MutualFundWire.com: SSgA's New SPDR Catches Short-Term, High Yield Bonds
MutualFundWire.com
   The insiders' edge for 40 Act industry executives!
an InvestmentWires' Publication
Friday, March 16, 2012

SSgA's New SPDR Catches Short-Term, High Yield Bonds


State Street Global Advisors [profile] just launched a new short-term, high yield bond SPDR. Yesterday the Boston-based mutual fund firm revealed the SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (SJNK) on the NYSE Arca

The new product comes with an expense ratio of 40 basis points.

The ETF tracks the Barclays Capital 0-5 Cash Pay Constrained High Yield Index, which included about 351 securities as of March 5. SSgA had more than $274 billion in SPDR exchange-traded fund assets as of December 31, and it now has 34 fixed income SPDR ETFs.

"The SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term High Yield Bond ETF provides investors and advisors with an opportunity to gain cost efficient access to short term high yield bonds, a segment of the high yield market that can help to protect against an inevitable rise in interest rates," stated James Ross, senior managing director and global head of SPDR ETFs at SSgA.


Company Press Release

State Street Global Advisors Launches Short Term High Yield Bond SPDR Exchange Traded Fund

BOSTON – March 15, 2012 — State Street Global Advisors (SSgA)*, the asset management business of State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT), today announced that the SPDR® Barclays Capital Short Term High Yield Bond ETF (Symbol: SJNK) began trading on the NYSE Arca. The new SPDR ETF offers investors access to high yield corporate bonds with short durations, which tend to be less volatile and sensitive to changes in interest rates than debt securities with longer durations. The fund’s annual expense ratio is 0.40 percent.

The SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term High Yield Bond ETF seeks to track the performance of the Barclays Capital 0-5 Cash Pay Constrained High Yield Index. The Index includes publicly issued U.S. dollar denominated, non-investment-grade, fixed rate, taxable corporate bonds that have a remaining maturity of less than 5 years, are rated high-yield (Ba1/BB+/BB+ or below) using the middle rating of Moody’s Investors Service Inc., Fitch, Inc., or Standard & Poor’s Inc., and have $350 million or more of issuance. As of March 5, 2012, there were approximately 351 securities in the Index with an average modified adjusted duration of approximately 2.06 years.

“Offering equity-like returns with less volatility, demand for high yield bond exposure is on the rise,” said James Ross, senior managing director and global head of SPDR Exchange Traded Funds at State Street Global Advisors. “The launch of the SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term High Yield Bond ETF provides investors and advisors with an opportunity to gain cost efficient access to short term high yield bonds, a segment of the high yield market that can help to protect against an inevitable rise in interest rates.”

The launch of the SPDR Barclays Capital Short Term High Yield Bond ETF enhances State Street Global Advisors’ fixed income ETF offering, which is now comprised of 34 SPDR ETFs, including the SPDR Barclays Capital High Yield Bond ETF (JNK).

State Street manages more than $274** billion in SPDR ETF assets worldwide (as of December 31, 2011) and is one of the largest ETF providers globally.

About SPDR Exchange Traded Funds

SPDR ETFs are a comprehensive family spanning an array of international and domestic asset classes. SPDR ETFs are managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Bank and Trust Company. The funds provide professional investors with the flexibility to select investments that are precisely aligned to their investment strategy. Recognized as the industry pioneer, State Street created the first ETF in 1993 (SPDR S&P 500® – Ticker SPY). Since then, we’ve sustained our place as an industry innovator through the introduction of many ground-breaking products, including first-to-market launches with gold, international real estate, international fixed income and sector ETFs. For more information, visit www.spdrs.com.

About State Street Global Advisors

State Street Global Advisors (SSgA) is a global leader in asset management. The firm is relied on by sophisticated investors worldwide for its disciplined investment process, powerful global investment platform and access to every major asset class, capitalization range and style. SSgA is the asset management business of State Street Corporation, one of the world’s leading providers of financial services to institutional investors.

*SPDR ETFs are managed by SSgA Funds Management, Inc., a registered investment adviser and wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Bank& Trust Company.

**This AUM includes the assets of the SPDR Gold Trust (approx. $63 billion as of December 31, 2011), for which State Street Global Markets, LLC, an affiliate of State Street Global Advisors serves as the marketing agent.

Important Risk Information

ETFs trade like stocks, fluctuate in market value and may trade at prices above or below the ETFs net asset value. Brokerage commissions and ETF expenses will reduce returns.

The Fund routinely employs leveraged investment techniques that magnify gains and losses which result in greater volatility. Investors may lose more money in adverse markets.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, holding a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics which may cause the fund to experience tracking errors relative to performance of the Index.

Investing in high yield fixed income securities, otherwise known as "junk bonds", is considered speculative and involves greater risk of loss of principal and interest than investing in investment grade fixed income securities. These Lower-quality debt securities involve greater risk of default or price changes due to potential changes in the credit quality of the issuer.

State Street Global Markets, LLC, member FINRA, SIPC, a wholly owned subsidiary of State Street Corporation. References to State Street may include State Street Corporation and its affiliates. Certain State Street affiliates provide services and receive fees from the SPDR ETFs.

Before investing, consider the funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. To obtain a prospectus or summary prospectus which contains this and other information, call 866.787.2257 or visit www.spdrs.com. Read it carefully.


Printed from: MFWire.com/story.asp?s=39489

Copyright 2012, InvestmentWires, Inc.
All Rights Reserved