IMA launches new Global Emerging Markets Bond Sector
The Investment Management Association (IMA) has launched a Global Emerging Markets Bond sector for funds that invest at least 80% of their assets in emerging market bonds.
The new sector went live from 31 December 2013 with 25 funds.
The IMA sectors classify similar funds into broad groups, allowing investors and financial advisers to compare funds on a like-for-like basis so that they can conduct further research into specific funds before making a final investment decision.
Following the launch of the Global Emerging Markets Bond sector, the definition for the existing Global Bonds sector has also been amended* to:
Funds which invest at least 80% of their assets in fixed interest securities. All funds which contain more than 80% fixed interest investments are to be classified under this heading regardless of the fact that they have more than 80% in a particular geographic sector, unless that sector is the UK or GEM, when the fund should be classified under the relevant UK (Sterling) or GEM heading. This sector has a wide range of funds which invest in bonds and currencies across geographic areas with differing characteristics.
Jonathan Lipkin, IMA Director of Public Policy, said:
“The sector classification process responds to the evolution of the funds market. During a review of the IMA Fixed Income sectors, we recognised that there were enough funds within the Global Bonds sector to establish a new bond sector for funds that invest primarily in emerging markets. While emerging markets bond funds have been a feature of the fund market for some time, we have seen particular growth in recent years.”
