The Manulife Asia Short Duration Bond Feeder Fund lets you invest in high-quality, short-term Asian bonds using Philippine pesos, aiming for steady returns with relatively low sensitivity to interest rates. Here's what it holds, who it suits, and how to invest through DragonFi.
It's a bond UITF structured as a feeder fund, which means it channels almost all of your money into a single larger global fund that invests in Asian bonds. It focuses on high-quality, short-duration bonds, making it one of the more defensive ways to access the regional bond market. It is managed by Manulife.
What does it invest in?
Through its target fund, it invests in mainly investment-grade, short-duration fixed income securities issued by governments, agencies, supranationals, and corporations across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. The portfolio keeps an average maturity of around three years or less, which helps it stay resilient when interest rates rise.
What's the target fund?
At least 90% of the fund's assets are invested in a Manulife Global Fund Asia short-duration bond strategy, managed by Manulife Investment Management's Asian fixed income team. This gives you access to their regional research and credit expertise through a single peso investment.
Who is this fund for?
This fund may suit you if you:
- Want to diversify your bonds beyond the Philippines into the wider Asian market
- Prefer a more defensive, lower-volatility way to invest in regional bonds
- Are investing for the medium term
- Want global diversification using pesos, with no dollar account needed
What's the risk level?
This is a moderate-risk fund. Its short-duration focus keeps it relatively steady for a regional bond fund, but its value can still move with interest rates and credit conditions. Because the underlying bonds are in foreign currencies, exchange rate movements can also affect your returns. Returns are not guaranteed.
Can I hold this in a PERA or Regular account?
This fund is available through a Regular DragonFi account. It is not one of DragonFi's PERA-eligible funds.
What are the fees?
Like all UITFs, this fund charges a 1% per annum trust fee, already deducted from the fund before the daily price is calculated, so you don't pay it separately. Because it's a feeder fund, you also indirectly shoulder the small expenses of the underlying target fund. Fees can change over time, so for the exact current trust fee, check this fund's page in the DragonFi app.
What's the minimum investment?
You can start investing in this fund for as low as ₱1,000 on DragonFi, and you can add to it any time.
How do I invest in or add to this fund?
You can invest in or top up this fund directly in the DragonFi app in a few taps. For the full steps, the daily cut-off time, and how your buy-in price (NAVPU) is set, see the "How to invest in a fund" article by DragonFi. One thing to know about feeder funds: because the target fund is based overseas, your order may be priced with a slight delay compared with local funds.
How do I sell or redeem it?
You can redeem some or all of your investment in the app whenever you like, with no fixed lock-in period. Because this is a feeder fund, proceeds usually take a little longer to arrive than they would for a local fund, since the money comes from the overseas target fund. For details, see the "How to sell or redeem a fund" article by DragonFi.
How long does it take to receive the money after I sell?
It takes 6 to 7 business days for the money to be credited to your account after selling the fund.
Where do I see the current NAVPU and returns?
The live price (NAVPU) and the latest returns are always shown on this fund's page in the DragonFi app. We don't list those figures here because they change every day, so the app is your most up-to-date source.
Good to know
- Defensive by design. Its short-duration focus aims to limit big swings, even within the bond market.
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Currency moves matter. Because the underlying bonds are in foreign currencies, exchange rates can affect your returns.
Access the fund page here:
Manulife Asia Short Duration Bond Feeder Fund | DragonFi
This fund is not a deposit and is not insured by the Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation (PDIC). Returns are not guaranteed. The fund's price (NAVPU) can rise and fall, so you may get back less than you invested, and past performance is not indicative of future results.