This article is part of Morningstar's Guide to Investing for Income
After a decade long rally, the bond game is over. Investors now face the challenge of finding opportunities in a market where bond prices are falling. The good news is that yields are rising – so with a bit of skill those looking for income or total return can navigate the run down.
Strategic bond funds have a wide remit. Fund managers are free to invest across the sectors, mixing duration, yield – and risk. This blended approach is the most nimble and when executed correctly can be the most effective in the current climate. We used Morningstar Direct to screen the highest yielding strategic bond funds which were also highly rated by Morningstar analysts, the top five are listed below. Three of the funds are managed by Henderson, who has a particularly strong team in this space following acquisitions of two smaller fund managers.
Henderson Fixed Interest Monthly Income
Yield: 6.3%
This fund is an attractive choice for UK investors seeking fixed-income exposure paying distributions monthly, with the flexibility to invest across the bond spectrum, says Morningstar analyst Phil Roantree. This is a diversified fixed income portfolio, managed with income generation in mind, in line with the managers’ other bond funds this fund is rated Silver.
Henderson Preference and Bond
Yield: 6.1%
Henderson Preference and Bond is a sound choice for investors seeking a flexible, actively managed strategic bond fund that also provides a reasonable income, says Roantree. As a mature fund, launched in 1978, income payments have been a significant part of the fund's overall return, and income remains an important focus of the fund managers as they aim to meet investors' expectations. It is rated Silver.
AXA Framlington Managed Income
Yield: 6%
The fund has a specialist mandate and is appropriate for investors seeking a higher-yielding fund and who are comfortable with an approach that can lead to a higher level of aggregate credit risk, says Morningstar analyst Marianne Weller.
The fund features a highly experienced manager in George Luckraft, whose career spans over 20 years and encompasses several income-orientated mandates. It is rated Silver.
Henderson Strategic Bond
Yield: 5.9
Henderson Strategic Bond is a sound choice for investors seeking a flexible, actively managed strategic bond fund targeting total return, says Roantree.
This is a flexible, actively managed unconstrained strategic bond fund with the managers allocating strategically across the fixed-income spectrum whilst taking advantage of its UCITS III status to position the fund as they see appropriate through the economic cycle, investing in both traditional fixed-income securities and derivatives. It is rated Silver.
Schroder Strategic Credit
Yield: 5.85%
Schroder Strategic Bond is an attractive choice for an adventurous credit investor, says Weller. The investment approach is underpinned by the manager’s belief that significant opportunities are created by investors’ inefficient processing of company information. The fund is rated Bronze.