Valuations on senior loan funds have moved up significantly in the last few months, as demand for the long-troubled funds increases. "People have been exposed to the story and are asking when [interest] rates rise, where can I take advantage," explained Jon Maier, a director in global equity research at UBS Warburg. UBS began coverage of some of the funds last year, when prime rate funds were trading at a large discount, reflecting both the market interpretation of the risks associated with the funds as well as the average price of their bank loan assets (LMW, 12/2).
The average discount for the six funds Maier covers was 6.8% in the beginning of 2003, but the discount has narrowed to 2.6%. Three particular favorites are ING Prime Rate Trust, Van Kampen Senior Income Trust and the Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust.