The Fund is subject to the main risks noted below, any of
which may adversely affect the Fund’s performance and ability to meet its investment objective.
General Market Risk.
Economies and financial markets throughout the world are becoming increasingly interconnected, which increases the likelihood that events or conditions in one country or region will adversely impact markets or issuers in other countries or regions.
Securities in the Fund’s portfolio may underperform in comparison to securities in general financial markets, a particular financial market or other asset classes, due to a number of factors, including inflation (or expectations for
inflation), deflation (or expectations for deflation), interest rates, global demand for particular products or resources, market instability, debt crises and downgrades, embargoes, tariffs, sanctions and other trade barriers, regulatory events,
other governmental trade or market control programs and related geopolitical events. In addition, the value of the Fund’s investments may be negatively affected by the occurrence of global events such as war, terrorism, environmental
disasters, natural disasters or events, country instability, and infectious disease epidemics or pandemics.
For example, the outbreak of COVID-19, a novel coronavirus
disease, has negatively affected economies, markets and individual companies throughout the world, including those in which the Fund invests. The effects of this pandemic to public health and business and market conditions, including exchange
trading suspensions and closures may continue to have a significant negative impact on the performance of the Fund’s investments, increase the Fund’s volatility, exacerbate pre-existing political, social and economic risks to the Fund,
and negatively impact broad segments of businesses and populations. The Fund’s operations may be interrupted as a result, which may contribute to the negative impact on investment performance. In addition, governments, their regulatory
agencies, or self-regulatory organizations may take actions in response to the pandemic that could affect the instruments in which the Fund invests, or the issuers of such instruments, in ways that could have a significant negative impact on the
Fund’s investment performance. The full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, or other future epidemics or pandemics, is currently unknown.
Foreign Securities and Emerging Markets Risk. Investments in foreign currencies and foreign issuers are subject to additional risks, including political and economic risks, civil conflicts and war, greater volatility, higher transaction costs, delayed settlement,
possible foreign controls on investment, expropriation and nationalization risks, sanctions or other measures by the United States or other governments, currency fluctuations, liquidity risks, and less stringent investor protection and disclosure
standards of foreign markets. In certain markets where securities and other instruments are not traded “delivery versus payment,” the Fund may not receive timely payment for securities or other instruments it has delivered or receive
delivery of securities paid for and may be subject to increased risk that the counterparty will fail to make payments or delivery when due or default completely.
Events and evolving conditions in certain economies or markets
may alter the risks associated with investments tied to countries or regions that historically were perceived as comparatively stable becoming riskier and more volatile. These risks are magnified in countries in “emerging markets.”
Emerging market
countries typically have less-established market economies than developed
countries and may face greater social, economic, regulatory and political uncertainties. In addition, emerging markets typically present greater illiquidity and price volatility concerns due to smaller or limited local capital markets and greater
difficulty in determining market valuations of securities due to limited public information on issuers. Certain emerging market countries may be subject to less stringent requirements regarding accounting, auditing, financial reporting and record
keeping and therefore, material information related to an investment may not be available or reliable. In addition, the Fund is limited in its ability to exercise its legal rights or enforce a counterparty’s legal obligations in certain
jurisdictions outside of the United States, in particular, in emerging markets countries. The Fund may focus its investments in a single country or small group of countries and be subject to greater volatility than a more geographically diversified
fund.
Geographic Focus Risk. The Fund may focus its investments in one or more regions or small groups of countries. As a result, the Fund’s performance may be subject to greater volatility than a more geographically diversified
fund.
Sovereign Debt Risk. The Fund may invest in securities issued or guaranteed by foreign governmental entities (known as sovereign debt securities). These investments are subject to the risk of payment delays or defaults, due, for example, to
cash flow problems, insufficient foreign currency reserves, political considerations, large debt positions relative to the country’s economy or failure to implement economic reforms. There is no legal or bankruptcy process for collecting
sovereign debt.
Currency Risk. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates will affect the value of the Fund’s securities and the price of the Fund’s shares. Generally, when the value of the U.S. dollar rises in value relative to a foreign
currency, an investment impacted by that currency loses value because that currency is worth less in U.S. dollars. Currency exchange rates may fluctuate significantly over short periods of time for a number of reasons, including changes in interest
rates. Devaluation of a currency by a country’s government or banking authority also will have a significant impact on the value of any investments denominated in that currency. Currency markets generally are not as regulated as securities
markets, may be riskier than other types of investments and may increase the volatility of the Fund. Although the Fund may attempt to hedge its currency exposure into the U.S. dollar, it may not be successful in reducing the effects of currency
fluctuations. The Fund may also hedge from one foreign currency to another. In addition, the Fund’s use of currency hedging may not be successful and the use of such strategies may lower the Fund’s potential returns.
Interest Rate Risk. The
Fund’s investments in bonds and other debt securities will change in value based on changes in interest rates. If rates increase, the value of these investments generally declines. Securities with greater interest rate sensitivity and longer
maturities generally are subject to greater fluctuations in value. The Fund invests in variable and floating rate securities. Although these instruments are generally less sensitive to interest rate changes than fixed rate instruments, the value of
variable and floating rate securities may decline if there interest rates do not rise as quickly, or as much, as general interest rates. The Fund may face a heightened level of interest rate risk due to certain changes in monetary policy. During
periods when