Arthur Steinmetz of Oppenheimer International Bond Fund

Quick Take: Despite the risks, foreign bonds have paid off in recent years for investors willing to weather the volatility in exchange for higher returns. Oppenheimer International Bond/A (OIBAX), managed by Arthur P. Steinmetz, head of Oppenheimer’s international fixed-income team, looks for value and yield in both developed and emerging markets around the globe.

For the 12-month period ended September 30, the $1.6-billion portfolio rose 11.6%, versus 6.0% for the average global fixed-income fund. For the three-year period, the fund gained 18.2% annualized, compared to 9.1% for the peer group. For the five years, it has risen 12.8% annualized, versus 6.5% for its peers.

Given that Oppenheimer International Bond can invest in emerging markets, the portfolio is more volatile than its peer group, which is illustrated by its higher standard deviation. It also has a substantially higher annual turnover rate. The fund’s expense ratio of 1.22%, however, is below the 1.29% peer group average.

Steinmetz took over as sole manager of the portfolio in April 2004, following the departure of Ruggiero de Rossi. However, Steinmetz has been on the management team in one capacity or another since the fund’s inception in June 1995. He also manages the Oppenheimer Strategic Income Fund (OPSIX).

The Full Interview:

S&P: How does the performance of foreign bonds correlate with the performance of U.S. securities?

STEINMETZ: There is actually a very high correlation between domestic bonds and the fixed-income markets of most of the developed world. For example, in 1994, U.S Treasuries sold off dramatically when the Federal Reserve enacted an aggressive tightening campaign. Interestingly, the German Bund [bond] market also sold off by about 90% as much as the U.S., even though the German Bundesbank didn’t move interest rates at all.

One major exception to this rule is Japan. Japanese bonds do not correlate with our markets, given that their business cycle has been out of whack with global economies for the past 15 years.

S&P: What about emerging markets specifically?

STEINMETZ: Emerging markets bonds also have a low correlation with U.S Treasury bonds because they essentially provide a credit spread. By investing in emerging markets securities, we add diversification to our portfolio and some protection against changes in U.S. markets.

However, most of the diversification that foreign bonds provides investors comes from taking on currency exposure, and this is central to our investment philosophy.

S&P: How do assemble your portfolio?

STEINMETZ: We seek to create a broadly diversified portfolio by country, region, and currency to minimize volatility. We invest in both developed countries and the emerging markets. Our exposure to emerging markets provide us with a bit more yield than funds that invest exclusively in developed nations.

Essentially, through our investments, we are seeking an income advantage over U.S. markets. Currency is the most important variable in the construction of our portfolio. On a top-down, macro-economic basis, the three most important global currencies are the U.S. dollar, the euro and the yen; and we evaluate the relationships between these three. The relative strengths and weaknesses of other currencies are of less significance.

S&P: How is the fund currently positioned?

STEINMETZ: This fund operates on three different types of risk: interest rate risk, credit risk and currency risk. At the moment, we are underweight in credit risk, underweight in interest rate risk — by moving to shorter durations — and overweight in currency risk.

S&P: Do you invest in sovereign bonds or corporate bonds?