BlackRock has launched a total return bond fund for the group’s £413m Corporate Bond manager Ben Edwards to run with sterling bond manager Simon Blundell.
The group had been planning to launch the product for some time, as Investment Week reported earlier this year.
The BlackRock Sterling Strategic Bond fund will seek income in global fixed income markets, while maintaining a UK bias and is not constrained to any specific benchmark.
Managed by Edwards (pictured) and Blundell, the fund will have core holdings in sterling-denominated corporate bonds but with the flexibility to source income from across the entire fixed income universe including allocations to emerging markets and high yield.
Jeremy Roberts, head of UK retail sales at BlackRock, said: “As financial markets become increasingly diverse and complex, the hunt for yield gets even harder. In a low-return, low-rate world, income is golden.
“With a go-anywhere approach we believe this fund will appeal to investors that are looking for an attractive income delivered by experienced managers with a strong track record.”
Edwards said: “We are delighted to be able to offer the Sterling Strategic Bond fund to complement our existing UK fixed income range.
“While investors are not suffering from a lack of choice in this sector, we believe clients will benefit from the same outcome driven style and disciplined risk management that have underlined our successful Corporate Bond fund over the last ten years.”
SOURCE: InvestmentWeek.co.uk
