Floating Rate Fund

Definition

A Floating Rate Fund is a mutual fund that invests in financial instruments like bonds and loans with variable interest rates. These funds are designed to adapt to changes in market rates and provide investors with a steady income. They offer protection against rising interest rates as their yield adjusts in conjunction with overall market rates.

Phonetic

The phonetics of “Floating Rate Fund” is: ‘floʊtɪŋ reɪt fʌnd’.

Key Takeaways

Here are the three main takeaways about Floating Rate Fund:

1. Interest Rate Risk Mitigation: The greatest advantage of floating-rate funds is their protection against interest rate risk. Since their interest rates reset periodically, they tend to perform well when interest rates rise.
2. Income Potential: Floating rate funds usually have higher yield potential compared to other fixed-income securities. They are known to provide regular income, making them appealing to income-focused investors.
3. Credit Risk: Floating-rate funds are not without risks. They invest primarily in senior loans of corporations with low credit ratings, implying they carry a substantial credit risk. If the issuer defaults, fund investors may face potential losses.

Importance

A Floating Rate Fund is important because it’s a type of investment fund that primarily invests in floating rate notes or securities, which are debts that have a variable interest rate. These funds are considered an attractive investment option, especially during periods of rising interest rates, as they allow investors to benefit from increases in rates because the yield of the fund adjusts with the fluctuations in the interest rate. Moreover, they also provide a higher degree of protection against interest rate risk, as the rate of their notes will reset at regular intervals. Therefore, their importance lies in their ability to offer regular income, capital appreciation potential, and a hedge against rising interest rates, while also having a lower degree of risk compared with fixed-rate securities.

Explanation

A Floating Rate Fund primarily invests in financial instruments such as bonds and loan agreements that have a variable or floating interest rate. The purpose of this type of investment fund is to generate a steady stream of income while minimizing the risks associated with interest rate fluctuations. In periods of rising interest rates, a floating rate fund can potentially provide investors with higher returns compared to funds that hold fixed rate securities. These funds typically invest in corporate or government bonds, loans, and other debt instruments where the interest paid fluctuates with market rates.The use of a Floating Rate Fund is often seen as a strategic investment choice during periods of upward trending interest rates. Because the fund’s holdings adjust their interest payments based on prevailing market rates, the fund can provide a hedge against interest rate risk, which refers to the potential negative effects of rising rates on an investor’s fixed-income holdings. In addition, these funds can offer a degree of protection against inflation risk because rising inflation often accompanies higher interest rates. Therefore, a floating rate fund can offer investors a better potential return during such periods, while protecting the investment’s purchasing power.

Examples

1. BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund Inc. (FRA): The BlackRock Floating Rate Income Strategies Fund is a mutual fund offered by the financial services firm BlackRock. As the name suggests, it primarily invests in floating rate debt securities, such as loans and bonds. The interest rate on these securities is adjusted periodically, providing potential income and protection against rising interest rates.2. Eaton Vance Floating-Rate Advantage Fund (EAFAX): Eaton Vance is another major player in the financial services industry that offers a floating rate fund option. The fund primarily invests in senior floating-rate loans, aiming to offer high overall returns. 3. Fidelity Floating Rate High Income Fund (FFRHX): This fund from Fidelity focuses on potentially generating a high level of income by investing in a portfolio that predominantly consists of floating-rate loans. These loans are usually issued by companies and other entities with lower credit ratings.

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

Related Finance Terms

• Interest Rate Risk
• Benchmark Rate
• Variable Interest Rate
• High-yield Bonds
• Credit Risk

Sources for More Information

• Investopedia
• Morningstar
• Fidelity
• Charles Schwab