HSBC Canadian Money Market Fund
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HSBC Canadian Money Market Fund Annual Management Report of Fund Performance for the year ended December 31, 2020 HSBC Canadian Money Market Fund Management Discussion of Fund Performance In this document, you and your refer to the unitholder of the Investment Performance Fund; we, us and our refer to HSBC Global Asset Management The HSBC Canadian Money Market Fund (Investor Series) rose (Canada) Limited; and the Fund refers to the HSBC Canadian 0.54% for the 12 months ending December 31, 2020, while the Money Market Fund. benchmark rose 0.68% over the same period. The benchmark is a weighted composite consisting of the FTSE Canada 30 Day We are the manager, trustee and primary investment advisor of T-Bill Index (50%) and FTSE Canada 60 Day T-Bill Index (50%). the Fund. The Fund’s returns are after the deduction of fees and Introduction expenses, while the benchmark’s returns do not include any This Annual Management Report of Fund Performance contains costs of investing. See the Past Performance section for the financial highlights but does not contain the complete annual returns of other series of the Fund, which may vary due to financial statements of the Fund. You may obtain a copy of the differences in management fees and expenses. annual financial statements at your request, at no cost, by The lower portfolio and market returns compared to 2019 calling us toll-free at 1-888-390-3333, by visiting our website at reflect the lower investable rate environment following three www.assetmanagement.hsbc.ca, by visiting the SEDAR Bank of Canada policy rate decreases in March 2020 from website at www.sedar.com or by writing to us at: 1.75% to 0.25%, the effective lower bound. HSBC Global Asset Management (Canada) Limited We increased our defensive position to the corporate debt rd 3 Floor, 885 West Georgia Street sector over the first half of 2020, focusing on high-quality issues Vancouver, BC V6C 3E8 and increasing the Fund’s exposure to Government of Canada You may also contact us using one of these methods to request a holdings and overnight securities. As risk sentiment rose and copy of the Fund’s interim financial report, proxy voting policies economic data improved in the second half of the year, we and procedures, proxy voting disclosure record or quarterly lowered our government holdings and added credit exposure. portfolio disclosure. We also aimed to add value by adjusting the weighted-average Investment Objective and Strategies maturity (or duration) of the portfolio holdings relative to its The fundamental investment objective of this Fund is to provide benchmark. Over the course of the year, the Fund’s duration a high level of monthly interest income while preserving capital. was substantially higher than its blended 45-day benchmark, which helped the Fund outperform as we had expected some To achieve its objectives, the Fund invests primarily in high- rate cuts from the Bank of Canada in the first quarter due to quality, short-term Canadian fixed income securities rising concerns over the economic impact of COVID-19. denominated in Canadian dollars such as treasury bills and other fixed income securities issued or guaranteed by the Recent Developments Government of Canada or a province of Canada, a foreign Although 2020 may have been one of the most challenging government or related foreign government agency, or a years many have faced, it is encouraging to have ended the Canadian or foreign corporation. The Fund may invest up to year with a ray of hope. Vaccination programs mean 2021 33% of its assets in Canadian-dollar-denominated foreign could well be defined by markets – and our lives – slowly securities. All of the Fund’s securities will have a term to returning to normal. We are calling this phase the “restoration maturity of 365 days or less, with an average term to maturity economy,” a scenario where global growth moderates after the of no more than 60 days. extraordinary rebound experienced over the past nine months. Risk Many economies will recover to pre-COVID-19 levels of activity The risks of investing in this Fund remain as discussed in the in 2021, although we don’t expect to reach this milestone in Simplified Prospectus. During the year, there were no material Canada until early 2022. We maintain our view that the changes to the Fund that affected the overall risk level of the economic fallout from the pandemic is likely to dissipate as Fund. aggressive policy moves continue to support liquidity and This Fund is suitable for investors who want to earn interest economic momentum. income and preserve their capital, have a short-term investment The Bank of Canada has committed to keeping rates low and its time horizon and have a low tolerance for risk. support in place until the economic recovery is well underway. Results of Operations While negative interest rates remain an option in the Bank’s As of December 31, 2020, the Fund's net assets increased by toolkit, a more likely scenario should they want to provide more 39.2% to $368.5 million from $264.7 million at the end of 2019. monetary stimulus would be to lower the effective lower bound Net contributions and positive investment performance resulted in to 0.10% or 0.15% from the current 0.25% level. an overall increase in net asset value. 1 HSBC Canadian Money Market Fund During the period there has been a change in composition to transactions are performed in accordance with our policy on the Independent Review Committee (the “IRC”). Effective Purchases of Securities Underwritten by a Related Party. During March 25, 2020, Ms. Louise Tymocko was appointed to the IRC the year, the Fund did not invest in any such securities. as a member, replacing Mr. William (Bill) Bakk who left as his term of office expired. Ms. Lisa Pankratz also took over as Chair Financial Highlights of the IRC effective March 25, 2020. In addition, effective The following tables show selected key financial information February 18, 2021, Ms. Sharon Morrisroe was also appointed to about the Fund and are intended to help you understand the the IRC as a member, replacing Mr. Neil de Gelder who left Fund’s financial performance for the past five years. This following the expiry of his term in March of 2021. information is derived from the Fund’s audited annual financial statements. The information in the following tables is based on Related Party Transactions prescribed regulations, and, as a result, is not expected to add We, on behalf of the Fund, or the Fund Manager, may, from down due to the increase/decrease in net assets from time to time, enter into transactions or arrangements with or operations being based on average units outstanding during the involving other members of the HSBC Group or other people or year and all other numbers being based on actual units companies related or connected to us or the Fund. To proceed outstanding at the relevant point in time. with the transactions, the Fund relies on the positive recommendation of the Fund’s Independent Review Committee. A condition of this positive recommendation is that the transactions HSBC Canadian Money Market Fund – Investor (1) are performed in accordance with our policy on Related Party Series – Net Assets per Unit Transactions. For more general information on persons related Year(s) ended December 31 to the Fund and the types of potential transactions, see the 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 Fund’s Simplified Prospectus. Net assets per unit, beginning of year (2) $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 The following is a summary of current transactions and arrangements with entities that are related to us or the Fund. Increase (decrease) from operations: Total revenue 0.09 0.19 0.16 0.09 0.07 Manager, Trustee and Investment Advisor Total expenses (0.04) (0.05) (0.08) (0.07) (0.06) We are the manager, trustee and primary investment advisor of Realized gains (losses) – – – – – the Fund. As manager, we manage the overall business and Unrealized gains (losses) – – – – – operations of the Fund. As trustee, we hold legal title to the Total increase (decrease) from property of the Fund on your behalf. As primary investment operations (2) $0.05 $0.14 $0.08 $0.02 $0.01 advisor, we provide investment advice and portfolio Distributions to unitholders: management services to the Fund. We receive a fee from the From net investment income Fund for these services based on assets under management, (excluding dividends) (0.05) (0.14) (0.08) (0.02) (0.01) From dividends – – – – – calculated daily and paid monthly. From capital gains – – – – – Return of capital – – – – – Distribution Services Total annual distributions (2,3) $(0.05) $(0.14) $(0.08) $(0.02) $(0.01) The Fund is distributed through us, HSBC Investment Funds (Canada) Inc. (our wholly owned subsidiary and affiliate) and Net assets per unit at December 31 of year shown (2) $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc. (an affiliate) directly or through its division, HSBC InvestDirect. We pay distribution and servicing fees to them based on the amount of assets held in Ratios and Supplemental Data the investor’s account, and additionally, in some cases, on the 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 amount of the initial purchase. If you hold units of this Fund Total net asset value (in and/or other HSBC Mutual Funds in a registered plan with 000s) (4) $85,507 $79,791 $73,814 $80,968 $94,686 HSBC Investment Funds (Canada) Inc., they may charge you an Number of units annual fee to cover the annual administration costs of the plan.