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06 January 2009
Global Small Cap

Global Small Cap Fund Update

September Quarter 2008


Download the Global Small Cap Fund Update

Download the Funds Performance report


This update is for the BlackRock Global Small Cap Fund (formerly known as the Merrill Lynch Global Small Cap Fund).

The performance shown in the Fund Update is the gross performance of the fund. To view the net performance of the fund or of the different unit classes of the fund download the Fund Performance Report or visit Fund Performance.

Gross performance returns and benchmark performance shown do not include expenses, fees or tax. Net performance returns are prepared on an exit-to-exit fee basis which includes all ongoing fees and expenses.


Market outlook

  • We are in the midst of a forced de-leveraging process for banks and consumers that is likely to take some time to complete.
  • With U.S. and European savings rates low, debt levels high, and the outlook for the jobs market weak, consumer expenditures are likely to face significant headwinds, increasing the likelihood of recession in these economies.
  • Global growth continues to be in a tug of war between de-leveraging and emerging markets growth, which has slowed, but still remains more robust than the developed world.
 
Composition may not total 100% due to rounding.


  • We believe forward economic and earnings growth estimates are still too high, however it is unclear how far downward they will be re-rated.
  • While the near-term environment of write-downs and credit contraction has eased inflationary pressures, longer-term inflation concerns still remain once we move beyond the current downturn, particularly among emerging markets.
  • Equity markets are likely to be highly volatile and range-bound until reacceleration in global economic growth can be more confidently anticipated.
  • Emerging markets are now trading at a discount in valuation relative to developed markets, a result of recent underperformance of these stocks as investors fled to markets they perceived to have less risk.
  • With aggressive central bank intervention and the easing of inflationary pressures, we see the potential for a market bounce in the near-term.
  • Overall, our portfolios are somewhat defensively to neutrally positioned, as we believe that balance is risk-appropriate and the future direction of the market cannot be confidently predicted.
  • We continue to look for companies that are well positioned in their industries and to study how these stocks have performed during similar environments historically.
  • With markets susceptible to vicious rallies and sharp downturns, we believe that the environment will remain challenging and that careful risk management is vital.


Fund Positioning

  • Sector weights shifted somewhat during the quarter consistent with our investment process.
  • On a relative basis, we widened our underweight to financials and reduced our weights to consumer staples and energy.
  • We added to our healthcare, industrials, materials and information technology exposure and covered some of our underweight to consumer discretionary by adding to select media names.
  • Geographically, we are underweight the Pac Rim and Europe, while maintaining an overweight to the U.S.
The unhedged Global Small Cap Fund returned -2.46% (before fees) over the September quarter under-performing the benchmark return of -1.52%. Over the same period, the Hedged Global Small Cap Fund returned -15.60% (before fees), under-performing the hedged benchmark return of -15.06%.

Positive contributions for the quarter:

  • Sector allocation was modestly positive during the quarter, while stock selection detracted.
  • Underweights to industrials and materials helped boost returns
  • Stock selection was mixed across the Fund, as strength within healthcare, information technology, financials, and consumer staples was offset by weaker results within materials, consumer discretionary, energy, and industrials.
Detractors for the quarter:

  • Underweights to financials and consumer discretionary and an overweight to energy detracted.
Sector weights shifted in some areas during the quarter consistent with our investment process. The Fund’s exposure to industrials and materials declined over the period, while we increased our weights to consumer staples, financials, and information technology. Regionally, we remain underweight Europe, Asia, and emerging markets and are overweight North America.


Performance review

Global Small Cap Fund

 
Gross returns
Benchmark returns*
Out-performance^
3 Month
-2.46%
-1.52%
-0.94%
6 Month
-5.04%
-7.26%
2.22%
1 Year
-13.17%
-20.84%
7.67%
2 Year (pa)
-3.22%
-8.71%
5.49%
3 Year (pa)
1.02%
-0.53%
1.55%
5 Year (pa)
7.59%
6.38%
1.21%
*Benchmark is S&P/Citigroup EMI Global Index (in AUD) from 15 March 2007. Prior to this benchmark was S&P/Citigroup Global Equity Indices Extended Market Index World ex Australia (unhedged in AUD).


Hedged Global Small Cap Fund

 
Gross returns
Benchmark returns*
Out-performance^
3 Month
-15.60%
-15.06%
-0.54%
6 Month
-12.76%
-14.89%
2.13%
1 Year
-20.33%
-27.14%
6.81%
2 Year (pa)
-0.84%
-6.29%
5.45%
3 Year (pa)
2.04%
0.66%
1.38%
5 Year (pa)
11.81%
10.77%
1.04%
*Benchmark is S&P/Citigroup EMI Global Index (hedged in AUD) from 15 March 2007. Prior to this benchmark was S&P/Citigroup Global Equity Indices Extended Market Index World ex Australia (hedged into AUD).

Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.
^Shows the difference between Gross return and Benchmark return.
Gross performance figures quoted are calculated with no allowance for management fees, operating expenses or tax on income. Long-term performance shows the potential volatility of returns over time.

Global Small Cap Fund Portfolio as at 30/6/2008*

Top 10 International shares
Republican Service
Industrials
United States
Air Water
Materials
Japan
GEO Group
Consumer Discretionary
United States
Qiagen
Health Care
Netherlands
Alliant Technology Systems
Consumer Staples
United States
Celera Corp
Consumer Discretionary
United States
Re-Insurance Grp
Financials – Ex Listed Property
United States
VF Corp
Consumer Discretionary
United States
Davita Inc.
Health Care
United States
Ross Stores
Consumer Discretionary
United States
*These compositions are representative of the asset pool. Slight variations do occur between the unit classes.

Investment objective

The BlackRock Global Small Cap Fund seeks to maximise capital growth through exposure to a globally diversified portfolio of shares of quality small and mid-capitalisation companies listed on international stock exchanges.


Fund strategy

The investment process is driven by extensive, bottom-up industry and stock research. The research process centres firstly on industry sub-sectors, in order to assess the attractiveness of these sectors on a world-wide basis, and to provide context for company analysis. The second stage of the research process focuses on fundamental company research to identify those stocks that offer above-average investment potential.

The portfolio construction process starts with the establishment of a strategic framework for investing. This framework is comprised of the team's points of view on industry, stock, style and market risks. Portfolio strategy is dynamic and reflects the team's ongoing industry and company research, and its financial market observations. Stocks are selected on the basis of the team's bottom-up fundamental analysis.

From time to time the Fund may take active currency positions relative to the benchmark.


Designed for investors who…

  • Seek investment opportunities that are not readily available or are under-represented in the Australian market.
  • Seek the potential for higher long-term capital growth from such international investment opportunities.
  • Have a long-term investment horizon and a tolerance for significant volatility in investment returns in the short-term.
  • For the hedged version, seek to reduce the impact on A$ returns on those investments that result from currency exposure.

BlackRock Investment Management (Australia) Limited ABN 13 006 165 975 AFS Licence Number 230523 RSE License No L0000116
The Merrill Lynch name and logo are trade marks of, and used under license from, Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.