Return and risk
The return on a fund is based on the value appreciation and return of the fund's investments.
The biggest advantage funds have is that they are well-diversified, which means that when one asset class, region or sector is performing poorly, another may be enjoying great success.
Savings Fixed Income is a fixed income fund
The yield on fixed income funds is based on the performance of the fixed income market, which is more stable than that of the equity market. The flip side of stability is a lower yield. The yield paid on fixed income funds is dependent on the interest rate level and its fluctuations, the selected investments and the timing of buys and sells.
In fixed income funds the main risks consist of the interest rate risk and the credit risk. All investments in fixed income funds are exposed to the risk of a rise in interest rates during the investment period. If market interest rates rise and the investor sells his or her fund units, the yield may be lower than expected, or even negative. This is due to the fact that, as interest rates rise, the market value of bonds or money market investments in the fund's portfolio declines, lowering the value of each fund unit.
The credit risk means that investments in bonds are exposed to uncertainty regarding the issuer's solvency.
Savings 10, 25, 50 and 75 are balanced funds
The risks involved in a balanced fund are influenced by the distribution of their investments among fixed income and equity investments, the interest rate and credit risk of the fixed income investments and the equity market risk of the equity investments.
Balanced funds are exposed to higher risks than fixed income funds since a part of the funds' assets is invested in equities, and lower risks than in equity funds because fixed income investments bring stability.
The risk level is determined by the proportion of equities in the balanced fund. For example, only 25% of the Savings 25 Fund's assets are invested in equity markets, so its risk exposure is lower than in the Savings 75 Fund, which invests 75% of its assets in equities.