Strategy. The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds that are issued by companies that are located or listed in, or conduct the predominant part of their business activities in, the emerging market countries of Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The fund considers frontier markets to be a subset of emerging markets and any investments in frontier markets are counted toward the funds 80% investment policy. For purposes of the funds 80% investment policy, the fund relies on a classification by either JPMorgan or the International Monetary Fund to determine which countries are considered emerging markets, and the fund relies on Bloomberg or another unaffiliated data … Show more… The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in bonds that are issued by companies that are located or listed in, or conduct the predominant part of their business activities in, the emerging market countries of Latin America, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The fund considers frontier markets to be a subset of emerging markets and any investments in frontier markets are counted toward the funds 80% investment policy. For purposes of the funds 80% investment policy, the fund relies on a classification by either JPMorgan or the International Monetary Fund to determine which countries are considered emerging markets, and the fund relies on Bloomberg or another unaffiliated data provider to determine the country assigned to a security. Any derivatives that provide exposure to the investment focus suggested by the funds name, or to one or more market risk factors associated with the investment focus suggested by the funds name, are counted (as applicable) toward compliance with the funds 80% investment policy. While it is expected that the securities held by the fund will primarily be U.S. dollar-denominated, the fund may also hold securities denominated in emerging market currencies and other non-U.S. currencies. The fund does not generally attempt to cushion the impact of non-U.S. currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar. Although the fund expects to generally maintain an intermediate-term weighted average maturity, there are no maturity restrictions on the overall portfolio or on individual securities purchased by the fund. The fund may at times have significant investments in Asian countries. Most of the funds investments are expected to be rated below investment grade (BB or lower, or an equivalent rating) by a major credit rating agency or by T. Rowe Price. However, the fund may purchase bonds of any credit quality and there are no overall limits on the funds holdings that are unrated or rated below investment grade. Investments in below investment-grade corporate bonds, also known as junk bonds, should be considered speculative. The fund may use a variety of derivatives, such as futures, forwards, options, and swaps for a number of purposes, such as for hedging risk or managing certain exposure. Specifically, the fund uses interest rate futures and forward foreign currency exchange contracts. Interest rate futures are primarily used as an efficient means of managing the funds exposure to interest rate changes and to adjust the funds duration. Forward foreign currency exchange contracts are primarily used to help protect the funds non-U.S. dollar denominated holdings from unfavorable changes in foreign currency exchange rates, although other currency hedging techniques may be used from time to time. Show less