The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation with reduced volatility compared to traditional broad-based equity market indices as a secondary objective. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests in long or short positions in equity securities of domestic and foreign companies. The managers define equity securities as (1) common stocks, (2) preferred stocks and (3) debt securities that are convertible into stock. The fund invests in securities of issuers without restriction as to capitalization or country. The fund invests in convertible debt securities of any maturity or credit quality, including those known as "junk bonds".