund’s classes of shares, and after-tax returns for the fund’s other classes of shares will vary from the returns shown. |
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Caption | rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption | Average Annual Total Returns (for the Periods Ended December 31, 2012) | ||
MSCI World Index (gross div)
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | Index Comparison (Reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes) MSCI World Index (gross div) | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 16.54% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | (0.60%) | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 8.08% | ||
A
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | 5.75% | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | [1] | |
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.34% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 704 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 975 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,267 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,095 | ||
Annual Return 2003 | rr_AnnualReturn2003 | 27.47% | ||
Annual Return 2004 | rr_AnnualReturn2004 | 18.45% | ||
Annual Return 2005 | rr_AnnualReturn2005 | 7.45% | ||
Annual Return 2006 | rr_AnnualReturn2006 | 24.18% | ||
Annual Return 2007 | rr_AnnualReturn2007 | 9.01% | ||
Annual Return 2008 | rr_AnnualReturn2008 | (34.08%) | ||
Annual Return 2009 | rr_AnnualReturn2009 | 31.19% | ||
Annual Return 2010 | rr_AnnualReturn2010 | 11.80% | ||
Annual Return 2011 | rr_AnnualReturn2011 | (4.42%) | ||
Annual Return 2012 | rr_AnnualReturn2012 | 23.42% | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | A Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 16.32% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.46% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 8.97% | ||
A | After Taxes on Distributions
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | A Shares Returns After Taxes on Distributions | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 16.17% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.18% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 8.37% | ||
A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | A Shares Returns After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 10.96% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.22% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 7.90% | ||
R4
|
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.09% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 111 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 347 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 601 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,329 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R4 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 23.72% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.91% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.83% | ||
B
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 4.00% | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.09% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 612 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 955 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,324 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,229 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 212 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 655 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,124 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,229 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | B Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 18.52% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.52% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 8.96% | ||
C
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Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | 1.00% | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.09% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 312 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 655 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,124 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,421 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 | 212 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 | 655 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 | 1,124 | ||
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 | 2,421 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | C Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 21.47% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.89% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 8.79% | ||
I
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||||
Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.09% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 111 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 347 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 601 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,329 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | I Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 23.72% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.93% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.89% | ||
R1
|
||||
Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 1.00% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 2.09% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 212 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 655 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 1,124 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 2,421 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R1 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 22.49% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 1.91% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 8.72% | ||
R2
|
||||
Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.50% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.59% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 162 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 502 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 866 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,889 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R2 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 23.10% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.42% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.24% | ||
R3
|
||||
Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | 0.25% | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.19% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.34% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 136 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 425 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 734 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | 1,613 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R3 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 23.45% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.66% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.54% | ||
R5
|
||||
Risk/Return: | rr_RiskReturnAbstract | |||
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases (as a percentage of offering price) | rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice | none | ||
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of original purchase price or redemption proceeds, whichever is less) | rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther | none | ||
Management Fee | rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets | 0.90% | ||
Distribution and/or Service (12b-1) Fees | rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets | none | ||
Other Expenses | rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets | 0.13% | ||
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | rr_ExpensesOverAssets | 1.03% | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year | rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 | 105 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 | 328 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 | 569 | ||
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years | rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 | $ 1,259 | ||
Label | rr_AverageAnnualReturnLabel | R5 Shares Returns Before Taxes | ||
Average Annual Returns, 1 Year | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 | 23.76% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 5 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 | 2.93% | ||
Average Annual Returns, 10 Years | rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 | 9.90% | ||
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