UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-CSR
CERTIFIED SHAREHOLDER REPORT OF REGISTERED MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number: 811-05739
Name of Fund: BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc. (MEN)
Fund Address: 100 Bellevue Parkway, Wilmington, DE 19809
Name and address of agent for service: John M. Perlowski, Chief Executive Officer, BlackRock MuniEnhanced
Fund, Inc., 55 East 52nd Street, New York, NY 10055
Registrants telephone number, including area code: (800) 882-0052, Option 4
Date of fiscal year end: 04/30/2017
Date of reporting period: 10/31/2016
Item 1 Report to Stockholders
OCTOBER 31, 2016
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT (UNAUDITED)
|
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA)
BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc. (MEN)
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. (MHD)
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc. (MUH)
BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund, Inc. (MUS)
BlackRock Muni Intermediate Duration Fund, Inc. (MUI)
BlackRock MuniVest Fund II, Inc. (MVT)
Not FDIC Insured May Lose Value No Bank Guarantee |
Table of Contents |
Page | ||||
3 | ||||
4 | ||||
5 | ||||
5 | ||||
6 | ||||
Financial Statements: | ||||
20 | ||||
69 | ||||
71 | ||||
73 | ||||
75 | ||||
77 | ||||
84 | ||||
95 | ||||
99 | ||||
100 |
2 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
The Markets in Review |
Dear Shareholder,
Central bank policy decisions have continued to provide support to financial markets, while changing economic outlooks and geopolitical risks have been major drivers of investor sentiment. After ending its near-zero interest rate policy at the end of 2015, the Federal Reserve (the Fed) remained in focus as investors considered the anticipated pace of future rate hikes. With the European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan having moved into stimulus mode, the divergence in global monetary policies drove heightened market volatility at the beginning of 2016 and caused the U.S. dollar to strengthen considerably.
Financial markets had a rough start to the year as the strong dollar challenged U.S. companies that generate revenues overseas and pressured emerging market currencies and commodities prices. Low and volatile oil prices and signs of slowing growth in China were also meaningful factors behind the decline in risk assets early in the year. However, as the first quarter wore on, these pressures abated and a more tempered outlook for U.S. rate hikes helped the markets rebound.
Volatility spiked in late June when the United Kingdom shocked investors with its vote to leave the European Union. Uncertainty around how the British exit might affect the global economy and political landscape drove investors to high-quality assets, pushing already low global yields to even lower levels. However, risk assets recovered swiftly in July as economic data suggested that the consequences had thus far been contained to the United Kingdom.
In a second episode of surprise vote results, equities fell sharply after the news of Donald Trumps victory in the U.S. presidential election, but quickly recovered, and the yield curve steepened due to expectations for rising inflation. Broadly, a reflation theme has been building amid signs of rising price pressures, central banks signaling a greater tolerance to let inflation run hotter, and policy emphasis shifting from monetary to fiscal stimulus.
At BlackRock, we believe investors need to think globally, extend their scope across a broad array of asset classes and be prepared to adjust accordingly as market conditions change over time. We encourage you to talk with your financial advisor and visit blackrock.com for further insight about investing in todays markets.
Sincerely,
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
Rob Kapito
President, BlackRock Advisors, LLC
Total Returns as of October 31, 2016 | ||||||||
6-month | 12-month | |||||||
U.S. large cap equities |
4.06 | % | 4.51 | % | ||||
U.S. small cap equities |
6.13 | 4.11 | ||||||
International equities |
(0.16 | ) | (3.23 | ) | ||||
Emerging market equities |
9.41 | 9.27 | ||||||
3-month Treasury bills |
0.17 | 0.31 | ||||||
U.S. Treasury securities |
0.46 | 4.24 | ||||||
U.S. investment grade bonds |
1.51 | 4.37 | ||||||
Tax-exempt municipal |
0.98 | 4.53 | ||||||
U.S. high yield bonds |
7.59 | 10.16 | ||||||
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. You cannot invest directly in an index. |
THIS PAGE NOT PART OF YOUR FUND REPORT | 3 |
Municipal Market Overview |
For the Reporting Period Ended October 31, 2016 |
Municipal Market Conditions
Municipal bonds generated positive performance for the period, due to falling interest rates and a favorable supply-and-demand environment. Interest rates were volatile late in 2015 (bond prices rise as rates fall) leading up to a long-awaited rate hike from the U.S. Federal Reserve (the Fed) that ultimately came in December. However, ongoing reassurance from the Fed that rates would be increased gradually and would likely remain low overall resulted in strong demand for fixed income investments. Investors favored the relative yield and stability of municipal bonds amid bouts of volatility resulting from uneven U.S. economic data, volatile oil prices, global growth concerns, geopolitical risks (particularly the United Kingdoms decision to leave the European Union and the contentious U.S. election), and widening central bank divergence i.e., policy easing outside the United States while the Fed was posturing to commence policy tightening. During the 12 months ended October 31, 2016, municipal bond funds garnered net inflows of approximately $61 billion (based on data from the Investment Company Institute).
For the same 12-month period, total new issuance remained robust from a historical perspective at $439 billion (significantly above the $420 billion issued in the prior 12-month period). A noteworthy portion of new supply during this period was attributable to refinancing activity (roughly 60%) as issuers continued to take advantage of low interest rates and a flatter yield curve to reduce their borrowing costs.
S&P Municipal Bond Index |
Total Returns as of October 31, 2016 |
6 months: 0.98% |
12 months: 4.53% |
A Closer Look at Yields
From October 31, 2015 to October 31, 2016, yields on AAA-rated 30-year municipal bonds decreased by 51 basis points (bps) from 3.07% to 2.56%, while 10-year rates fell by 31 bps from 2.04% to 1.73% and 5-year rates decreased 4 bps from 1.17% to 1.13% (as measured by Thomson Municipal Market Data). The municipal yield curve experienced significant flattening over the 12-month period with the
spread between 2- and 30-year maturities flattening by 81 bps and the spread between 2- and 10-year maturities flattening by 61 bps.
During the same time period, on a relative basis, tax-exempt municipal bonds broadly outperformed U.S. Treasuries with the greatest outperformance experienced in longer-term issues. In absolute terms, the positive performance of muni bonds was driven largely by falling interest rates as well as a supply/demand imbalance within the municipal market as investors sought income and incremental yield in an environment where opportunities became increasingly scarce. More broadly, municipal bonds benefited from the greater appeal of tax-exempt investing in light of the higher tax rates implemented in 2014. The asset class is known for its lower relative volatility and preservation of principal with an emphasis on income as tax rates rise.
Financial Conditions of Municipal Issuers
The majority of municipal credits remain strong, despite well-publicized distress among a few issuers. Four of the five states with the largest amount of debt outstanding California, New York, Texas and Florida have exhibited markedly improved credit fundamentals during the slow national recovery. However, several states with the largest unfunded pension liabilities have seen their bond prices decline noticeably and remain vulnerable to additional price deterioration. On the local level, Chicagos credit quality downgrade is an outlier relative to other cities due to its larger pension liability and inadequate funding remedies. BlackRock maintains the view that municipal bond defaults will remain minimal and in the periphery while the overall market is fundamentally sound. We continue to advocate careful credit research and believe that a thoughtful approach to structure and security selection remains imperative amid uncertainty in a modestly improving economic environment.
The opinions expressed are those of BlackRock as of October 31, 2016, and are subject to change at any time due to changes in market or economic conditions. The comments should not be construed as a recommendation of any individual holdings or market sectors. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. Bond values fluctuate in price so the value of your investment can go down depending on market conditions. Fixed income risks include interest-rate and credit risk. Typically, when interest rates rise, there is a corresponding decline in bond values. Credit risk refers to the possibility that the bond issuer will not be able to make principal and interest payments. There may be less information on the financial condition of municipal issuers than for public corporations. The market for municipal bonds may be less liquid than for taxable bonds. Some investors may be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT). Capital gains distributions, if any, are taxable.
The Standard & Poors Municipal Bond Index, a broad, market value-weighted index, seeks to measure the performance of the US municipal bond market. All bonds in the index are exempt from US federal income taxes or subject to the alternative minimum tax. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Index performance is shown for illustrative purposes only. It is not possible to invest directly in an index.
4 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging |
Derivative Financial Instruments |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 5 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc.s (MUA) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide high current income exempt from federal income taxes by investing primarily in a portfolio of medium- to lower-grade or unrated municipal obligations, the interest on which, in the opinion of bond counsel to the issuer, is exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests at least 65% of its assets in municipal bonds that are rated in the medium to lower categories by nationally recognized rating services (for example, Baa or lower by Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys) or BBB or lower by Standard & Poors Corporation (S&P) or securities which are deemed by the investment adviser to be of comparable quality. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) |
MUA | |
Initial Offering Date |
June 25, 1993 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($14.34)1 |
4.81% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
8.50% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0575 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.6900 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
11% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. The current distribution rate may consist of income, net realized gains and/or a return of capital. See the Additional Information Section 19(a) Notice for estimated sources and character of distributions. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MUA1,2 |
(0.39 | )% | 2.53 | % | ||||
Lipper High Yield Municipal Debt Funds3 |
(2.96 | )% | 1.95 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Fund moved from a premium to NAV to a discount during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The Funds positions in lower-rated investment-grade securities generally made the largest contributions to performance, as elevated investor risk appetites led to robust demand for higher-yielding issues. Holdings in bonds with maturities of 20 years in longer also aided performance given that longer-term debt benefited from both stronger price performance and higher income relative to shorter-dated securities. At the sector level, the Fund was helped by its positions in health care, transportation and tobacco issues. |
| The Funds more-seasoned holdings, while producing generous yields compared to current market rates, detracted from performance. The prices of many of these investments declined due to the premium amortization that occurred as the bonds approached their first call dates. (A call is when an issuer redeems a bond prior to its maturity date; premium is amount by which a bond trades above its $100 par value.) |
| The Fund utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential rise in interest rates, and its tactical shifts in this area contributed to the Funds six-month results. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
6 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 |
4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 14.34 | $ | 14.74 | (2.71 | )% | $ | 15.87 | $ | 13.96 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 14.47 | $ | 14.45 | 0.14 | % | $ | 14.80 | $ | 14.45 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 7 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc.s (MEN) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds rated investment grade quality, or are deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment and invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with maturities of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
MEN | |
Initial Offering Date |
March 2, 1989 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($11.86)1 |
5.72% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
10.11% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0565 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.6780 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
36% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VRDP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MEN1,2 |
(2.89 | )% | 1.20 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
(3.09 | )% | 1.30 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Fund moved from a premium to NAV to a discount during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The Funds exposure to the longer end of the municipal yield curve made a positive contribution to performance. The yield curve flattened during the reporting period, with long-end yields decreasing slightly even as short-term yields rose. The Fund also benefited from high advance-refunding activity in the municipal market. Refunding increased the value of certain holdings when they were paid off with high-quality collateral prior to their original maturity date. The Fund also benefited from its positions in the tax-backed (local) sector. The Funds exposure to lower-rated investment-grade credits aided performance, as yield spreads for higher-yielding issues generally tightened. |
| Duration positioning detracted from absolute performance given that municipal yields rose slightly. The Funds exposure to the front end of the municipal yield curve also detracted from results, as yields on two- to five-year bonds increased more than they did for longer-term issues. |
| The Funds yield declined during the period. Many older, higher-yielding bonds matured or were called, and the proceeds were reinvested at much lower prevailing rates. |
| During the period, the use of leverage helped augment the Funds returns. While the Fund can still generate additional income through the use of leverage due to the positively sloped yield curve, the benefit has become less pronounced due to rising short-term borrowing costs. |
| The Fund utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential rise in interest rates, and its tactical shifts in this area contributed to the Funds six-month results. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
8 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 | 4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 11.86 | $ | 12.55 | (5.50 | )% | $ | 13.21 | $ | 11.67 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 12.33 | $ | 12.52 | (1.52 | )% | $ | 12.91 | $ | 12.30 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
Call/Maturity Schedule3 | ||||
Calendar Year Ended December 31, |
||||
2016 |
6 | % | ||
2017 |
10 | |||
2018 |
10 | |||
2019 |
15 | |||
2020 |
3 |
3 | Scheduled maturity dates and/or bonds that are subject to potential calls by issuers over the next five years. |
* | Excludes short-term securities. |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 9 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc.s (MHD) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 75% of its assets in municipal bonds rated investment grade, or are deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment and invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with a maturity of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
MHD | |
Initial Offering Date |
May 2, 1997 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($16.75)1 |
5.80% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
10.25% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0810 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.9720 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
38% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MHD1,2 |
(5.12 | )% | 1.26 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
(3.09 | )% | 1.30 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Fund moved from a premium to NAV to a discount during the period, which accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The Funds positions in lower-rated investment-grade securities generally made the largest contributions to performance, as elevated investor risk appetites led to robust demand for higher-yielding issues. Holdings in bonds with maturities of 20 years in longer also aided performance given that longer-term debt benefited from both stronger price performance and higher income relative to shorter-dated securities. At the sector level, the Fund was helped by its positions in transportation, utilities and local tax-backed issues. |
| The Funds more-seasoned holdings, while producing generous yields compared to current market rates, detracted from performance. The prices of many of these investments declined due to the premium amortization that occurred as the bonds approached their first call dates. (A call is when an issuer redeems a bond prior to its maturity date; premium is amount by which a bond trades above its $100 par value.) |
| The Fund utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential rise in interest rates, and its tactical shifts in this area contributed to the Funds six-month results. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
10 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund, Inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 |
4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.75 | $ | 18.14 | (7.66 | )% | $ | 19.22 | $ | 16.70 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 17.69 | $ | 17.96 | 1 | (1.50 | )% | $ | 18.52 | $ | 17.65 |
1 | The net asset value does not reflect adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and therefore differs from amount reported in the Financial Highlights. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 11 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc.s (MUH) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing, under normal market conditions, at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 75% of its assets in municipal bonds rated investment grade, or are deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment and invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with a maturity of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
MUH | |
Initial Offering Date |
February 27, 1998 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($15.41)1 |
5.80% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
10.25% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0745 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.8940 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
37% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MUH1,2 |
(2.44 | )% | 1.26 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
(3.09 | )% | 1.30 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Funds discount to NAV, which widened during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The Funds positions in lower-rated investment-grade securities generally made the largest contributions to performance, as elevated investor risk appetites led to robust demand for higher-yielding issues. Holdings in bonds with maturities of 20 years in longer also aided performance given that longer-term debt benefited from both stronger price performance and higher income relative to shorter-dated securities. At the sector level, the Fund was helped by its positions in transportation, utilities and corporate-related issues. |
| The Funds more-seasoned holdings, while producing generous yields compared to current market rates, detracted from performance. The prices of many of these investments declined due to the premium amortization that occurred as the bonds approached their first call dates. (A call is when an issuer redeems a bond prior to its maturity date; premium is amount by which a bond trades above its $100 par value.) |
| The Fund utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential rise in interest rates, and its tactical shifts in this area contributed to the Funds six-month results. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
12 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Fund II, Inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 |
4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 15.41 | $ | 16.23 | (5.05 | )% | $ | 17.28 | $ | 15.40 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 16.27 | $ | 16.51 | (1.45 | )% | $ | 17.00 | $ | 16.24 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 13 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund, Inc.s (MUS) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide shareholders with current income exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing primarily in long-term, investment grade municipal obligations exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 80% of its assets in investment grade municipal obligations, and obligations deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment with remaining maturities of one year or more at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
MUS | |
Initial Offering Date |
May 1, 1998 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($13.56)1 |
5.97% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
10.55% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0675 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.8100 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
37% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MUS1,2 |
(2.58 | )% | 0.87 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
(3.09 | )% | 1.30 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Funds discount to NAV, which widened during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The Funds position in longer-dated bonds aided performance given the stronger relative returns in this area. Conversely, its positions in short- and intermediate-term issueswhere yields generally rosedampened its overall results. |
| The Funds exposure to lower-rated credits aided performance as yield spreads for higher-yielding issues generally tightened over the period. At the sector level, positions in transportation, tax-backed and utilities issues made the largest positive contributions. |
| During the period, the use of leverage helped augment the Funds returns. The Trust utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential rise in interest rates, which had a slightly positive impact on results. |
| The Funds more-seasoned holdings, while producing generous yields compared to current market rates, detracted from performance. The prices of many of these investments declined due to the premium amortization that occurred as the bonds approached their first call dates. (A call is when an issuer redeems a bond prior to its maturity date; premium is amount by which a bond trades above its $100 par value). |
| Reinvestment was an additional drag on performance, as the proceeds of mature or called bonds were reinvested at much lower prevailing rates. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
14 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock MuniHoldings Quality Fund, Inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 | 4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 13.56 | $ | 14.31 | (5.24 | )% | $ | 15.59 | $ | 13.54 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 14.56 | $ | 14.85 | 1 | (1.95 | )% | $ | 15.17 | $ | 14.54 |
1 | The net asset value does not reflect adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and therefore differs from amount reported in the Financial Highlights. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 15 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock Muni Intermediate Duration Fund, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock Muni Intermediate Duration Fund, Inc.s (MUI) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide common shareholders with high current income exempt from federal income taxes. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). Under normal market conditions, the Fund invests at least 75% of its assets in municipal bonds rated investment grade, or are deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment and invests at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds with a duration of three to ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
MUI | |
Initial Offering Date |
August 1, 2003 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($14.48)1 |
4.60% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
8.13% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0555 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.6660 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
36% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MUI1,2 |
(2.53 | )% | 1.05 | % | ||||
Lipper Intermediate Municipal Debt Funds3 |
(1.81 | )% | 0.78 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Funds discount to NAV, which widened during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The tax-exempt yield curve flattened, with short-term yields rising and longer-term yields moving lower. In this environment, the Funds longer-dated and longer-duration bonds provided the largest positive returns. (Duration is a measure of interest-rate sensitivity.) |
| At a time in which investors continued to search for yield, many of the largest contributors to Fund performance were its investments in lower-rated, higher-yielding sectors and securities. At the sector level, positions in tax-backed (school districts), transportation, education and health care sectors made positive contributions to performance. |
| The Funds exposure to lower-coupon issues and bonds with longer call dates also benefited returns, as both segments outpaced the broader market. |
| During the period, the use of leverage helped augment the Funds returns. However, its use of U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential interest rates had a slightly negative impact on performance given that Treasury yields fell during the period. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
16 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock Muni Intermediate Duration Fund, Inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 |
4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 14.48 | $ | 15.19 | (4.67 | )% | $ | 15.62 | $ | 14.41 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 15.97 | $ | 16.17 | 1 | (1.24 | )% | $ | 16.59 | $ | 15.93 |
1 | The net asset value does not reflect adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and therefore differs from amount reported in the Financial Highlights. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
Call/Maturity Schedule3 | ||||
Calendar Year Ended December 31, |
||||
2016 |
3 | % | ||
2017 |
3 | |||
2018 |
5 | |||
2019 |
7 | |||
2020 |
7 |
3 | Scheduled maturity dates and/or bonds that are subject to potential calls by issuers over the next five years. |
* | Excludes short-term securities. |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 17 |
Fund Summary as of October 31, 2016 | BlackRock MuniVest Fund II, Inc. |
Fund Overview |
BlackRock MuniVest Fund II, Inc.s (MVT) (the Fund) investment objective is to provide shareholders with as high a level of current income exempt from federal income taxes as is consistent with its investment policies and prudent investment management. The Fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing at least 80% of its assets in municipal bonds exempt from federal income taxes (except that the interest may be subject to the federal alternative minimum tax). The Fund invests, under normal market conditions, at least 75% of its assets in municipal bonds rated investment grade, or are deemed to be of comparable quality by the investment adviser, at the time of investment and invests primarily in long-term municipal bonds with a maturity of more than ten years at the time of investment. The Fund may invest directly in such securities or synthetically through the use of derivatives.
No assurance can be given that the Funds investment objective will be achieved.
Fund Information |
Symbol on NYSE |
MVT | |
Initial Offering Date |
March 29, 1993 | |
Yield on Closing Market Price as of October 31, 2016 ($16.13)1 |
5.88% | |
Tax Equivalent Yield2 |
10.39% | |
Current Monthly Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.0790 | |
Current Annualized Distribution per Common Share3 |
$0.9480 | |
Economic Leverage as of October 31, 20164 |
39% |
1 | Yield on closing market price is calculated by dividing the current annualized distribution per share by the closing market price. Past performance does not guarantee future results. |
2 | Tax equivalent yield assumes the maximum marginal federal tax rate of 43.4%, which includes the 3.8% Medicare tax. Actual tax rates will vary based on income, exemptions and deductions. Lower taxes will result in lower tax equivalent yields. |
3 | The distribution rate is not constant and is subject to change. |
4 | Represents VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts as a percentage of total managed assets, which is the total assets of the Fund, including any assets attributable to VMTP Shares and TOB Trusts, minus the sum of accrued liabilities. For a discussion of leveraging techniques utilized by the Fund, please see The Benefits and Risks of Leveraging on page 5. |
Performance |
Returns for the six months ended October 31, 2016 were as follows:
Returns Based On | ||||||||
Market Price | NAV | |||||||
MVT1,2 |
(4.48 | )% | 1.14 | % | ||||
Lipper General & Insured Municipal Debt Funds (Leveraged)3 |
(3.09 | )% | 1.30 | % |
1 | All returns reflect reinvestment of dividends and/or distributions. |
2 | The Funds premium to NAV, which narrowed during the period, accounts for the difference between performance based on price and performance based on NAV. |
3 | Average return. |
Performance results may include adjustments made for financial reporting purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. |
The following discussion relates to the Funds absolute performance based on NAV:
| The U.S. municipal bond market delivered modest gains in the period, with the bulk of the positive return occurring in May and June. During these two months, bond yields fell sharply (as prices rose) in reaction to the highly accommodative policies of the worlds central banks and the prospect of the Fed maintaining a gradual, data-dependent approach to raising rates. In the latter part of the period, however, the market gave back some ground as accelerating growth indicated an increased likelihood that the Fed would in fact start to raise rates before year end. Despite this headwind, the tax-exempt market closed in positive territory due to the combination of its attractive yields, a favorable supply-and-demand picture, and the continued health of state and local finances. |
| The Funds positions in lower-rated investment-grade securities generally made the largest contributions to performance, as elevated investor risk appetites led to robust demand for higher-yielding issues. Holdings in bonds with maturities of 20 years in longer also aided performance given that longer-term debt benefited from both stronger price performance and higher income relative to shorter-dated securities. At the sector level, the Fund was helped by its positions in utilities, pre-refunded and corporate-related issues. |
| The Funds more-seasoned holdings, while producing generous yields compared to current market rates, detracted from performance. The prices of many of these investments declined due to the premium amortization that occurred as the bonds approached their first call dates. (A call is when an issuer redeems a bond prior to its maturity date; premium is amount by which a bond trades above its $100 par value.) |
| The Fund utilized U.S. Treasury futures contracts to manage exposure to a potential rise in interest rates, and its tactical shifts in this area contributed to the Funds six-month results. |
The views expressed reflect the opinions of BlackRock as of the date of this report and are subject to change based on changes in market, economic or other conditions. These views are not intended to be a forecast of future events and are no guarantee of future results.
18 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
BlackRock MuniVest Fund II, Inc. |
Market Price and Net Asset Value Per Share Summary |
10/31/16 |
4/30/16 | Change | High | Low | ||||||||||||||||
Market Price |
$ | 16.13 | $ | 17.38 | (7.19 | )% | $ | 18.64 | $ | 15.85 | ||||||||||
Net Asset Value |
$ | 15.89 | $ | 16.17 | (1.73 | )% | $ | 16.55 | $ | 15.87 |
Market Price and Net Asset Value History For the Past Five Years |
Overview of the Funds Total Investments* |
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 19 |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |
Portfolio Abbreviations |
AGC | Assured Guarantee Corp. | DFA | Development Finance Agency | IDA | Industrial Development Authority | |||||
AGM | Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp. | EDA | Economic Development Authority | IDB | Industrial Development Board | |||||
AMBAC | American Municipal Bond Assurance Corp. | EDC | Economic Development Corp. | ISD | Independent School District | |||||
AMT | Alternative Minimum Tax (subject to) | ERB | Education Revenue Bonds | LRB | Lease Revenue Bonds | |||||
ARB | Airport Revenue Bonds | GARB | General Airport Revenue Bonds | M/F | Multi-Family | |||||
BAM | Build America Mutual Assurance Co. | GO | General Obligation Bonds | MRB | Mortgage Revenue Bonds | |||||
BARB | Building Aid Revenue Bonds | GTD | Guaranteed | NPFGC | National Public Finance Guarantee Corp. | |||||
BHAC | Berkshire Hathaway Assurance Corp. | HDA | Housing Development Authority | PSF | Permanent School Fund | |||||
CAB | Capital Appreciation Bonds | HFA | Housing Finance Agency | RB | Revenue Bonds | |||||
COP | Certificates of Participation | HRB | Housing Revenue Bonds | S/F | Single-Family |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
20 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 21 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
22 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 23 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
24 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
Notes to Schedule of Investments |
(a) | Security exempt from registration pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. These securities may be resold in transactions exempt from registration to qualified institutional investors. |
(b) | U.S. Government securities, held in escrow, are used to pay interest on this security, as well as to retire the bond in full at the date indicated, typically at a premium to par. |
(c) | Zero-coupon bond. |
(d) | Non-income producing security. |
(e) | Issuer filed for bankruptcy and/or is in default. |
(f) | Step-up bond that pays an initial coupon rate for the first period and then a higher coupon rate for the following periods. Rate as of period end. |
(g) | Represent bonds transferred to a TOB Trust in exchange of cash and residual certificates received by the Fund. These bonds serve as collateral in a secured borrowing. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details. |
(h) | All or a portion of security is subject to a recourse agreement. The aggregate maximum potential amount the Fund could ultimately be required to pay under the agreements, which expire between February 15, 2019 to November 15, 2019, is $11,849,809. See Note 4 of the Notes to Financial Statements for details. |
(i) | During the six months ended October 31, 2016, investments in issuers considered to be an affiliate of the Fund for purposes of Section 2(a)(3) of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, were as follows: |
Affiliate |
Shares Held 2016 |
Net Activity |
Shares Held at October 31, 2016 |
Value at October 31, 2016 |
Income | Realized Gain/Capital Gain |
||||||||||||||||||
BlackRock Liquidity Funds, MuniCash, Institutional Class |
4,296,151 | (4,131,056 | ) | 165,095 | $ | 165,111 | $ | 2,151 | $ | 1,192 |
(j) | Current yield as of period end. |
See Notes to Financial Statements.
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 25 |
Schedule of Investments (continued) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
Derivative Financial Instruments Outstanding as of Period End |
Futures Contracts | ||||||||||||||||||
Contracts Short |
Issue | Expiration | Notional Value |
Unrealized Appreciation |
||||||||||||||
(3 | ) | 5-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2016 | $ | 362,391 | $ | 2,716 | |||||||||||
(27 | ) | 10-Year U.S. Treasury Note | December 2016 | $ | 3,499,875 | 49,681 | ||||||||||||
(22 | ) | Long U.S. Treasury Bond | December 2016 | $ | 3,579,813 | 136,011 | ||||||||||||
(5 | ) | Ultra U.S. Treasury Bond | December 2016 | $ | 879,687 | 44,337 | ||||||||||||
|
Total |
|
$ | 232,745 | ||||||||||||||
|
|
Derivative Financial Instruments Categorized by Risk Exposure |
As of period end, the fair values of derivative financial instruments located in the Statements of Assets and Liabilities were as follows:
Assets Derivative Financial Instruments | Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate Contracts |
Other Contracts |
Total | |||||||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
Net unrealized appreciation1 | | | | | $ | 232,745 | | $ | 232,745 | ||||||||||||||
1 Includes cumulative appreciation (depreciation) on futures contracts, if any, as reported in the Schedule of Investments. Only current days variation margin is reported within the Statements of Assets and Liabilities. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
For the six months ended October 31, 2016, the effect of derivative financial instruments in the Statements of Operations was as follows: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from: | Commodity Contracts |
Credit Contracts |
Equity Contracts |
Foreign Currency Exchange Contracts |
Interest Rate |
Other Contracts |
Total | |||||||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
| | | | $ | 306,265 | | $ | 306,265 | |||||||||||||||
Net Change in Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) on: |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||
Futures contracts |
| | | | $ | 65,535 | | $ | 65,535 |
Average Quarterly Balances of Outstanding Derivative Financial Instruments |
Futures contracts: | ||||
Average notional value of contracts short |
$ | 10,474,445 |
For more information about the Funds investment risks regarding derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
Fair Value Hierarchy as of Period End |
Various inputs are used in determining the fair value of investments and derivative financial instruments. For information about the Funds policy regarding valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments, refer to the Notes to Financial Statements.
The following tables summarize the Funds investments and derivative financial instruments categorized in the disclosure hierarchy:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Investments: | ||||||||||||||||
Long-Term Investments1 |
| $ | 577,257,403 | | $ | 577,257,403 | ||||||||||
Short-Term Securities |
$ | 165,111 | | | 165,111 | |||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 165,111 | $ | 577,257,403 | | $ | 577,422,514 | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Derivative Financial Instruments2 | ||||||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Interest rate contracts |
$ | 232,745 | | | $ | 232,745 | ||||||||||
1 See above Schedule of Investments for values in each state or political subdivision. |
| |||||||||||||||
2 Derivative financial instruments are futures contracts which are valued at the unrealized appreciation (depreciation) on the instrument. |
|
See Notes to Financial Statements.
26 | SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 |
Schedule of Investments (concluded) |
BlackRock MuniAssets Fund, Inc. (MUA) |
The Fund may hold assets and/or liabilities in which the fair value approximates the carrying amount for financial statement purposes. As of period end, such assets and/or liabilities are categorized within the disclosure hierarchy as follows:
Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Total | |||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash pledged for futures contracts |
$ | 144,950 | | | $ | 144,950 | ||||||||||
Liabilities: |
||||||||||||||||
TOB Trust Certificates |
| $ | (66,086,523 | ) | | (66,086,523 | ) | |||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 144,950 | $ | (66,086,523 | ) | | $ | (65,941,573 | ) | |||||||
|
|
During the six months ended October 31, 2016, there were no transfers between levels.
See Notes to Financial Statements.
SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT | OCTOBER 31, 2016 | 27 |
Schedule of Investments October 31, 2016 (Unaudited) |
BlackRock MuniEnhanced Fund, Inc. (MEN) (Percentages shown are based on Net Assets) |