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CMNIX Delivers Compelling Performance During the Rising-Rate Regime – Hear the Replay from Co-CIO Eli Pars’ Webcast
November 22, 2023
Looking for bond-like returns or better without taking on interest rate risk? In this quarterly webinar, Eli Pars, Co-CIO, explains how Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund (CMNIX), as a fixed income alternative, has outperformed the bond market—with significantly less interest rate risk than traditional bonds.
Key Takeaways:
- The major advantages of the fund’s strategy stood out in high relief when the Fed raised rates by 525 basis points over a 16-month period beginning in March 2022. As measured by the Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index, the bond market finished down -2.77% year to date ended October 31, 2023, while CMNIX was up 6.59%.
- Unlike bonds, hammered by falling prices in the rising-rate environment, CMNIX’s convertible arbitrage strategy contributed to a steady flow of returns, earning interest rebates from short selling and receiving higher coupons from newly issued convertibles.
- The high probability that the Fed keeps rates higher for longer spells questionable news for bonds but potentially favorable news for CMNIX. Pars highlights the benefits of higher convertible coupons thanks to the repriced rate curve, below-par yields of nearly 7%, higher rebates from short selling, and the uptick in convertible issuance.
To find out how CMNIX’s active strategy can serve as a resilient fixed-income allocation, listen to the full replay and Q&A with Eli Pars, CFA, here.
Before investing, carefully consider the fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Please see the prospectus and summary prospectus containing this and other information which can be obtained by calling 1-866-363-9219. Read it carefully before investing.
The Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index is a broad-based flagship benchmark that measures the investment-grade, US dollar-denominated, fixed-rate taxable bond market. The index includes Treasuries, government-related and corporate securities, MBS (agency fixed-rate and hybrid ARM pass-throughs), ABS, and CMBS (agency and non-agency).
Opinions, estimates, forecasts, and statements of financial market trends that are based on current market conditions constitute our judgment and are subject to change without notice. The views and strategies described may not be appropriate for all investors. References to specific securities, asset classes and financial markets are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to be, and should not be interpreted as, recommendations.
The principal risks of investing in the Calamos Market Neutral Income Fund include equity securities risk consisting of market prices declining in general, convertible securities risk consisting of the potential for a decline in value during periods of rising interest rates and the risk of the borrower missing payments, synthetic convertible instruments risk, convertible hedging risk, covered call writing risk, options risk, short sale risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, high yield risk, liquidity risk, portfolio selection risk, and portfolio turnover risk.
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