I Demand International Income: 2 Easy Buys With +11% Yields Today

If you want your portfolio to throw off serious cash now—without getting lost in exotic structures or hard-to-trade corners of the market—closed-end funds (CEFs) that focus outside the U.S. are one of the simplest, most liquid ways to do it. Today, two straightforward tickers pay double-digit distribution rates and open the door to global income streams most investors never touch:

abrdn Global Premier Properties (AWP) – a globally diversified real-estate CEF.
abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund (FAX) – a long-running Asia-Pac bond CEF.

As of November 6–7, 2025, both funds show distribution rates above 11% and pay monthly. AWP’s distribution rate sits around 12.5%, and FAX’s around 13.0%—numbers updated by CEFConnect and widely referenced by major market data providers. CEF Connect+1

Below, we’ll unpack what they hold, why the yields look this high, where the risks live, and how to use them intelligently so the income you collect has a decent shot at staying in your pocket.

Why look abroad for income?

A few practical reasons:

Diversification of cash flows. Foreign real estate and sovereign/corporate bonds march to different drums—rates, currencies, and local cycles—so their income can zig when your U.S. dividends zag.
Valuations and discounts. CEFs often trade at discounts to NAV; international-tilted funds can be especially discounted when headlines scare investors. Buying at a discount can amplify your effective yield and total-return potential if the gap narrows.
Different rate cycles. The world doesn’t cut or hike in lockstep. When global rate paths diverge, coupons and cap rates abroad can look more attractive than at home, especially in select emerging markets where spreads and coupons still run hot (even after a multi-year compression in EM risk premia). Financial Times

Easy Buy #1: abrdn Global Premier Properties (AWP)

What it is. AWP is a closed-end fund that invests primarily in real-estate equities (REITs and property companies) around the world, with a managed monthly distribution. It’s been around since 2007 and uses modest leverage. As of November 6, 2025, AWP’s stated distribution rate is about 12.5%, paid monthly. CEF Connect

What it owns. This is a real-estate equity portfolio spanning sectors like data centers, logistics, retail, healthcare, and more, across the U.S., Japan, Australia, Europe, and Asia. Its top holdings—think large-cap names such as Prologis, Realty Income, Digital Realty, Simon Property Group, Ventas, and notable non-U.S. developers like Mitsubishi Estate—give you diversified property exposure in one click. Country allocation includes a meaningful non-U.S. slice alongside U.S. exposure (Japan, Australia, France, Singapore, Germany, the U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Hong Kong, Belgium, Mexico). CEF Connect

Why the yield is this high.

Managed distribution policy: AWP targets a set monthly payout. In practice, distributions can be sourced from a mix of net investment income (NII), realized gains, and sometimes return of capital (ROC). “Managed” payouts often look higher than a portfolio’s organic yield in any given year, but they also dampen the lumpy nature of real estate cash flows and capital gains. CEF Connect
Discount dynamics: On November 6–7, 2025, AWP hovered near par to a small discount vs. NAV depending on the day and lookback. Discounts can boost the market-price distribution rate versus what the fund actually earns on NAV. CEF Connect
Leverage: AWP’s effective leverage sits around the low-teens. Leverage magnifies both income and volatility. CEF Connect

Why international real estate now?

Global property is still working through the rate-shock of 2022–23. If global long rates ease or stabilize while fundamentals in logistics/datacenters/healthcare stay resilient, equity REITs have room to re-rate.
International yields on property often run higher than U.S. peers, especially in Europe and parts of Asia, giving active managers more levers to build income portfolios.

Key risks to respect.

Managed distributions & ROC: A generous, steady check doesn’t guarantee it all comes from NII. ROC isn’t necessarily “bad”—it can be tax-efficient or simply timing—but consistently paying out more than the portfolio earns can pressure NAV over time. AWP discloses distribution sources periodically; check sponsor notices and Section 19(a) statements. CEF Connect
Interest-rate sensitivity: REITs are rate-sensitive. If global rates back up unexpectedly, real estate equities can wobble.
Leverage: In down markets, leverage cuts both ways.

How to use AWP.

Monthly paycheck sleeve: For an income bucket, AWP’s monthly cadence simplifies cash-flow planning.
Diversification tool: It tilts you into non-U.S. property without having to pick individual foreign REITs.
Sizing: Real estate is cyclical and equity-like; treat AWP as an equity income position inside your overall income barbell.

Easy Buy #2: abrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund (FAX)

What it is. FAX is a veteran Asia-Pacific fixed-income CEF that seeks high current income from a portfolio anchored in Asia-Pac sovereign and corporate bonds (notably Australia and regional credits). It pays monthly and, as of November 6, 2025, shows a market-price distribution rate around 13.0%—comfortably clearing the “11%+” bar. CEF Connect

What it owns. The portfolio leans into Asia-Pac credit markets with a long history of sourcing income from Australian and Asian issuers. You’re effectively importing non-U.S. duration and currency exposures. That’s the point for an international income sleeve: a different bond market, different policy cycles, and often higher coupons than you’ll see in developed-market U.S. IG bonds. (Fund and market-data profiles corroborate the Asia-Pac focus and high headline distribution rate as of early November 2025.) CEF Connect+1

Why the yield is this high.

Market-price discount: FAX typically trades at a discount to NAV; when you buy income at a discount, your price-based yield can exceed the fund’s NAV-based payout. On 11/6/25, price was ~7–8% below NAV per CEFConnect. CEF Connect
Regional coupons: Asia-Pac bonds—especially select EM/Frontier exposures—can carry higher coupons than U.S. IG. Even after a multi-year tightening in EM spreads, base yields remain competitive. Financial Times
Leverage: Like many income CEFs, leverage boosts distribution capacity but also raises volatility.

Why international bonds now?

Spreads have compressed from crisis wides, yet EM/Asia coupons remain elevated versus developed-market Treasuries, keeping cash yields appealing. (Institutional data show EM sovereign/corporate yields still meaningfully above U.S. 10-year Treasuries, even with narrower spreads.) Financial Times
Diversified rate cycle: Asia-Pac and EM central banks are not carbon copies of the Fed. Divergent paths can help your overall bond sleeve behave differently than a U.S.-only core.

Key risks to respect.

Currency & rate risk: Asia-Pac currencies can move quickly. If the dollar rallies hard, unhedged holdings can see FX headwinds, though discounts and coupons can offset.
EM credit risk: FAX’s mix can include EM sovereigns and corporates with higher default risk than developed issuers.
Leverage & liquidity: Leverage magnifies drawdowns; during stress, CEF discounts can widen.

How to use FAX.

Bond income sleeve: Pair it with your core U.S. bond holdings to diversify coupons and currencies.
Monthly check: Like AWP, FAX pays monthly, which makes budgeting simpler.

“But aren’t double-digit yields a trap?”

Fair question. Three practical answers:

Know what the number means.
“Distribution rate” on a CEF equals the annualized payout divided by share price. That’s not a promise; it’s the status quo. These funds use managed distributions, which can include NII, gains, and ROC. Always check sponsor notices and fund reports to see what’s actually funding those checks. (CEFConnect shows the policy and where to find source details.) CEF Connect+1
Watch the discount and the Z-score.
AWP and FAX periodically trade at discounts or premiums. Buying at a discount increases your effective cash yield and potential upside if the discount narrows. Recent pages show AWP near small discount/near par and FAX wider (mid-single-digits to high-single-digits). Tools like CEFConnect list one-year/three-year average discounts and Z-scores so you can avoid overpaying. CEF Connect+1
Own for the role, not the headline.
AWP is equity-income (real estate); FAX is fixed-income (Asia-Pac/EM). Both use leverage. The strategy is to capture diversified cash flows and let discounts and active management work for you—not to set-and-forget at any price.

A quick comparison

Feature	AWP	FAX
Asset class	Global real-estate equities	Asia-Pac fixed income (sovereign/corporate)
Payout	Monthly	Monthly
Distribution rate (early Nov 2025)	~12.5%	~13.0%
Structure	CEF, managed distribution, modest leverage	CEF, managed distribution, discount to NAV, leverage
Main risks	Rates/REIT cyclicality, ROC, leverage	Currency/EM credit risk, ROC, leverage
Use-case	Equity-income diversifier outside the U.S.	International bond income diversifier

(Distribution rates, leverage, and policy details sourced from CEFConnect pages dated Nov 6–7, 2025.) CEF Connect+1

Building a simple international income sleeve (example only)

Disclaimer (not advice): The following is an educational illustration, not a recommendation. Always match allocations to your risk tolerance, tax situation, and horizon.

Target: $100,000 income sleeve focused on non-U.S. cash flows.

40% FAX (~$40,000). Purpose: non-U.S. bond coupons, Asia-Pac exposure, monthly cash flow.
30% AWP (~$30,000). Purpose: global property cash flows and potential discount-narrowing upside.
30% Core ballast (flex)—for example, investment-grade global bonds or a lower-volatility dividend ETF ex-U.S. (yield likely below 11%, but dampens the ride).

Expected cash flow (ballpark):

FAX: $40,000 × ~13% ≈ $5,200/yr
AWP: $30,000 × ~12.5% ≈ $3,750/yr
Core ballast: depends on what you pick; assume ~4% = $1,200/yr
Total ≈ $10,000/yr before taxes/fees (illustrative).

Reinvest or spend? If you’re not drawing the income, reinvesting part of those monthly distributions can mitigate erosion if some payouts include ROC or if markets dip.

Catalysts to watch

Global rate path & credit spreads.
If long rates drift lower into 2026, rate-sensitive real estate should benefit, and EM/Asia coupons will remain attractive relative to developed markets—even with tighter spreads versus Treasuries. (Recent reporting shows EM spreads near cycle lows, but coupons still meaningfully above U.S. 10-yr yields.) Financial Times
Discount drift.
AWP tends to hover around small discounts/premiums; FAX more often trades at a discount. If sentiment improves and discounts narrow, total returns can outpace “yield alone.”
Distribution stability.
Managed-distribution CEFs can adjust payouts. Monitor Section 19(a) notices and sponsor updates (both abrdn funds publish these; CEF and sponsor pages link to notices). CEF Connect

Risk controls that actually help

Position sizing. Keep each CEF to a sensible slice of your total portfolio.
Staggered entries. Add in tranches (e.g., monthly for 3–6 months) to smooth discount and price noise.
Discount discipline. Favor adds when the market-price discount is wider than its own 1- and 3-year averages. CEFConnect shows the discount history and Z-scores so you can quantify “cheap vs. normal.” CEF Connect+1
Counterweights. Pair equity-income (AWP) with fixed-income (FAX) and a calmer ballast to reduce correlation spikes.
Tax awareness. ROC can be tax-efficient in taxable accounts (basis adjustment), but know your jurisdiction and keep records.

What about emerging-market debt CEFs near 11%?

If you want a third watchlist name in the same spirit, Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt (EMD) is a monthly-pay EM bond CEF that recently showed a ~11% distribution rate at market with a multi-country sovereign/corporate mix and a discount. That said, keeping this article to two “easy buys,” AWP and FAX already give you equity-income and Asia-Pac bond income in a compact combo. (For your notes: EMD’s CEFConnect overview on Nov 6, 2025 showed a distribution rate near 10.97% and a ~7% discount.) CEF Connect

Bottom line

If you demand international income today, these two tickers keep the playbook simple:

AWP for global real-estate income and potential discount-narrowing upside, with a ~12.5% monthly distribution rate as of early November 2025. CEF Connect
FAX for Asia-Pacific bond income and currency diversification, with a ~13.0% monthly distribution rate as of early November 2025. CEF Connect

Both are easy to buy, trade on major U.S. exchanges, and send cash every month. Respect the risks (managed distributions, leverage, rates/FX), size them sensibly, and let international markets work for your paycheck rather than against it.

Sources: CEFConnect fund pages for AWP and FAX (distribution rates, leverage, discounts, holdings snapshots) captured November 6–7, 2025; broader context on EM yield spreads from the Financial Times (2025); additional fund disclosures and distribution-policy notes from the same CEFConnect summaries. CEF Connect+2CEF Connect+2

This article is for educational purposes and is not investment advice. Consider your objectives, risk tolerance, fees, and tax situation, and consult a qualified advisor before investing.