Huntington Launches World Income Fund to Provide World of Opportunities for Investors

COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Funds has launched the Huntington World Income Fund, which uses an asset allocation strategy designed to maximize current income while conserving capital for investors. The new fund is an addition to the Huntington Funds family of mutual funds and money market offerings. Both trust shares (Ticker: HWITX) and A-shares (Ticker: HWAFX) are available.

"At Huntington Funds, we have an established team of experts with access to a world of income alternatives. As a result, the Huntington World Income Fund has the flexibility to take advantage of what we believe are the best income opportunities, wherever they may be found," said Randy Bateman, Huntington's chief investment officer and president of the Huntington Asset Advisors (HAA). "Huntington World Income Fund managers have the flexibility to invest in individual bonds issued by governments and companies, both foreign and domestic, seeking attractive yield opportunities. Unlike other yield-focused funds, which typically turn first – and often solely – to bonds, our Fund managers recognize that bonds are just one tool that's available."

The Fund managers also can invest in bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs), preferred stocks and more specialized securities like Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and Master Limited Partnerships (MLPs). These securities also have historically provided current income at rates that have outpaced more traditional asset classes.

Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc., the investment advisor to the Fund, primarily allocates the Huntington World Income Fund's assets among the following major asset classes: dividend-paying equities of any market capitalization; domestic and foreign bonds; bond exchange traded funds ("Bond ETFs"); and derivatives.

The World Income Fund is Huntington Funds' 25th fund, which complements its family of equity, fixed-income, money market and asset allocation funds. These funds offer a broad range of diversification to enhance overall investment returns.

The investment managers of Huntington Funds include some of the most experienced people in the industry. On average the investment professionals of HAA have worked for more than 25 years in the investment business. The World Income Fund will leverage unique expertise from five fund managers: Randy Bateman, small cap equity markets and fund strategy; Paul Attwood, emerging markets equity and fixed income selections; Chip Hendon, hedging and option strategies; Madelynn Matlock, international equity markets; and Ronald Weiner, trading and direction of fixed income component.

"Many emerging economies are committed to building infrastructure and creating new opportunities for local entrepreneurs. These same improvements encourage large domestic blue-chip companies to expand subsidiary operations internationally and engage in worldwide trade," said Attwood. "These positive changes in the world are creating potential growth opportunities for investors."

About Huntington Funds

Huntington Funds is part of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, a financial institution with more than a 90-year heritage of managing money. Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc. and its affiliates have been managing money since 1917. As of December 31, 2010, Huntington Asset Advisors and its affiliates manage more than $13 billion for individuals, institutions, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, and municipalities across a six state region. Huntington Asset Advisors is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Huntington National Bank, which is the principal subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, a regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with $53 billion in assets.

About Huntington

Huntington Bancshares Incorporated is a $53 billion regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. Founded in 1866, Huntington provides full-service commercial, small business, and consumer banking services; mortgage banking services; treasury management and foreign exchange services; equipment leasing; wealth and investment management services; trust services; brokerage services; customized insurance brokerage and service programs; and other financial product and services. The principal markets for these services are Huntington's six-state banking franchise: Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, and Kentucky. The primary distribution channels include a banking network of over 600 traditional branches and convenience branches located in grocery stores and retirement centers, and through an array of alternative distribution channels including internet and mobile banking, telephone banking, and over 1,300 ATMs. Through automotive dealership relationships within its six-state banking franchise area and selected New England states, Huntington also provides commercial banking services to the automotive dealers and retail automobile financing for dealer customers.

Foreign Investment Risk.  Investments in foreign securities tend to be more volatile and less liquid than investments in U.S. securities because, among other things, they involve risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad, as well as risks resulting from differences between the regulations and reporting standards and practices to which U.S. and foreign issuers are subject.

Interest Rate Risk. Prices of fixed income securities rise and fall in response to changes in the interest rate paid by similar securities. Generally, when interest rates rise, prices of fixed income securities fall. Interest rate changes have a greater effect on the price of fixed income securities with longer durations.

Real Estate/REIT Risk. The Fund's investments in REITs are subject to the same risks as direct investments in real estate. The real estate industry is particularly sensitive to economic downturns.  

Class/Sector/Region Focus Risk. When the Fund invests more than 25% of its net assets in a particular asset class (such as real estate-related or commodities-related securities), or securities of issuers within a particular business sector or geographic region, it is subject to increased risk. Performance will generally depend on the performance of the class, sector or region, which may differ in direction and degree from that of the overall U.S. stock or bond markets.

Exchange-Traded Funds Risk. ETFs may be subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF's shares may trade above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF's shares may be halted if the listing exchange's officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide "circuit breakers" (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Master Limited Partnership Risk. Funds that invest in MLPs may have additional expenses, as some MLPs pay incentive distribution fees to their general partners.

For more complete information about the Huntington Funds, please call 1-800-253-0412 for a prospectus or summary prospectus or log onto our website at huntingtonfunds.com. You should consider the Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before you invest. Information about these and other important subjects is in the Fund's prospectus or summary prospectus, which you should read carefully before investing. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost.

The Fund is distributed by Unified Financial Securities, Inc. (Member FINRA) a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, Inc. and an affiliate of Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc. the advisor to the Huntington Funds.  

SOURCE Huntington Bancshares Incorporated