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6.A. - Page 3 of 49 <br />PFM's strategy this report period was carried forward from the third quarter: maintain allocations in most <br />sectors, match benchmark's duration, and carefully manage risk considering various headwinds caused <br />by the uneven and decelerating recovery. The portfolio's duration (a way to measure the sensitivity of a <br />security's price if the market were to change) was targeted to match the benchmark duration — a strategy <br />consistent with the high levels of market uncertainty and the expectation that rates will remain low for a <br />prolonged period. <br />As yield spreads returned to near pre -pandemic levels in most sectors, new supply waned. This limited <br />new investment opportunities in the fourth quarter. Limited new issuance of federal agency securities <br />towards the end of the year slowed new purchases in this sector. The taxable municipal sector remained <br />abuzz as issuers continued to benefit from record -low borrowing rates. Although yield spreads narrowed <br />significantly since March 2020, new debt issued during the fourth quarter remained an attractive <br />alternative to other government alternatives and even some high-quality corporate issuers. As a result, <br />PFM continued to methodically increase the City's municipal allocations through participation in a number <br />of new deals. Investment grade corporate securities outpaced the performance of most other sectors <br />during the fourth quarter. Corporate securities proved to be a valuable asset class for both the quarter <br />and for all of 2020, despite significant market disruptions early in the year. Investors' strong demand for <br />yield pushed spreads even tighter during the fourth quarter, which ended the year near 20 -year lows. <br />PFM's investment strategy outlook for 2021 includes the expectations that significant central bank <br />intervention will continue and interest rates will remain low for the foreseeable future. The speed of <br />vaccine rollouts will ultimately drive the pace of the anticipated "return to normalcy'. Considering the <br />economic uncertainties that remain, PFM is planning to maintain the portfolio's neutral duration position <br />relative to the benchmark. <br />PFM's outlook for major investment-grade sectors includes the following: <br />• Agencies: reduce holdings of shorter maturities where spreads may be narrower, with continued <br />participation in attractive longer new issues <br />• Agency Mortgage -Backed Securities: attractive investment opportunities may be limited, <br />therefore, the portfolio's allocation in this sector will be maintained <br />• Supranationals: remain on the lookout for opportunities to add income relative to Treasuries and <br />agencies <br />• Taxable Municipals: continue participation in new high-quality issues and increase the portfolio's <br />allocation while the sector remains attractive <br />• Corporates: these will remain a core, long-term holding that could be added to should spreads <br />widen <br />• Asset -Backed Securities: will likely seek opportunities to purchase new, attractively -yielding AAA - <br />rated issues <br />PFM will continue to be selective when evaluating new issues in all sectors. <br />Interest rates are likely to stay ultra-low through the crisis, affecting the portfolio as investments mature <br />and are reinvested in a lower interest rate environment. Even though the current maturity distribution <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />City of Redwood City 1017 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA. 94063 Tel: 650-780-7000 www.redwoodcity.ore <br />11 <br />