Pru Launches Three New Fixed Income Funds

According to the announcement, the funds are the Prudential Floating Rate Income Fund, the Prudential Absolute Return Bond Fund, and the Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund. Prudential Investments is the mutual fund family of Prudential Financial Inc.

According to a press release, the Prudential Absolute Return Bond Fund (A: PADAX): seeks “to generate positive returns over time regardless of market conditions by investing across a broad range of sectors and securities”.  The announcement notes that the fund’s “flexible strategy uses a variety of investment techniques, which may include managing duration and credit quality, yield curve positioning, and currency exposure”.

The Prudential Floating Rate Income Fund (A: FRFAX): invests primarily in floating rate loans and other floating rate debt securities. Prudential notes that floating rates loans have historically offered attractive yield and stability in times of rising interest rates.

The Prudential Emerging Markets Debt Local Currency Fund (A: EMDAX) invests primarily in currencies and fixed income securities denominated in the local currencies of emerging market countries. “Many of these countries are growing faster, have less debt, and maintain lower national budget deficits than their counterparts in developed countries,” according to the announcement.

The portfolio managers for all three funds are part of Prudential Fixed Income, which has about $270 billion in assets under management as of December 31, 2010. The principal managers for each fund average more than 20 years of industry experience, according to the announcement.