nvcsrs
 
 
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 811-22003
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund
 
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Nuveen Investments
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Kevin J. McCarthy
Nuveen Investments
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
 
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (312) 917-7700
Date of fiscal year end: December 31
Date of reporting period: June 30, 2009
Form N-CSR is to be used by management investment companies to file reports with the Commission not later than 10 days after the transmission to stockholders of any report that is required to be transmitted to stockholders under Rule 30e-1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (17 CFR 270.30e-1). The Commission may use the information provided on Form N-CSR in its regulatory, disclosure review, inspection, and policymaking roles.
A registrant is required to disclose the information specified by Form N-CSR, and the Commission will make this information public. A registrant is not required to respond to the collection of information contained in Form N-CSR unless the Form displays a currently valid Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”) control number. Please direct comments concerning the accuracy of the information collection burden estimate and any suggestions for reducing the burden to Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20549-0609. The OMB has reviewed this collection of information under the clearance requirements of 44 U.S.C. SS. 3507.
 
 

 


 

 
ITEM 1. REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS
(NUVEEN INVESTMENTS LOGO)
 
 
Closed-End Funds
 
     
 
Nuveen Investments
Closed-End Funds
Mathematically-driven investment strategy that seeks to
generate excess risk-adjusted returns
   
     
Semi-Annual Report
June 30, 2009
   
 
 

             
           
Nuveen Core Equity
Alpha Fund
JCE
           

(JUNE 09)


 

 


 

 
Chairman’s
Letter to Shareholders

 
(ROBERT P. BREMNER PHOTO)
 
Dear Shareholder,
 
The problems in the U.S. financial system and the slowdown in global economic activity continue to create a very difficult environment for the U.S. economy. The administration, the Federal Reserve System and Congress have initiated a variety of programs directed at restoring liquidity to the financial markets, providing financial support for critical financial institutions and stimulating economic activity. There are encouraging signs that these initiatives are beginning to have a constructive impact. It is not possible to predict whether the actions taken to date will be sufficient to restore more normal conditions in the financial markets or enable the economy to stabilize and set a course toward recovery. However, the speed and scope of the government’s actions are very encouraging and, more importantly, reflect a commitment to act decisively to meet the economic challenges we face.
 
The performance information in the attached report reflects the impact of many forces at work in the equity and fixed-income markets. The comments by the portfolio managers describe the strategies being used to pursue your Fund’s long-term investment goals. Parts of the financial markets continue to experience serious dislocations and thorough research and strong investment disciplines have never been more important in identifying risks and opportunities. I hope you will read this information carefully.
 
Your Board is particularly sensitive to our shareholders’ concerns in these uncertain times. We believe that frequent and thorough communication is essential in this regard and encourage you to visit the Nuveen website: www.nuveen.com, for recent developments in all Nuveen funds. We also encourage you to communicate with your financial consultant for answers to your questions and to seek advice on your long-term investment strategy in the current market environment.
 
On behalf of myself and the other members of your Fund’s Board, we look forward to continuing to earn your trust in the months and years ahead.
 
Sincerely,
-s- Robert P. Bremner
Robert P. Bremner
Chairman of the Nuveen Fund Board
August 24, 2009

     
     
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Portfolio Managers’ Comments

 
 
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (JCE)
 
The equity portion of JCE is managed by INTECH Investment Management LLC (INTECH), an independently managed subsidiary of Janus Capital Group Inc. INTECH’s Chief Investment Officer Dr. Robert Fernholz, PhD, leads the portfolio management team.
 
The Fund also also employs a call option strategy managed by Nuveen Asset Management. Rob Guttschow, CFA, and John Gambla, CFA, oversee this program.
 
Here Dr. Fernholz and members of his team, along with Rob and John, talk about their management strategies and the performance of the Fund for the six-month period ended June 30, 2009.
 
Over this period, what key strategies were used to manage the Fund?
 
 
Certain statements in this report are forward-looking statements. Discussions of specific investments are for illustration only and are not intended as recommendations of individual investments. The forward-looking statements and other views expressed herein are those of the portfolio managers as of the date of this report. Actual future results or occurrences may differ significantly from those anticipated in any forward-looking statements and the views expressed herein are subject to change at any time, due to numerous market and other factors. The Fund disclaims any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein.
 
Looking at the equity portfolio, the market turmoil that continued during this six-month reporting period reconfirmed the importance of disciplined risk management, which is a critical component of INTECH’s portfolio construction and monitoring process. The Fund’s equity portfolio goal is to produce long-term returns in excess of its benchmark, the S&P 500 Index, with an equal or lesser amount of risk. The practical risk controls embedded in the firm’s investment process aid in minimizing tracking error vis-a-vis the S&P 500 Index during periods of short-term market instability.
 
INTECH’s investment process requires some level of volatility be present in individual stocks that can then be ”captured” in our portfolio optimization and rebalancing process. Typically, the Fund’s equity portfolio will hold 250-450 stocks included in the S&P 500 Index. While we expect that there will be individual periods or years in which we exceed or underperform our targets, we seek over the long term to be able to provide returns in excess of the S&P 500 Index with equal or less risk.
 
While INTECH does not employ fundamental analysis in the management of the equity portfolio, fundamentals can have a significant impact on the general direction of the market in which we participate. As stock prices moved naturally throughout the period, we continued to implement our mathematical process in a disciplined and precise manner in an effort to maintain a more efficient portfolio than the S&P 500 Index, without increasing relative risk. While other factors may influence performance over the short term, we believe that the consistent application of our process will help long term performance.
 
The Fund also employs an option strategy that seeks to enhance its risk-adjusted returns over time through a meaningful reduction in the volatility of the Fund’s returns relative to the returns of the S&P 500 Index. Under normal market circumstances, the Fund expects to write (sell) custom basket call options with a notional value of up to 50% of the value of the equity portfolio. During this period, the sale of equity call options was used to

     
     
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generate cash flow that could be used to partially offset equity portfolio losses in certain situations.
 
How did the Fund perform over this six-month period?
 
The performance of JCE, as well as a widely followed equity index and a customized benchmark, are presented in the accompanying table.
 
Average Annual Total Returns on Net Asset Value*
For periods ended 6/30/09
 
 
Past performance does not guarantee future results. Current performance may be higher or lower than the data shown.
 
Returns do not reflect the deduction of taxes that shareholders may have to pay on Fund distributions or upon the sale of Fund shares. For additional information, see the individual Performance Overview for the Fund in this report.
 
Six-month returns are cumulative: one-year returns are annualized.
 
The S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged Index generally considered representative of the U.S. Stock Market.
 
JCE’s Comparative Benchmark is a blend of returns consisting of 1) 50% of the S&P 500 Index and 2) 50% of the CBOE S&P 500 BuyWrite Index (BXM which is a passive total return index based on selling the near-term, at-the-money S&P 500 Index (SPX) call option against the S&P 500 stock index portfolio each month, on the day the current contract expires.
         
    Six-Month   One-Year
JCE
  1.82%   -22.81%
S&P 500 Index1
  3.16%   -26.21%
Comparative Benchmark2
  5.52%   -22.26%
         
 
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2009, the Fund underperformed the S&P 500 Index and the customized benchmark. As can been seen from the returns shown here, the first six months of 2009 presented a different overall market environment than the last six months of 2008.
 
Since INTECH uses a purely portfolio-theoretic methodology, we do not specifically select stocks or overweight sectors in response to market conditions or expectations. Instead, we modify the Fund’s equity holdings in an attempt to construct a portfolio that is slightly more efficient than the S&P 500 Index by using an optimization program that analyzes a stock’s relative volatility and its price correlation with other equities. Since the sector structure of the market is not taken into account in our methodology, any sector underweights or overweights are likely to be coincidental.
 
Over this six-month period, the Fund had relative underweight positions in the information technology and health care sectors, and relative overweight positions in industrials and consumer staples versus the S&P 500 Index. Top equity performers in the portfolio included Apple Inc., IBM, Wells Fargo, and Oracle. The weakest performers included AFLAC, General Electric, AT&T, Procter and Gamble, and Exxon Mobil.
 
While the cash flow generated by the sale of call options did help to mitigate some of the risk inherent in the Fund’s portfolio, these inflows were not sufficient to offset the performance difference between the Fund’s equity holdings and the S&P 500 Index.

     
     
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Distribution and
Share Price Information

 
 
The following information regarding your Fund’s distributions is current as of June 30, 2009, and likely will vary over time based on the Fund’s investment activities and portfolio investment value changes.
 
The Fund reduced its quarterly distribution to shareholders once during the six-month reporting period. Some of the factors affecting the amount and composition of these distributions are summarized below.
 
The Fund has a managed distribution program. The goal of this program is to provide shareholders with relatively consistent and predictable cash flow by systematically converting the Fund’s expected long-term return potential into regular distributions. As a result, regular distributions throughout the year are likely to include a portion of expected long-term gains (both realized and unrealized), along with net investment income.
 
Important points to understand about a managed distribution program are:
 
•  The Fund seeks to establish a relatively stable distribution rate that roughly corresponds to the projected total return from its investment strategy over an extended period of time. However, you should not draw any conclusions about the Fund’s past or future investment performance from its current distribution rate.
 
•  Actual returns will differ from projected long-term returns (and therefore the Fund’s distribution rate), at least over shorter time periods. Over a specific timeframe, the difference between actual returns and total distributions will be reflected in an increasing (returns exceed distributions) or a decreasing (distributions exceed returns) Fund net asset value.
 
•  Each distribution is expected to be paid from some or all of the following sources:
 
  •  net investment income (regular interest and dividends),
 
  •  realized capital gains, and
 
  •  unrealized gains, or, in certain cases, a return of principal (non-taxable distributions).
 
•  A non-taxable distribution is a payment of a portion of the Fund’s capital. When the Fund’s returns exceed distributions, it may represent portfolio gains generated, but not realized as a taxable capital gain. In periods when the Fund’s returns fall short of distributions, the shortfall will represent a portion of your original principal, unless the shortfall is offset during other time periods over the life of your investment (previous or subsequent) when the Fund’s total return exceeds distributions.
 
•  Because distribution source estimates are updated during the year based on the Fund’s performance and forecast for its current fiscal year (which is the calendar year for the Fund), estimates on the nature of your distributions provided at the time the distributions are paid may differ from both the tax information reported to you in your Fund’s

     
     
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IRS Form 1099 statement provided at year end, as well as the ultimate economic sources of distributions over the life of your investment.
 
The following table provides estimated information regarding the Fund’s distributions and total return performance for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009. The distribution information is presented on a tax basis rather than on a generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis. This information is intended to help you better understand whether the Fund’s returns for the specified time period were sufficient to meet the Fund’s distributions.
 
         
As of 6/30/09   JCE  
Inception date
    3/27/07  
Six months ended June 30, 2009:
       
Per share distribution:
       
From net investment income
    $0.08  
From realized capital gains
     
Tax return of capital
    $0.46  
         
Total per share distribution
    $0.54  
         
         
Distribution rate on NAV
    4.75%  
         
Annualized total returns:
       
Six month (Cumulative) on NAV
    1.82%  
1-Year on NAV
    -22.81%  
Since Inception on NAV
    -12.54%  
         
 
Common Share Repurchases and Share Price Information
 
The Fund’s Board of Trustees approved an open-market share repurchase program on November 21, 2007, under which the Fund may repurchase an aggregate of up to 10% of its outstanding common shares. As of June 30, 2009, the Fund had cumulatively repurchased 251,300 common shares, representing approximately 1.6% of the Fund’s total common shares outstanding. During the six month reporting period, June 30, 2009, common shares were repurchased at a weighted average discount per share of 17.87% and at a weighted average purchase price per share of $8.91.
 
As of June 30, 2009, the Fund was trading at a -14.59% discount to its NAV, compared with an average discount of -16.58% for the six-month period.

     
     
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JCE
Performance
OVERVIEW
    Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund
      June 30, 2009

     
Fund Snapshot
Share Price   $9.72
     
Net Asset Value   $11.38
     
Premium/(Discount) to NAV   -14.59%
     
Current Distribution Rate1   11.11%
     
Net Assets ($000)   $184,350
     
 
         
Average Annual Total Return
(Inception 3/27/07)
    On Share Price   On NAV
6-month (Cumulative)   7.19%   1.82%
         
1-Year   -24.03%   -22.81%
         
Since Inception   -18.99%   -12.54%
         
 
     
Industries
(as a % of total investments)2
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels   10.2%
     
Pharmaceuticals   7.0%
     
Food Products   5.0%
     
Diversified Telecommunication Services   4.7%
     
Computers & Peripherals   4.2%
     
Household Products   3.5%
     
Food & Staples Retailing   3.3%
     
Insurance   3.2%
     
Road & Rail   2.6%
     
Software   2.6%
     
Beverages   2.4%
     
Semiconductors & Equipment   2.4%
     
Media   2.3%
     
Industrial Conglomerates   2.3%
     
Health Care Providers & Services   2.3%
     
Communications Equipment   2.2%
     
Multi-Utilities   2.1%
     
Commercial Banks   2.0%
     
Diversified Financial Services   2.0%
     
Biotechnology   2.0%
     
IT Services   1.7%
     
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure   1.7%
     
Specialty Retail   1.7%
     
Capital Markets   1.7%
     
Short-Term Investments   5.7%
     
Other   19.2%
     
 
 
Portfolio Allocation (as a % of total investments)2
 
(PIE CHART)
 
2008-2009 Distributions Per Share
 
(GRAPH)
 
Share Price Performance—Weekly Closing Price
(GRAPH)
 
1  Current Distribution Rate is based on the Fund’s current annualized quarterly distribution divided by the Fund’s current market price. The Fund’s quarterly distributions to its shareholders may be comprised of ordinary income, net realized capital gains and, if at the end of the calendar year the Fund’s cumulative net ordinary income and net realized gains are less than the amount of the Fund’s distributions, a return of capital for tax purposes.
2  Excluding call options written and investments in derivatives.

     
     
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Shareholder Meeting Report
 
The annual meeting of shareholders was held in the offices of Nuveen Investments on May 6, 2009; at this meeting the shareholders were asked to vote on the election of Board Members.

                             
                            JCE
Approval of the Board Members was reached as follows:                           Common Shares
Robert P. Bremner
                           
For
                          11,956,545
Withhold
                          1,079,459
                             
Total
                          13,036,004
                             
Jack B. Evans
                           
For
                          11,954,219
Withhold
                          1,081,785
                             
Total
                          13,036,004
                             
William J. Schneider
                           
For
                          11,957,194
Withhold
                          1,078,810
                             
Total
                          13,036,004
                             

     
     
Nuveen Investments
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  JCE
    Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS
          June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

 
                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Common Stocks – 96.5%
         
       
Aerospace & Defense – 1.1%
                                         
  1,500    
Boeing Company
                          $ 63,750  
  1,700    
General Dynamics Corporation
                            94,163  
  1,700    
Goodrich Corporation
                            84,949  
  8,100    
ITT Industries, Inc.
                            360,450  
  13,900    
Lockheed Martin Corporation
                            1,121,035  
  200    
Precision Castparts Corporation
                            14,606  
  5,300    
United Technologies Corporation
                            275,388  
                                         
       
Total Aerospace & Defense
                            2,014,341  
                                         
       
Air Freight & Logistics – 0.2%
                                         
  3,500    
C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.
                            182,525  
  1,100    
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc.
                            36,674  
  1,100    
FedEx Corporation
                            61,182  
  900    
United Parcel Service, Inc., Class B
                            44,991  
                                         
       
Total Air Freight & Logistics
                            325,372  
                                         
       
Airlines – 0.3%
                                         
  78,500    
Southwest Airlines Co.
                            528,305  
                                         
       
Auto Components – 0.1%
                                         
  4,800    
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, (2)
                            54,048  
  4,300    
Johnson Controls, Inc.
                            93,396  
                                         
       
Total Auto Components
                            147,444  
                                         
       
Automobiles – 0.3%
                                         
  37,200    
Ford Motor Company, (2)
                            225,804  
  15,400    
Harley-Davidson, Inc.
                            249,634  
                                         
       
Total Automobiles
                            475,438  
                                         
       
Beverages – 2.5%
                                         
  12,600    
Brown-Forman Corporation
                            541,548  
  33,700    
Coca-Cola Company
                            1,617,263  
  2,900    
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc.
                            48,285  
  25,300    
Constellation Brands, Inc., Class A, (2)
                            320,804  
  4,100    
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, (2)
                            86,879  
  3,000    
Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc.
                            101,520  
  33,100    
PepsiCo, Inc.
                            1,819,176  
                                         
       
Total Beverages
                            4,535,475  
                                         
       
Biotechnology – 2.0%
                                         
  36,700    
Amgen Inc., (2)
                            1,942,898  
  20,200    
Celgene Corporation, (2)
                            966,368  
  9,800    
Cephalon, Inc., (2)
                            555,170  
  2,400    
Genzyme Corporation, (2)
                            133,608  
  2,900    
Gilead Sciences, Inc., (2)
                            135,836  
                                         
       
Total Biotechnology
                            3,733,880  
                                         
       
Building Products – 0.0%
                                         
  8,400    
Masco Corporation
                            80,472  
                                         
       
Capital Markets – 1.7%
                                         
  7,500    
Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
                            182,025  
  10,600    
Bank of New York Company, Inc.
                            310,686  
  24,300    
Charles Schwab Corporation
                            426,222  
  3,700    
Federated Investors Inc.
                            89,133  
  3,800    
Franklin Resources, Inc.
                            273,638  
  2,400    
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.
                            353,856  
  6,400    
Invesco LTD
                            114,048  
  5,000    
Legg Mason, Inc.
                            121,900  
  17,200    
Morgan Stanley
                            490,372  
  6,500    
Northern Trust Corporation
                            348,920  

     
     
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Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Capital Markets (continued)
                                         
  4,300    
State Street Corporation
                          $ 202,960  
  5,900    
T. Rowe Price Group Inc.
                            245,853  
                                         
       
Total Capital Markets
                            3,159,613  
                                         
       
Chemicals – 1.0%
                                         
  600    
CF Industries Holdings, Inc.
                            44,484  
  6,300    
E.I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company
                            161,406  
  7,700    
Ecolab Inc.
                            300,223  
  3,800    
International Flavors & Fragrances Inc.
                            124,336  
  900    
Monsanto Company
                            66,906  
  22,000    
PPG Industries, Inc.
                            965,800  
  1,500    
Praxair, Inc.
                            106,605  
  800    
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
                            39,648  
                                         
       
Total Chemicals
                            1,809,408  
                                         
       
Commercial Banks – 2.1%
                                         
  28,300    
BB&T Corporation
                            622,034  
  3,300    
Comerica Incorporated
                            69,795  
  17,400    
Fifth Third Bancorp.
                            123,540  
  12,096    
First Horizon National Corporation, (2)
                            145,151  
  9,600    
Huntington BancShares Inc.
                            40,128  
  24,700    
KeyCorp.
                            129,428  
  5,000    
M&T Bank Corporation
                            254,650  
  29,700    
Marshall and Ilsley Corporation
                            142,560  
  12,600    
PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
                            489,006  
  2,200    
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
                            36,190  
  22,100    
U.S. Bancorp
                            396,032  
  51,350    
Wells Fargo & Company
                            1,245,751  
  8,500    
Zions Bancorporation
                            98,260  
                                         
       
Total Commercial Banks
                            3,792,525  
                                         
       
Commercial Services & Supplies – 1.4%
                                         
  14,200    
Cintas Corporation
                            324,328  
  2,400    
Iron Mountain Inc., (2)
                            69,000  
  8,600    
Pitney Bowes Inc.
                            188,598  
  8,335    
Republic Services, Inc.
                            203,457  
  3,900    
Stericycle Inc., (2)
                            200,967  
  57,700    
Waste Management, Inc.
                            1,624,832  
                                         
       
Total Commercial Services & Supplies
                            2,611,182  
                                         
       
Communications Equipment – 2.2%
                                         
  8,700    
Ciena Corporation, (2)
                            90,045  
  108,900    
Cisco Systems, Inc., (2)
                            2,029,896  
  21,900    
JDS Uniphase Corporation, (2)
                            125,268  
  6,300    
Juniper Networks Inc., (2)
                            148,680  
  38,300    
Motorola, Inc.
                            253,929  
  30,500    
QUALCOMM, Inc.
                            1,378,600  
  12,000    
Tellabs Inc., (2)
                            68,760  
                                         
       
Total Communications Equipment
                            4,095,178  
                                         
       
Computers & Peripherals – 4.2%
                                         
  10,900    
Apple, Inc., (2)
                            1,552,487  
  27,600    
Dell Inc., (2)
                            378,948  
  11,300    
EMC Corporation, (2)
                            148,030  
  60,000    
Hewlett-Packard Company
                            2,319,000  
  27,700    
International Business Machines Corporation (IBM)
                            2,892,434  
  3,700    
Lexmark International, Inc., Class A, (2)
                            58,645  
  3,500    
Network Appliance Inc., (2)
                            69,020  
  1,100    
QLogic Corporation, (2)
                            13,948  
  13,600    
SanDisk Corporation, (2)
                            199,784  
  22,400    
Sun Microsystems Inc., (2)
                            206,528  
                                         
       
Total Computers & Peripherals
                            7,838,824  
                                         

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  11
     


 

       
       
   JCE
    Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Construction & Engineering – 0.4%
                                         
  11,600    
Fluor Corporation
                          $ 594,964  
  2,700    
Jacobs Engineering Group, Inc., (2)
                            113,643  
                                         
       
Total Construction & Engineering
                            708,607  
                                         
       
Construction Materials – 0.2%
                                         
  7,600    
Vulcan Materials Company
                            327,560  
                                         
       
Consumer Finance – 0.7%
                                         
  7,300    
American Express Company
                            169,652  
  15,100    
Capital One Financial Corporation
                            330,388  
  44,300    
Discover Financial Services
                            454,961  
  29,800    
SLM Corporation, (2)
                            306,046  
                                         
       
Total Consumer Finance
                            1,261,047  
                                         
       
Containers & Packaging – 0.3%
                                         
  3,800    
Ball Corporation
                            171,608  
  12,800    
Bemis Company, Inc.
                            322,560  
  1,500    
Owens-Illinois, Inc., (2)
                            42,015  
  3,200    
Pactiv Corporation, (2)
                            69,440  
                                         
       
Total Containers & Packaging
                            605,623  
                                         
       
Distributors – 0.3%
                                         
  15,900    
Genuine Parts Company
                            533,604  
                                         
       
Diversified Consumer Services – 0.5%
                                         
  800    
Apollo Group, Inc., (2)
                            56,896  
  1,300    
Devry, Inc.
                            65,052  
  45,900    
H & R Block Inc.
                            790,857  
                                         
       
Total Diversified Consumer Services
                            912,805  
                                         
       
Diversified Financial Services – 2.1%
                                         
  75,300    
Bank of America Corporation
                            993,960  
  12,600    
CIT Group Inc.
                            27,090  
  34,600    
Citigroup Inc.
                            102,762  
  1,000    
CME Group, Inc.
                            311,110  
  2,000    
Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., (2)
                            228,480  
  31,705    
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
                            1,081,458  
  8,800    
Leucadia National Corporation, (2)
                            185,592  
  16,200    
Moody’s Corporation
                            426,870  
  8,800    
Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc., (2)
                            187,528  
  8,600    
New York Stock Exchange Euronext
                            234,350  
                                         
       
Total Diversified Financial Services
                            3,779,200  
                                         
       
Diversified Telecommunication Services – 4.8%
                                         
  226,800    
AT&T Inc.
                            5,633,712  
  11,200    
CenturyTel, Inc.
                            343,840  
  14,400    
Embarq Corporation
                            605,664  
  42,500    
Frontier Communications Corporation
                            303,450  
  52,500    
Qwest Communications International Inc.
                            217,875  
  53,000    
Verizon Communications Inc.
                            1,628,690  
  10,000    
Windstream Corporation
                            83,600  
                                         
       
Total Diversified Telecommunication Services
                            8,816,831  
                                         
       
Electric Utilities – 1.5%
                                         
  6,000    
Duke Energy Corporation
                            87,540  
  2,300    
Entergy Corporation
                            178,296  
  4,800    
FirstEnergy Corp.
                            186,000  
  400    
FPL Group, Inc.
                            22,744  
  8,300    
Northeast Utilities
                            185,173  
  14,500    
Pinnacle West Capital Corporation
                            437,175  
  12,400    
PPL Corporation
                            408,704  
  16,600    
Progress Energy, Inc.
                            627,978  
  19,500    
Southern Company
                            607,620  
                                         
       
Total Electric Utilities
                            2,741,230  
                                         

     
     
12
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Electrical Equipment – 0.3%
                                         
  15,500    
Cooper Industries, Ltd., Class A
                          $ 481,275  
  4,300    
Rockwell Automation, Inc.
                            138,116  
                                         
       
Total Electrical Equipment
                            619,391  
                                         
       
Electronic Equipment & Instruments – 0.3%
                                         
  2,500    
Agilent Technologies, Inc., (2)
                            50,775  
  1,800    
Amphenol Corporation, Class A
                            56,952  
  3,000    
Corning Incorporated
                            48,180  
  20,600    
Jabil Circuit Inc.
                            152,852  
  11,900    
Molex Inc.
                            185,045  
                                         
       
Total Electronic Equipment & Instruments
                            493,804  
                                         
       
Energy Equipment & Services – 1.7%
                                         
  11,200    
Baker Hughes Incorporated
                            408,128  
  9,000    
BJ Services Company
                            122,670  
  3,300    
Cooper Cameron Corporation, (2)
                            93,390  
  600    
Diamond Offshore Drilling, Inc.
                            49,830  
  2,200    
ENSCO International Incorporated
                            76,714  
  3,000    
FMC Technologies Inc., (2)
                            112,740  
  4,000    
Halliburton Company
                            82,800  
  7,200    
Nabors Industries Inc., (2)
                            112,176  
  17,000    
National-Oilwell Varco Inc., (2)
                            555,220  
  1,700    
Rowan Companies Inc.
                            32,844  
  23,000    
Schlumberger Limited
                            1,244,530  
  10,300    
Smith International, Inc.
                            265,225  
                                         
       
Total Energy Equipment & Services
                            3,156,267  
                                         
       
Food & Staples Retailing – 3.3%
                                         
  9,900    
CVS Caremark Corporation
                            315,513  
  78,500    
Kroger Co.
                            1,730,925  
  33,300    
Sysco Corporation
                            748,584  
  7,500    
Walgreen Co.
                            220,500  
  63,900    
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
                            3,095,316  
  1,900    
Whole Foods Market, Inc.
                            36,062  
                                         
       
Total Food & Staples Retailing
                            6,146,900  
                                         
       
Food Products – 5.1%
                                         
  1,400    
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company
                            37,478  
  27,700    
Campbell Soup Company
                            814,934  
  3,600    
Dean Foods Company, (2)
                            69,084  
  35,000    
General Mills, Inc.
                            1,960,700  
  36,000    
H.J. Heinz Company
                            1,285,200  
  24,200    
Hershey Foods Corporation
                            871,200  
  14,000    
JM Smucker Company
                            681,240  
  32,800    
Kellogg Company
                            1,527,496  
  65,300    
Kraft Foods Inc.
                            1,654,702  
  4,700    
McCormick & Company, Incorporated
                            152,891  
  20,300    
Sara Lee Corporation
                            198,128  
  9,700    
Tyson Foods, Inc., Class A
                            122,317  
                                         
       
Total Food Products
                            9,375,370  
                                         
       
Gas Utilities – 0.1%
                                         
  5,700    
Nicor Inc.
                            197,334  
  1,200    
Questar Corporation
                            37,272  
                                         
       
Total Gas Utilities
                            234,606  
                                         
       
Health Care Equipment & Supplies – 1.2%
                                         
  27,200    
Baxter International, Inc.
                            1,440,512  
  5,000    
Boston Scientific Corporation, (2)
                            50,700  
  6,300    
DENTSPLY International Inc.
                            192,276  
  200    
Intuitive Surgical, Inc., (2)
                            32,732  
  3,000    
Medtronic, Inc.
                            104,670  
  5,400    
Stryker Corporation
                            214,596  
  4,800    
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., (2)
                            168,672  
                                         
       
Total Health Care Equipment & Supplies
                            2,204,158  
                                         

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  13
     


 

       
       
   JCE
    Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Health Care Providers & Services – 2.4%
                                         
  1,500    
Aetna Inc.
                          $ 37,575  
  1,900    
Cardinal Health, Inc.
                            58,045  
  5,800    
CIGNA Corporation
                            139,722  
  2,100    
Coventry Health Care, Inc., (2)
                            39,291  
  14,300    
Davita Inc., (2)
                            707,278  
  2,900    
Express Scripts, Inc., (2)
                            199,375  
  7,300    
Humana Inc., (2)
                            235,498  
  21,300    
Medco Health Solutions, Inc., (2)
                            971,493  
  20,700    
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
                            1,168,101  
  10,700    
UnitedHealth Group Incorporated
                            267,286  
  10,300    
Wellpoint Inc., (2)
                            524,167  
                                         
       
Total Health Care Providers & Services
                            4,347,831  
                                         
       
Health Care Technology – 0.1%
                                         
  20,700    
IMS Health Incorporated
                            262,890  
                                         
       
Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure – 1.7%
                                         
  2,800    
Carnival Corporation
                            72,156  
  10,500    
Darden Restaurants, Inc.
                            346,290  
  4,900    
International Game Technology
                            77,910  
  1,706    
Marriott International, Inc., Class A
                            37,657  
  35,900    
McDonald’s Corporation
                            2,063,891  
  19,500    
Starbucks Corporation, (2)
                            270,855  
  14,900    
Wyndham Worldwide Corporation
                            180,588  
  4,100    
Wynn Resorts Ltd, (2)
                            144,730  
                                         
       
Total Hotels, Restaurants & Leisure
                            3,194,077  
                                         
       
Household Durables – 0.7%
                                         
  2,500    
Black & Decker Corporation
                            71,650  
  16,300    
Centex Corporation
                            137,898  
  5,100    
D.R. Horton, Inc.
                            47,736  
  4,800    
Harman International Industries Inc.
                            90,240  
  5,200    
KB Home
                            71,136  
  23,100    
Leggett and Platt Inc.
                            351,813  
  18,800    
Lennar Corporation, Class A
                            182,172  
  3,600    
Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
                            37,476  
  12,400    
Pulte Corporation, (2)
                            109,492  
  1,600    
Snap-on Incorporated
                            45,984  
  3,100    
Stanley Works
                            104,904  
  1,100    
Whirlpool Corporation
                            46,816  
                                         
       
Total Household Durables
                            1,297,317  
                                         
       
Household Products – 3.6%
                                         
  15,000    
Clorox Company
                            837,450  
  10,300    
Colgate-Palmolive Company
                            728,622  
  12,300    
Kimberly-Clark Corporation
                            644,889  
  87,100    
Procter & Gamble Company
                            4,450,810  
                                         
       
Total Household Products
                            6,661,771  
                                         
       
Independent Power Producers & Energy Traders – 0.0%
                                         
  4,600    
AES Corporation, (2)
                            53,406  
                                         
       
Industrial Conglomerates – 2.4%
                                         
  11,000    
3M Co.
                            661,100  
  310,600    
General Electric Company
                            3,640,232  
  6,700    
Textron Inc.
                            64,722  
                                         
       
Total Industrial Conglomerates
                            4,366,054  
                                         
       
Insurance – 3.3%
                                         
  5,100    
AFLAC Incorporated
                            158,559  
  4,700    
Allstate Corporation
                            114,680  
  9,400    
Chubb Corporation
                            374,872  
  11,600    
Cincinnati Financial Corporation
                            259,260  
  30,700    
Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc.
                            364,409  
  22,500    
Lincoln National Corporation
                            387,225  
  44,500    
Loews Corporation
                            1,219,300  
  33,800    
Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc.
                            680,394  
  23,000    
MBIA Inc., (2)
                            99,590  

     
     
14
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Insurance (continued)
                                         
  16,400    
MetLife, Inc.
                          $ 492,164  
  10,500    
Principal Financial Group, Inc.
                            197,820  
  30,000    
Progressive Corporation, (2)
                            453,300  
  12,700    
Prudential Financial, Inc.
                            472,694  
  4,700    
Torchmark Corporation
                            174,088  
  3,000    
Travelers Companies, Inc.
                            123,120  
  14,400    
Unum Group
                            228,384  
  23,000    
XL Capital Ltd, Class A
                            263,580  
                                         
       
Total Insurance
                            6,063,439  
                                         
       
Internet & Catalog Retail – 0.4%
                                         
  8,200    
Amazon.com, Inc.,
                            686,012  
  2,600    
Expedia, Inc., (2)
                            39,286  
                                         
       
Total Internet & Catalog Retail
                            725,298  
                                         
       
Internet Software & Services – 0.2%
                                         
  5,600    
Akamai Technologies, Inc., (2)
                            107,408  
  800    
Google Inc., Class A, (2)
                            337,272  
                                         
       
Total Internet Software & Services
                            444,680  
                                         
       
IT Services – 1.8%
                                         
  6,700    
Affiliated Computer Services, Inc., (2)
                            297,614  
  42,700    
Automatic Data Processing, Inc.
                            1,513,288  
  6,500    
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation, Class A, (2)
                            173,550  
  14,600    
Computer Sciences Corporation, (2)
                            646,780  
  2,000    
Fidelity National Information Services
                            39,920  
  18,200    
Paychex, Inc.
                            458,640  
  9,600    
Western Union Company
                            157,440  
                                         
       
Total IT Services
                            3,287,232  
                                         
       
Leisure Equipment & Products – 0.1%
                                         
  5,600    
Hasbro, Inc.
                            135,744  
                                         
       
Life Sciences Tools & Services – 0.1%
                                         
  5,600    
Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., (2)
                            228,312  
                                         
       
Machinery – 1.4%
                                         
  20,900    
Caterpillar Inc.
                            690,536  
  17,200    
Cummins Inc.
                            605,612  
  1,900    
Deere & Company
                            75,905  
  20,800    
Dover Corporation
                            688,272  
  900    
Flowserve Corporation
                            62,829  
  9,700    
Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
                            362,198  
  161    
Ingersoll Rand Company Limited, Class A
                            3,365  
  5,500    
Manitowoc Company Inc.
                            28,930  
  200    
PACCAR Inc.
                            6,502  
  200    
Pall Corporation
                            5,312  
                                         
       
Total Machinery
                            2,529,461  
                                         
       
Media – 2.4%
                                         
  5,500    
CBS Corporation, Class B
                            38,060  
  175,800    
Comcast Corporation, Class A
                            2,547,342  
  17,600    
DIRECTV Group, Inc., (2)
                            434,896  
  13,200    
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
                            397,452  
  1,300    
Meredith Corporation
                            33,215  
  4,800    
News Corporation, Class A
                            43,728  
  2,866    
Time Warner Inc.
                            72,195  
  1,600    
Viacom Inc., Class B, (2)
                            36,320  
  35,500    
Walt Disney Company
                            828,215  
                                         
       
Total Media
                            4,431,423  
                                         
       
Metals & Mining – 0.4%
                                         
  1,900    
AK Steel Holding Corporation
                            36,461  
  2,200    
Allegheny Technologies, Inc.
                            76,846  
  5,100    
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
                            255,561  

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  15
     


 

       
       
   JCE
    Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Metals & Mining (continued)
                                         
  1,000    
Nucor Corporation
                          $ 44,430  
  6,700    
United States Steel Corporation
                            239,458  
                                         
       
Total Metals & Mining
                            652,756  
                                         
       
Multiline Retail – 0.9%
                                         
  700    
Big Lots, Inc., (2)
                            14,721  
  14,100    
Family Dollar Stores, Inc.
                            399,030  
  2,900    
Federated Department Stores, Inc.
                            34,104  
  2,700    
J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
                            77,517  
  21,600    
Kohl’s Corporation, (2)
                            923,400  
  2,100    
Nordstrom, Inc.
                            41,769  
  1,000    
Sears Holding Corporation, (2)
                            66,520  
  2,600    
Target Corporation
                            102,622  
                                         
       
Total Multiline Retail
                            1,659,683  
                                         
       
Multi-Utilities – 2.2%
                                         
  19,600    
Ameren Corporation
                            487,844  
  35,200    
Consolidated Edison, Inc.
                            1,317,184  
  1,400    
Dominion Resources, Inc.
                            46,788  
  19,700    
DTE Energy Company
                            630,400  
  7,200    
Integrys Energy Group, Inc.
                            215,928  
  20,000    
PG&E Corporation
                            768,800  
  700    
Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated
                            22,841  
  7,000    
Scana Corporation
                            227,290  
  9,000    
TECO Energy, Inc.
                            107,370  
  2,500    
Wisconsin Energy Corporation
                            101,775  
  4,000    
Xcel Energy, Inc.
                            73,640  
                                         
       
Total Multi-Utilities
                            3,999,860  
                                         
       
Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels – 10.4%
                                         
  1,700    
Anadarko Petroleum Corporation
                            77,163  
  100    
Apache Corporation
                            7,215  
  3,100    
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
                            94,984  
  13,200    
Chesapeake Energy Corporation
                            261,756  
  51,600    
Chevron Corporation
                            3,418,500  
  36,800    
ConocoPhillips
                            1,547,808  
  8,900    
CONSOL Energy Inc.
                            302,244  
  23,200    
Denbury Resources Inc., (2)
                            341,736  
  1,800    
Devon Energy Corporation
                            98,100  
  6,700    
El Paso Corporation
                            61,841  
  139,400    
Exxon Mobil Corporation
                            9,745,454  
  900    
Hess Corporation
                            48,375  
  9,400    
Marathon Oil Corporation
                            283,222  
  11,200    
Massey Energy Company
                            218,848  
  14,000    
Occidental Petroleum Corporation
                            921,340  
  13,200    
Peabody Energy Corporation
                            398,112  
  8,400    
Pioneer Natural Resources Company
                            214,200  
  800    
Range Resources Corporation
                            33,128  
  6,700    
Southwestern Energy Company, (2)
                            260,295  
  34,400    
Spectra Energy Corporation
                            582,048  
  1,700    
Sunoco, Inc.
                            39,440  
  13,200    
Tesoro Corporation
                            168,036  
  4,100    
Valero Energy Corporation
                            69,249  
  2,400    
Williams Companies, Inc.
                            37,464  
  800    
XTO Energy, Inc.
                            30,512  
                                         
       
Total Oil, Gas & Consumable Fuels
                            19,261,070  
                                         
       
Paper & Forest Products – 0.0%
                                         
  2,800    
International Paper Company
                            42,364  
                                         
       
Personal Products – 0.0%
                                         
  2,200    
Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Class A
                            71,874  
                                         
       
Pharmaceuticals – 7.2%
                                         
  41,100    
Abbott Laboratories
                            1,933,344  
  2,100    
Allergan, Inc.
                            99,918  
  80,800    
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
                            1,641,048  
  2,200    
Eli Lilly and Company
                            76,208  

     
     
16
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Pharmaceuticals (continued)
                                         
  79,000    
Johnson & Johnson
                          $ 4,487,200  
  23,700    
King Pharmaceuticals Inc., (2)
                            228,231  
  58,300    
Merck & Co. Inc.
                            1,630,068  
  6,200    
Mylan Laboratories Inc., (2)
                            80,910  
  91,000    
Pfizer Inc.
                            1,365,000  
  48,100    
Schering-Plough Corporation
                            1,208,272  
  11,900    
Wyeth
                            540,141  
                                         
       
Total Pharmaceuticals
                            13,290,340  
                                         
       
Professional Services – 0.3%
                                         
  5,300    
Dun and Bradstreet Inc.
                            430,413  
  4,000    
Robert Half International Inc.
                            94,480  
                                         
       
Total Professional Services
                            524,893  
                                         
       
Real Estate – 0.9%
                                         
  1,022    
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
                            57,171  
  2,500    
Boston Properties, Inc.
                            119,250  
  9,500    
Equity Residential
                            211,185  
  12,600    
Health Care Property Investors Inc.
                            266,994  
  900    
Health Care REIT, Inc.
                            30,690  
  16,600    
Host Hotels & Resorts Inc.
                            139,274  
  2,700    
Plum Creek Timber Company
                            80,406  
  4,500    
ProLogis
                            36,270  
  6,500    
Public Storage, Inc.
                            425,620  
  1,712    
Simon Property Group, Inc.
                            88,048  
  1,100    
Ventas Inc.
                            32,846  
  3,671    
Vornado Realty Trust
                            165,305  
                                         
       
Total Real Estate
                            1,653,059  
                                         
       
Real Estate Management & Development – 0.1%
                                         
  19,400    
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc., Class A, (2)
                            181,584  
                                         
       
Road & Rail – 2.7%
                                         
  13,800    
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation
                            1,014,852  
  31,000    
CSX Corporation
                            1,073,530  
  43,300    
Norfolk Southern Corporation
                            1,631,111  
  22,600    
Union Pacific Corporation
                            1,176,556  
                                         
       
Total Road & Rail
                            4,896,049  
                                         
       
Semiconductors & Equipment – 2.4%
                                         
  52,500    
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., (2)
                            203,175  
  40,600    
Altera Corporation
                            660,968  
  5,400    
Analog Devices, Inc.
                            133,812  
  21,600    
Broadcom Corporation, Class A, (2)
                            535,464  
  48,600    
Intel Corporation
                            804,330  
  1,500    
KLA-Tencor Corporation
                            37,875  
  22,800    
Linear Technology Corporation
                            532,380  
  5,200    
MEMC Electronic Materials, (2)
                            92,612  
  4,100    
Microchip Technology Incorporated
                            92,455  
  44,600    
Micron Technology, Inc., (2)
                            225,676  
  19,500    
National Semiconductor Corporation
                            244,725  
  4,500    
Novellus Systems, Inc., (2)
                            75,150  
  32,100    
NVIDIA Corporation, (2)
                            362,409  
  24,800    
Xilinx, Inc.
                            507,408  
                                         
       
Total Semiconductors & Equipment
                            4,508,439  
                                         
       
Software – 2.6%
                                         
  7,300    
Adobe Systems Incorporated, (2)
                            206,590  
  1,900    
Autodesk, Inc., (2)
                            36,062  
  1,200    
Citrix Systems, (2)
                            38,268  
  15,400    
Compuware Corporation, (2)
                            105,644  
  22,700    
Intuit, Inc., (2)
                            639,232  
  2,700    
McAfee Inc., (2)
                            113,913  
  39,200    
Microsoft Corporation
                            931,784  
  99,100    
Oracle Corporation
                            2,122,722  
  43,900    
Symantec Corporation, (2)
                            683,084  
                                         
       
Total Software
                            4,877,299  
                                         

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  17
     


 

       
       
   JCE
    Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (continued)
Portfolio of INVESTMENTS June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Shares     Description (1)                     Value  
       
Specialty Retail – 1.7%
  2,600    
AutoNation Inc., (2)
                          $ 45,110  
  500    
AutoZone, Inc., (2)
                            75,555  
  1,900    
Bed Bath and Beyond Inc., (2)
                            58,425  
  1,700    
GameStop Corporation, (2)
                            37,417  
  2,100    
Gap, Inc.
                            34,440  
  25,600    
Home Depot, Inc.
                            604,928  
  26,800    
Limited Brands, Inc.
                            320,796  
  18,000    
Lowe’s Companies, Inc.
                            349,380  
  18,700    
Office Depot, Inc., (2)
                            85,272  
  7,800    
O’Reilly Automotive Inc., (2)
                            297,024  
  11,300    
RadioShack Corporation
                            157,748  
  9,900    
Sherwin-Williams Company
                            532,125  
  17,000    
Staples, Inc.
                            342,890  
  1,300    
Tiffany & Co.
                            32,968  
  6,000    
TJX Companies, Inc.
                            188,760  
                                         
       
Total Specialty Retail
                            3,162,838  
                                         
       
Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods – 0.5%
  2,200    
Coach, Inc.
                            59,136  
  2,200    
Nike, Inc., Class B
                            113,916  
  4,900    
Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation
                            262,346  
  9,000    
VF Corporation
                            498,150  
                                         
       
Total Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods
                            933,548  
                                         
       
Thrifts & Mortgage Finance – 0.4%
  40,500    
Hudson City Bancorp, Inc.
                            538,245  
  10,000    
People’s United Financial, Inc.
                            150,400  
                                         
       
Total Thrifts & Mortgage Finance
                            688,645  
                                         
       
Tobacco – 0.5%
  2,100    
Altria Group, Inc.
                            34,419  
  800    
Lorillard Inc.
                            54,216  
  16,100    
Philip Morris International
                            702,282  
  3,000    
Reynolds American Inc.
                            115,860  
                                         
       
Total Tobacco
                            906,777  
                                         
       
Trading Companies & Distributors – 0.7%
  17,900    
Fastenal Company
                            593,743  
  8,800    
W.W. Grainger, Inc.
                            720,544  
                                         
       
Total Trading Companies & Distributors
                            1,314,287  
                                         
       
Wireless Telecommunication Services – 0.1%
  5,800    
Metropcs Communications Inc., (2)
                            77,198  
  31,200    
Sprint Nextel Corporation, (2)
                            150,072  
                                         
       
Total Wireless Telecommunication Services
                            227,270  
                                         
       
Total Common Stocks (cost $180,442,444)
    177,946,030  
                                         
 
                             
Principal
                             
Amount (000)     Description (1)   Coupon     Maturity     Rating (3)     Value  
       
Short-Term Investments – 5.8%
       
U.S. Government and Agency Obligations – 4.3%
$ 5,000    
U.S. Treasury Bills
    0.000%       7/30/09       AAA     $ 4,999,315  
  3,000    
U.S. Treasury Bills (4)
    0.000%       8/27/09       AAA       2,999,373  
                                         
                                         
  8,000    
Total U.S. Government and Agency Obligations
                            7,998,688  
                                         
       
Repurchase Agreements – 1.5%
                                         
  2,691    
Repurchase Agreement with State Street Bank, dated 6/30/09, repurchase price $2,690,790, collateralized by $2,750,000 U.S. Treasury Bills, 0.000%, due 12/10/09, value $2,746,150
    0.000%       7/01/09       N/A       2,690,790  
                                         
                                         
$ 10,691    
Total Short-Term Investments (cost $10,688,933)
                            10,689,478  
                                         
       
Total Investments (cost $191,131,377) – 102.3%
    188,635,508  
                                         

     
     
18
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

                                         
 
                             
 
                             
Number of
        Notional
    Expiration
    Strike
       
Contracts     Type   Amount (5)     Date     Price     Value  
       
Call Options – (0.3)%
                                         
  (407,533 )  
Custom Basket 1 NASDAQ
  $ (40,753,283 )     7/16/09     $ 105.0     $ (212,976 )
  (413,421 )  
Custom Basket 2 NASDAQ
    (41,342,096 )     8/06/09       105.0       (353,930 )
                                         
  (820,954 )  
Total Call Options Written (premiums received $1,012,494)
    (82,095,379 )                     (566,906 )
                                         
       
Other Assets Less Liabilities – (2.0)%
    (3,718,224 )
                                         
       
Net Assets – 100%
  $ 184,350,378  
                                         
 
Investments in Derivatives
 
Futures Contracts outstanding at June 30, 2009:
 
                                             
                                Unrealized
 
        Contract
    Number
    Contract
    Value at
    Appreciation
 
Type       Position     of Contracts     Expiration     June 30, 2009     (Depreciation)  
   
 
S&P 500 Index
        Long       125       9/09     $ 5,721,875     $ 146,500  
 
 
 
             
        (1)   All percentages shown in the Portfolio of Investments are based on net assets.
        (2)   Non-income producing; issuer has not declared a dividend within the past twelve months.
        (3)   Ratings: Using the higher of Standard & Poor’s Group (“Standard & Poor’s”) or Moody’s Investor Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”) rating. Rating below BBB by Standard & Poor’s or Baa by Moody’s are considered to be below investment grade.
        (4)   Investment, or portion of investment, has been pledged to collateralize the net payment obligations for investments in derivatives.
        (5)   For disclosure purposes, Notional Amount is calculated by multiplying the Number of Contracts by $100.
        N/A   Not applicable.
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  19
     


 

           
           
  
    Statement of
ASSETS & LIABILITIES
          June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

 
         
Assets
       
Investments, at value (cost $191,131,377)
  $ 188,635,508  
Receivables:
       
Dividends
    293,691  
Investments sold
    1,629,312  
Reclaims
    930  
Other assets
    9,417  
         
Total assets
    190,568,858  
         
Liabilities
       
Cash overdraft
    31,669  
Call options written, at value (premiums received $1,012,494)
    566,906  
Payables:
       
Dividends
    3,464,150  
Investments purchased
    1,816,597  
Fund shares repurchased
    69,516  
Variation margin on futures contracts
    35,625  
Accrued expenses:
       
Management fees
    144,808  
Other
    89,209  
         
Total liabilities
    6,218,480  
         
Net assets
  $ 184,350,378  
         
Shares outstanding
    16,192,686  
         
Net asset value per share outstanding
  $ 11.38  
         
         
Net assets consist of:
       
         
Shares, $.01 par value per share
  $ 161,927  
Paid-in surplus
    270,272,376  
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income
    (7,535,869 )
Accumulated net realized gain (loss) from investments, foreign currency and derivative transactions
    (76,644,275 )
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments and derivative transactions
    (1,903,781 )
         
Net assets
  $ 184,350,378  
         
Authorized shares
    Unlimited  
         
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

     
     
20
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

           
           
  
    Statement of
OPERATIONS
          Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 (Unaudited)

 
         
Investment Income
       
Dividends
  $ 2,240,144  
Interest
    12,809  
         
Total investment income
    2,252,953  
         
Expenses
       
Management fees
    833,878  
Shareholders’ servicing agent fees and expenses
    151  
Custodian’s fees and expenses
    84,913  
Trustees’ fees and expenses
    3,276  
Professional fees
    19,534  
Shareholders’ reports – printing and mailing expenses
    31,071  
Stock exchange listing fees
    4,572  
Investor relations expense
    15,604  
Other expenses
    16,534  
         
Total expenses before custodian fee credit
    1,009,533  
Custodian fee credit
    (12 )
         
Net expenses
    1,009,521  
         
Net investment income
    1,243,432  
         
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
       
Net realized gain (loss) from:
       
Investments and foreign currency
    (40,972,911 )
Call options written
    (237,769 )
Futures contracts
    328,725  
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:
       
Investments
    42,167,436  
Call options written
    234,696  
Futures contracts
    35,575  
         
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss)
    1,555,752  
         
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations
  $ 2,799,184  
         
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  21
     


 

           
           
  
    Statement of
CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
          (Unaudited)

 
                 
    Six Months
       
    Ended
    Year Ended
 
    6/30/09     12/31/08  
Operations
               
Net investment income
  $ 1,243,432     $ 2,664,191  
Net realized gain (loss) from:
               
Investments and foreign currency
    (40,972,911 )     (55,623,396 )
Call options written
    (237,769 )     25,413,109  
Futures contracts
    328,725       (5,099,570 )
Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of:
               
Investments
    42,167,436       (55,356,228 )
Call options written
    234,696       (3,236,572 )
Futures contracts
    35,575       507,899  
                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from operations
    2,799,184       (90,730,567 )
                 
Distributions to Shareholders
               
From and in excess of net investment income
    (8,774,236 )      
From net investment income
          (2,546,797 )
Tax return of capital
          (21,944,111 )
                 
Decrease in net assets from distributions to shareholders
    (8,774,236 )     (24,490,908 )
                 
Capital Share Transactions
               
Offering costs adjustments
    4,600       (6,968 )
Cost of shares repurchased
    (858,995 )     (1,469,116 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets from capital share transactions
    (854,395 )     (1,476,084 )
                 
Net increase (decrease) in net assets
    (6,829,447 )     (116,697,559 )
Net assets at the beginning of period
    191,179,825       307,877,384  
                 
Net assets at the end of period
  $ 184,350,378     $ 191,179,825  
                 
Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income at the end of period
  $ (7,535,869 )   $ (5,065 )
                 
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

     
     
22
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

           
           
       Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)
           

 
 
1.  General Information and Significant Accounting Policies
Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund (the “Fund”) is a diversified, closed-end management investment company registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Fund’s shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trade under the ticker symbol “JCE.” The Fund was organized as a Massachusetts business trust on January 9, 2007.
 
The Fund seeks to provide an attractive level of total return primarily through long-term capital appreciation and secondarily through income and gains. The Fund will invest in a portfolio of common stocks selected by employing a proprietary mathematical process designed by the Fund’s sub-adviser, INTECH, that seeks to provide, over time, risk-adjusted excess returns above the S&P 500 Index with an equal or lesser amount of relative investment risk.
 
The following is a summary of significant accounting policies followed by the Fund in the preparation of its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
 
Investment Valuation
Exchange-listed securities are generally valued at the last sales price on the securities exchange on which such securities are primarily traded. Securities traded on a securities exchange for which there are no transactions on a given day or securities not listed on a securities exchange are valued at the mean of the closing bid and asked prices. Securities traded on NASDAQ are valued at the NASDAQ Official Closing Price. Exchange traded options are valued on last price or average of the bid/ask if no trades occurred. OTC option values are modeled using market implied volatilities. Futures contracts are valued using the closing settlement price, or, in the absence of such a price, at the mean of the bid and asked prices. When market price quotes are not readily available, the pricing service or, in the absence of a pricing service for a particular investment or derivative instrument, the Board of Trustees of the Fund or its designee, may establish fair value using a wide variety of market data including yields or prices of investments of comparable quality, type of issue, coupon, maturity and rating, market quotes or indications of value from security dealers, evaluations of anticipated cash flows or collateral, general market conditions and other information and analysis, including the obligor’s credit characteristics considered relevant. Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost, which approximates value.
 
Investment Transactions
Investment transactions are recorded on a trade date basis. Realized gains and losses from investment transactions are determined on the specific identification method.
 
Investment Income
Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date or, for foreign securities, when information is available. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis.
 
Income Taxes
The Fund intends to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies. The Fund intends to distribute substantially all of its investment company taxable income to shareholders. In any year when the Fund realizes net capital gains, the Fund may choose to distribute all or a portion of its net capital gains to shareholders, or alternatively, to retain all or a portion of its net capital gains and pay federal corporate income taxes on such retained gains. The fund had no retained capital gains for the tax year ended December 31, 2008.
 
For all open tax years and all major taxing jurisdictions, management of the Fund has concluded that there are no significant uncertain tax positions that would require recognition in the financial statements. Open tax years are those that are open for examination by taxing authorities (i.e., generally the last four tax year ends and the interim tax period since then). Furthermore, management of the Fund is also not aware of any tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts of unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the next twelve months.
 
Dividends and Distributions to Shareholders
Distributions to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date. The amount and timing of distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax regulations, which may differ from accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  23
     


 

       
       
   
    Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) (Unaudited)

 
The Fund makes quarterly cash distributions to shareholders of a stated dollar amount per share. Subject to approval and oversight by the Fund’s Board of Trustees, the Fund seeks to maintain a stable distribution level designed to deliver the long-term return potential of the Fund’s investment strategy through regular quarterly distributions (a “Managed Distribution Program”). Total distributions during a calendar year generally will be made from the Fund’s net investment income, net realized capital gains and net unrealized capital gains in the Fund’s portfolio, if any. The portion of distributions paid from net unrealized gains, if any, would be distributed from the Fund’s assets and would be treated by shareholders as a non-taxable distribution for tax purposes. In the event that total distributions during a calendar year exceed the Fund’s total return on net asset value, the difference will be treated as a return of capital for tax purposes and will reduce net asset value per share. If the Fund’s total return on net asset value exceeds total distributions during a calendar year, the excess will be reflected as an increase in net asset value per share. The final determination of the source and character of all distributions for the fiscal year are made after the end of the fiscal year and are reflected in the financial statements contained in the annual report as of December 31 each year.
 
The actual character of distributions made by the Fund during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, is reflected in the accompanying financial statements.
 
The distributions made by the Fund during the six months ended June 30, 2009, are provisionally classified as being “From and in excess of net investment income,” and those distributions will be classified as being from net investment income, net realized capital gains and/or a return of capital for tax purposes after the fiscal year end. For purposes of calculating “Undistributed (Over-distribution of) net investment income” as of June 30, 2009, the distribution amounts provisionally classified as “From and in excess of net investment income” were treated as being entirely from net investment income. Consequently, the financial statements at June 30, 2009, reflect an over-distribution of net investment income.
 
Foreign Currency Transactions
The Fund is authorized to engage in foreign currency exchange transactions, including foreign currency forward, futures, options and swap contracts. To the extent that the Fund invests in securities and/or contracts that are denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, the Fund will be subject to currency risk, which is the risk that an increase in the U.S. dollar relative to the foreign currency will reduce returns or portfolio value. Generally, when the U.S. dollar rises in value against a foreign currency, the Fund’s investments denominated in that currency will lose value because its currency is worth fewer U.S. dollars; the opposite effect occurs if the U.S. dollar falls in relative value. Investments and other assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are converted into U.S. dollars on a spot (i.e. cash) basis at the spot rate prevailing in the foreign currency exchange market at the time of valuation. Purchases and sales of investments and income denominated in foreign currencies are translated into U.S. dollars on the respective dates of such transactions.
 
The books and records of the Fund are maintained in U.S. dollars. Foreign currencies, investments and other assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. dollars at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Investments and income and expenses are translated on the respective dates of such transactions. Net realized foreign currency gains and losses resulting from changes in exchange rates include foreign currency gains and losses between trade date and settlement date of the transactions, foreign currency transactions, and the difference between the amounts of interest and dividends recorded on the books of the Fund and the amounts actually received.
 
The realized gains or losses resulting from changes in foreign exchange rates if any, are included in “Net realized gain (loss) from investments and foreign currency” on the Statement of Operations.
 
Futures Contracts
The Fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and is authorized to invest in futures contracts in order to gain exposure to, or hedge against, changes in equity prices. Upon entering into a futures contract, the Fund is required to deposit with the broker an amount of cash or liquid securities equal to a specified percentage of the contract amount. This is known as the “initial margin.” Cash held by the broker to cover initial margin requirements on open futures contracts, if any, is recognized as “Deposits with brokers for open futures contracts” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Subsequent payments (“variation margin”) are made or received by the Fund each day, depending on the daily fluctuation of the value of the contract. Variation margin is recognized as a receivable or payable for “Variation margin on futures contracts” on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, when applicable.
 
During the period the futures contract is open, changes in the value of the contract are recorded as an unrealized gain or loss by “marking-to-market” on a daily basis to reflect the changes in market value of the contract and is recognized as “Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations. When the contract is closed or expired, the Fund records a realized gain or loss equal to the difference between the value of the contract on the closing date and value of the contract when originally entered into and is recognized as “Net realized gain (loss) from futures contracts” on the Statement of Operations.
 
Risks of investments in futures contracts include the possible adverse movement of the securities or indices underlying the contracts, the possibility that there may not be a liquid secondary market for the contracts and/or that a change in the value of the contract may not correlate with a change in the value of the underlying securities or indices.

     
     
24
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

The average number of futures contracts outstanding during the six months ended June 30, 2009, was 142. Refer to Footnote 3 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities for further details on futures contract activity.
 
Options Transactions
The Fund is subject to equity price risk in the normal course of pursuing its investment objectives and is authorized to write (sell) call options, primarily on custom baskets of securities, in an attempt to manage such risk. When the Fund writes a call option, an amount equal to the net premium received (the premium less commission) is recognized as a component of “Call options written, at value” on the Statement of Asset and Liabilities and is subsequently adjusted to reflect the current value of the written option until the option expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction. The charges in value of the options during the reporting period are reflected as “Change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of call options written” on the Statement of Operations. When a call option expires or the Fund enters into a closing purchase transaction, the difference between the net premium received and any amount paid at expiration or upon executing a closing purchase transaction, including commission, is recognized as “Net realized gain from call options written” or, if the net premium received is less than the amount paid, as “Net realized loss from call options written” on the Statements of Operations. The Fund, as writer of a call option, has no control over whether the underlying instrument may be sold (called) and as a result bears the risk of an unfavorable change in the market value of the instrument or index underlying the written option. There is the risk the Fund may not be able to enter into a closing transaction because of an illiquid market.
 
The average notional balance on call options written during the six months ended June 30, 2009, was $(302,712,612). Refer to Footnote 3 – Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities for further details on call options written.
 
Market and Counterparty Credit Risk
In the normal course of business the Fund may invest in financial instruments and enter into financial transactions where risk of potential loss exists due to changes in the market (market risk) or failure of the other party to the transaction to perform (counterparty credit risk). The potential loss could exceed the value of the financial assets recorded on the financial statements. Financial assets, which potentially expose the Fund to counterparty credit risk, consist principally of cash due from counterparties on forward, option and swap transactions. The extent of the Fund’s exposure to counterparty credit risk in respect to these financial assets approximates their carrying value as recorded on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities. Futures contracts expose the Fund to minimal counterparty credit risk as they are exchange traded and the exchange’s clearing house, which is counterparty to all exchange traded futures, guarantees the futures contracts against default.
 
The Fund helps manage counterparty credit risk by entering into agreements only with counterparties Nuveen Asset Management (“the Adviser”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nuveen Investments, Inc. (“Nuveen”), believes have the financial resources to honor their obligations and by having the Adviser monitor the financial stability of the counterparties. Additionally, counterparties may be required to pledge collateral daily (based on the daily valuation of the financial asset) on behalf of the Fund with a value approximately equal to the amount of any unrealized gain above a pre-determined threshold. Reciprocally, when the Fund has an unrealized loss, the Fund has instructed the custodian to pledge assets of the Fund as collateral with a value approximately equal to the amount of the unrealized loss above a pre-determined threshold. Collateral pledges are monitored and subsequently adjusted if and when the valuations fluctuate, either up or down, by at least the predetermined threshold amount.
 
Repurchase Agreements
In connection with transactions in repurchase agreements, it is the Fund’s policy that its custodian take possession of the underlying collateral securities, the fair value of which exceeds the principal amount of the repurchase transaction, including accrued interest, at all times. If the seller defaults, and the fair value of the collateral declines, realization of the collateral may be delayed or limited.
 
Custodian Fee Credit
The Fund has an arrangement with the custodian bank whereby certain custodian fees and expenses are reduced by net credits earned on the Fund’s cash on deposit with the bank. Such deposit arrangements are an alternative to overnight investments. Credits for cash balances may be offset by charges for any days on which the Fund overdraws its account at the custodian bank.
 
Indemnifications
Under the Fund’s organizational documents, its Officers and Trustees are indemnified against certain liabilities arising out of the performance of their duties to the Fund. In addition, in the normal course of business, the Fund enters into contracts that provide general indemnifications to other parties. The Fund’s maximum exposure under these arrangements is unknown as this would involve future claims that may be made against the Fund that have not yet occurred. However, the Fund has not had prior claims or losses pursuant to these contracts and expects the risk of loss to be remote.
 
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of increases and decreases in net assets from operations during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  25
     


 

       
       
   
    Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) (Unaudited)

 
2.  Fair Value Measurements
In determining the value of the Fund’s investments various inputs are used. These inputs are summarized in the three broad levels listed below:
 
         
Level 1     Quoted prices in active markets for identical securities.
Level 2     Other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.).
Level 3     Significant unobservable inputs (including management’s assumptions in determining the fair value of investments).
 
The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities. The following is a summary of the Fund’s fair value measurements as of June 30, 2009:
 
                                 
    Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     Total  
Investments:
                               
Common Stocks
  $ 177,946,030     $     $   –     $ 177,946,030  
Short-Term Investments
    10,689,478                   10,689,478  
Call Options Written
          (566,906 )           (566,906 )
Derivatives:
                               
Futures Contracts *
    146,500                   146,500  
                                 
Total
  $ 188,782,008     $ (566,906 )   $     $ 188,215,102  
                                 
Represents net unrealized appreciation (depreciation).
 
3.  Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
During the current fiscal period, the Fund adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161 (SFAS No. 161) “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” This standard is intended to enhance financial statement disclosures for derivative instruments and hedging activities and enable investors to better understand: a) how and why a fund uses derivative instruments; b) how derivative instruments are accounted for; and c) how derivative instruments affect a fund’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, if any. The Fund records derivative instruments at fair value with changes in fair value recognized on the Statement of Operations. Even though the Fund’s investments in derivatives may represent economic hedges, they are considered to be non-hedge transactions for SFAS No. 161 disclosure purposes. For additional information on the derivative instruments in which the Fund was invested during and at the end of the reporting period, refer to the Portfolio of Investments, Financial Statements and Footnote 1 – General Information and Significant Accounting Policies.
 
The table below presents the fair value of all derivative instruments held by the Fund as of June 30, 2009, the location of these instruments on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities, and the primary underlying risk exposure.
 
                                 
        Location on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities
    Derivative
  Asset Derivatives   Liability Derivatives
Underlying Risk Exposure   Instrument   Location   Value   Location   Value
Equity Price
    Futures     Payable for variation margin on futures contracts*   $ 146,500       $  
                                 
                                 
Equity Price
    Options             Call options written, at value     566,906  
                                 
Total
              $ 146,500         $ 566,906  
                                 
Value represents cumulative unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of futures contracts as reported in the Portfolio of Investments and not the deposits with brokers, if any, or the receivable or payable for variation margin presented on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities.
 
The following tables present the amount of net realized gain (loss) and change in net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) recognized for the six months ended June 30, 2009, on derivative instruments, as well as the primary risk exposure associated with each.
 
         
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from Call Options Written      
Risk Exposure
       
Equity Price
  $ (237,769 )
         
 
         
Net Realized Gain (Loss) from Futures Contracts    
Risk Exposure
       
Equity Price
  $ 328,725  
         
 
         
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Call Options Written    
Risk Exposure
       
Equity Price
  $ 234,696  
         
 
         
Change in Net Unrealized Appreciation (Depreciation) of Futures    
Risk Exposure
       
Equity Price
  $ 35,575  
         

     
     
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  Nuveen Investments
     


 

4.  Fund Shares
On November 21, 2007, the Fund’s Board of Trustees approved an open-market share repurchase program under which the Fund may repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately 10% of it’s outstanding shares.
 
Transactions in shares were as follows:
 
                 
    Six Months
    Year
 
    Ended
    Ended
 
    6/30/09     12/31/08  
Shares repurchased
    (96,200 )     (155,100 )
                 
Weighted average:
               
Price per share repurchased
  $ 8.91     $ 9.45  
Discount per share repurchased
    17.87 %     20.69 %
                 
 
5.  Investment Transactions
Purchases and sales (excluding short-term investments, call options written and derivative transactions) during the six months ended June 30, 2009, aggregated $88,303,640 and $95,451,361, respectively.
 
Transactions in call options written during the six months ended June 30, 2009, were as follows:
 
                 
    Number of
    Premiums
 
    Contracts     Received  
Outstanding, beginning of year
    760,176     $ 3,607,076  
Call options written
    3,529,477       6,067,811  
Call options terminated in closing purchase transactions
    (1,517,829 )     (2,519,144 )
Call options expired
    (1,950,870 )     (6,143,249 )
                 
Outstanding, end of year
    820,954     $ 1,012,494  
                 
 
6.  Income Tax Information
The following information is presented on an income tax basis. Differences between amounts for financial statement and federal income tax purposes are primarily due to timing differences in recognizing certain gains and losses on investment transactions and the recognition of unrealized gain or loss for tax (mark-to-market) on futures contracts. To the extent that differences arise that are permanent in nature, such amounts are reclassified within the capital accounts on the Statement of Assets and Liabilities presented in the annual report, based on their federal tax basis treatment; temporary differences do not require reclassification. Temporary and permanent differences do not impact the net asset value of the Fund.
 
At June 30, 2009, the cost of investments (excluding call options written) was as follows:
 
         
 
 
Cost of investments
  $ 197,135,556  
 
 
 
Gross unrealized appreciation and gross unrealized depreciation of investments (excluding call options written) at June 30, 2009, were as follows:
 
         
Gross unrealized:
       
Appreciation
  $ 13,121,733  
Depreciation
    (21,621,781 )
         
Net unrealized appreciation (depreciation) of investments
  $ (8,500,048 )
         
 
The tax components of undistributed net ordinary income and net long-term capital gains at December 31, 2008, the Fund’s last tax year end, were as follows:
 
         
Undistributed net ordinary income *
  $   –  
Undistributed net long-term capital gains
     
         
Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.
 
The tax character of distributions paid during the Fund’s last tax year ended December 31, 2008, was designated for purposes of the dividends paid deduction as follows:
 
         
Distributions from net ordinary income *
  $ 2,546,797  
Tax return of capital
    21,944,111  
         
Net ordinary income consists of net taxable income derived from dividends, interest, and net short-term capital gains, if any.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  27
     


 

       
       
   
    Notes to
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued) (Unaudited)

 
At December 31, 2008, the Fund’s last tax year end, the Fund had an unused capital loss carryforward of $13,413,513 available for federal income tax purposes to be applied against future capital gains, if any. If not applied, the carryforward will expire on December 31, 2016.
 
The Fund elected to defer net realized losses from investments incurred from November 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, (“post-October losses”) in accordance with federal income tax regulations. Post-October capital losses of $16,233,703 were treated as having arisen on the first day of the current fiscal year.
 
7.  Management Fees and Other Transactions with Affiliates
The Fund’s management fee is separated into two components – a complex-level component, based on the aggregate amount of all fund assets managed by the Adviser, and a specific fund-level component, based only on the amount of assets within the Fund. This pricing structure enables Nuveen fund shareholders to benefit from growth in the assets within each individual fund as well as from growth in the amount of complex-wide assets managed by the Adviser.
 
The annual fund-level fee, payable monthly, is based upon the average daily managed net assets of the Fund as follows:
 
         
Average Daily Managed Net Assets (1)   Fund-Level Fee Rate
For the first $500 million
    .7500 %
For the next $500 million
    .7250  
For the next $500 million
    .7000  
For the next $500 million
    .6750  
For Managed Assets over $2 billion
    .6500  
         
 
The annual complex-level fee, payable monthly, which is additive to the fund-level fee, for all Nuveen sponsored funds in the U.S., is based on the aggregate amount of total fund net assets managed as stated in the following table. As of June 30, 2009, the complex-level fee rate was .1970%.
 
The complex-level fee schedule is as follows:
 
         
Complex-Level Net Asset Breakpoint Level (1)   Effective Rate at Breakpoint Level
$55 billion
    .2000 %
$56 billion
    .1996  
$57 billion
    .1989  
$60 billion
    .1961  
$63 billion
    .1931  
$66 billion
    .1900  
$71 billion
    .1851  
$76 billion
    .1806  
$80 billion
    .1773  
$91 billion
    .1691  
$125 billion
    .1599  
$200 billion
    .1505  
$250 billion
    .1469  
$300 billion
    .1445  
         
(1)  The complex-level fee component of the management fee for the funds is calculated based upon the aggregate daily managed net assets of all Nuveen funds, with such daily managed net assets defined separately for each fund in its management agreement, but excluding assets attributable to investments in other Nuveen funds. For the complex-level and fund-level fee components, daily managed net assets include assets managed by the Adviser that are attributable to financial leverage. For these purposes, financial leverage includes the funds’ use of preferred stock and borrowings and investments in the residual interest certificates (also called inverse floating rate securities) in tender option bond (TOB) trusts, including the portion of assets held by the TOB trust that has been effectively financed by the trust’s issuance of floating rate securities, subject to an agreement by the Adviser to limit the amount of such assets for determining managed net assets in certain circumstances.
 
The management fee compensates the Adviser for overall investment advisory and administrative services and general office facilities. The Adviser is responsible for the overall strategy and asset allocation decisions. The Adviser has entered into a Sub-Advisory Agreement with INTECH Investment Management LLC (“INTECH”), under which INTECH manages the portion of the Fund’s investment portfolio allocated to common stocks. The Adviser will also be responsible for the Fund’s option strategy. INTECH is compensated for its services to the Fund from the management fee paid to the Adviser.
 
The Fund pays no compensation directly to those of its Trustees who are affiliated with the Adviser or to its Officers, all of whom receive remuneration for their services to the Fund from the Adviser or its affiliates. The Board of Trustees has adopted a deferred compensation plan for independent Trustees that enables Trustees to elect to defer receipt of all or a portion of the annual compensation they are entitled to receive from certain Nuveen advised funds. Under the plan, deferred amounts are treated as though equal dollar amounts had been invested in shares of select Nuveen advised funds.

     
     
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  Nuveen Investments
     


 

8.  Subsequent Events
In May 2009, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 165 (SFAS No. 165) “Subsequent Events.” SFAS No. 165 requires an entity to recognize in the financial statements the effects of all subsequent events that provide additional evidence about conditions that existed at the date of the balance sheet. SFAS No. 165 is intended to establish general standards of accounting and for disclosure of events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or are available to be issued. SFAS No. 165 requires the disclosure of the date through which an entity has evaluated subsequent events and the basis for that date – that is, whether that date represents the date the financial statements were issued or were available to be issued. SFAS No. 165 is effective for interim and annual periods ending after June 15, 2009. The Fund has performed an evaluation of subsequent events through August 26, 2009, which is the date the financial statements were issued.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  29
     


 

           
           
       Financial
HIGHLIGHTS (Unaudited)
      Selected data for a share outstanding throughout each period:

 
                                                                                         
    Investment Operations                                                  
                Net
    Less Distributions                          
    Beginning
    Net
    Realized/
          Net
          Tax
                Ending
    Ending
 
    Net Asset
    Investment
    Unrealized
          Investment
    Capital
    Return of
          Offering
    Net Asset
    Market
 
    Value     Income(a)     Gain (Loss)     Total     Income     Gains     Capital     Total     Costs     Value     Value  
Year Ended 12/31:                                                                                        
2009(c)   $ 11.74     $ .08     $ .10     $ .18     $ (.54 )*****   $     $     $ (.54 )   $ *   $ 11.38     $ 9.72  
2008     18.72       .16       (5.64 )     (5.48 )     (.16 )      –       (1.34 )     (1.50 )     *     11.74       9.61  
2007(b)     19.10       .15       .81       0.96       (.14 )           (1.16 )     (1.30 )     (0.04 )     18.72       16.35  
                                                                                         

     
     
30
  Nuveen Investments
     


 

                                                                 
          Ratios/Supplemental Data  
                      Ratios to Average
    Ratios to Average Net
       
    Total Returns           Net Assets Before Credit     Assets After Credit***        
    Based on
    Based on
                Net
          Net
    Portfolio
 
    Market
    Net Asset
    Ending Net
          Investment
          Investment
    Turnover
 
    Value**     Value**     Assets (000)     Expenses     Income     Expenses     Income     Rate  
                                                                 
      7.19 %     1.82 %   $ 184,350       1.15 %****     1.41 %****     1.15 %****     1.41 %****     51 %
      (34.06 )     (30.84 )     191,180       1.11       1.04       1.11       1.04       51  
      (12.08 )     4.84       307,877       1.07 ****     1.03 ****     1.07 ****     1.03 ****     73  
                                                                 
 
* Rounds to less than $.01 per share.
** Total Return Based on Market Value is the combination of changes in the market price per share and the effect of reinvested dividend income and reinvested capital gains distributions, if any, at the average price paid per share at the time of reinvestment. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending market price. The actual reinvestment for the last dividend declared in the period may take place over several days, and in some instances may not be based on the market price, so the actual reinvestment price may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
 
Total Return Based on Net Asset Value is the combination of changes in net asset value, reinvested dividend income at net asset value and reinvested capital gains distributions at net asset value, if any. The last dividend declared in the period, which is typically paid on the first business day of the following month, is assumed to be reinvested at the ending net asset value. The actual reinvest price for the last dividend declared in the period may often be based on the Fund’s market price (and not its net asset value), and therefore may be different from the price used in the calculation. Total returns are not annualized.
*** After custodian fee credit.
**** Annualized.
***** Represents distributions paid “From and in excess of net investment income” for the six months ended June 30, 2009.
(a) Per share Net Investment Income is calculated using the average daily shares method.
(b) For the period March 27, 2007 (commencement of operations) through December 31, 2007.
(c) For the six months ended June 30, 2009.
 
See accompanying notes to financial statements.

     
     
Nuveen Investments
  31
     


 

 
Annual Investment Management
Agreement Approval Process

 
 
The Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), provides, in substance, that each investment advisory agreement between a fund and its investment adviser (including sub-advisers) will continue in effect from year to year only if its continuance is approved at least annually by the fund’s board members, including by a vote of a majority of the board members who are not parties to the advisory agreement or “interested persons” of any parties (the “Independent Board Members”), cast in person at a meeting called for the purpose of considering such approval. In connection with such approvals, the fund’s board members must request and evaluate, and the investment adviser is required to furnish, such information as may be reasonably necessary to evaluate the terms of the advisory agreement. Accordingly, at a meeting held on May 27-29, 2009 (the “May Meeting”), the Board of Trustees (the “Board,” and each Trustee, a “Board Member”) of the Fund, including a majority of the Independent Board Members, considered and approved the continuation of the advisory and sub-advisory agreements for the Fund for an additional one-year period. These agreements include the investment advisory agreement between Nuveen Asset Management (“NAM”) and the Fund and the sub-advisory agreement between NAM and INTECH Investment Management LLC (the “Sub-Adviser”). In preparation for their considerations at the May Meeting, the Board also held a separate meeting on April 21-22, 2009 (the “April Meeting”). Accordingly, the factors considered and determinations made regarding the renewals by the Independent Board Members include those made at the April Meeting.
 
In addition, in evaluating the advisory agreement (the “Investment Management Agreement”) and the sub-advisory agreement (the “Sub-advisory Agreement,” and the Investment Management Agreement and Sub-advisory Agreement are each an “Advisory Agreement”), the Independent Board Members reviewed a broad range of information relating to the Fund, NAM and the Sub-Adviser (NAM and the Sub-Adviser are each a “Fund Adviser”), including absolute performance, fee and expense information for the Fund as well as comparative performance, fee and expense information for a comparable peer group of funds, the performance information of recognized and/or customized benchmarks (as applicable) of the Fund, the profitability of Nuveen for its advisory activities (which includes its wholly owned subsidiaries other than Winslow Capital Management, Inc. (“Winslow Capital”), which was recently acquired in December 2008), and other information regarding the organization, personnel, and services provided by the respective Fund Adviser. The Independent Board Members also met quarterly as well as at other times as the need arose during the year and took into account the information provided at such meetings and the knowledge gained therefrom. Prior to approving the renewal of the Advisory Agreements, the Independent Board Members reviewed the foregoing information with their independent legal counsel and with management, reviewed materials from independent legal counsel describing applicable law and their duties in reviewing advisory contracts, and met with independent legal counsel in private sessions without management present. The Independent Board Members considered the legal advice provided by independent legal counsel and relied upon their knowledge of the Fund Adviser, its services and the Fund resulting from their meetings and other interactions throughout the year and their own business judgment in determining the factors to be considered in evaluating the Advisory Agreements. Each Board Member may have accorded different weight to the various factors in reaching his or her conclusions with respect to the Fund’s Advisory Agreements. The Independent Board Members did not identify any single factor as all-important or controlling. The Independent Board Members’ considerations were instead based on a comprehensive consideration of all the information presented. The principal factors considered by the Board and its conclusions are described below.
 
A.  Nature, Extent and Quality of Services
In considering renewal of the Advisory Agreements, the Independent Board Members considered the nature, extent and quality of the Fund Adviser’s services, including advisory services and administrative services. The Independent Board Members reviewed materials outlining, among other things, the Fund Adviser’s organization and business; the types of services that the Fund Adviser or its affiliates provide and are expected to provide to

     
     
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the Fund; the performance record of the Fund (as described in further detail below); and any initiatives Nuveen had taken for the applicable fund product line.
 
In reviewing the services provided and the initiatives undertaken during the past year, the Independent Board Members recognized the severe market turmoil experienced in the capital markets during recent periods, including sustained periods of high volatility, credit disruption and government intervention. The Independent Board Members considered the Fund Adviser’s efforts, expertise and other actions taken to address matters as they arose that impacted the Fund. The Independent Board Members recognized the role of the Investment Services group which, among other things, monitors the various positions throughout the Nuveen fund complex to identify and address any systematic risks. In addition, the Capital Markets Committee of NAM provides a multi-departmental venue for developing new policies to mitigate any risks. The Independent Board Members further recognized NAM’s continuous review of the Nuveen funds’ investment strategies and mandates in seeking to continue to refine and improve the investment process for the funds, particularly in light of market conditions. With respect to closed-end funds that issued auction rate preferred shares (“ARPs”) or that otherwise utilize leverage, the Independent Board Members noted, in particular, NAM’s efforts in refinancing the preferred shares of such funds frozen by the collapse of the auction rate market and managing leverage during a period of rapid market declines, particularly for the non-equity funds. Such efforts included negotiating and maintaining the availability of bank loan facilities and other sources of credit used for investment purposes or to satisfy liquidity needs, liquidating portfolio securities during difficult times to meet leverage ratios, and seeking alternative forms of debt and other leverage that may over time reduce financing costs associated with ARPs and enable the funds that have issued ARPs to restore liquidity to ARPs holders. The Independent Board Members also noted Nuveen’s continued commitment and efforts to keep investors and financial advisers informed as to its progress with the ARPs through, among other things, conference calls, emails, press releases, information posted on its website, and telephone calls and in-person meetings with financial advisers. In addition to the foregoing, the Independent Board Members also noted the additional services that NAM or its affiliates provide to closed-end funds, including, in particular, Nuveen’s continued commitment to supporting the secondary market for the common shares of its closed-end funds through a variety of programs designed to raise investor and analyst awareness and understanding of closed-end funds. These efforts include maintaining an investor relations program to provide timely information and education to financial advisers and investors; providing advertising and marketing for the closed-end funds; maintaining websites; and providing educational seminars.
 
As part of their review, the Independent Board Members also evaluated the background, experience and track record of the Fund Adviser’s investment personnel. In this regard, the Independent Board Members considered any changes in the personnel, and the impact on the level of services provided to the Fund, if any. The Independent Board Members also reviewed information regarding portfolio manager compensation arrangements to evaluate the Fund Adviser’s ability to attract and retain high quality investment personnel, preserve stability, and reward performance but not provide an incentive for taking undue risks.
 
In addition to advisory services, the Independent Board Members considered the quality of administrative services provided by NAM and its affiliates including product management, fund administration, oversight of service providers, shareholder services, administration of Board relations, regulatory and portfolio compliance and legal support. Given the importance of compliance, the Independent Board Members considered NAM’s compliance program, including the report of the chief compliance officer regarding the Fund’s compliance policies and procedures.
 
The Independent Board Members also considered NAM’s oversight of the performance, business activities and compliance of the Sub-Adviser. In that regard, the Independent Board Members reviewed an evaluation of the Sub-Adviser from NAM. The evaluation also included information relating to the Sub-Adviser’s organization, operations, personnel, assets under management, investment philosophy, strategies and techniques in managing the Fund, developments affecting the Sub-Adviser, and an analysis of the Sub-Adviser. As described in further detail below, the Board considered the performance of the Fund. The Board also recognized that the Sub-advisory Agreement was essentially an agreement for portfolio management services only and the Sub-Adviser was not expected to supply other significant administrative services to the Fund. As part of their oversight, the Independent Board Members also continued their program of seeking to visit each sub-adviser to the Nuveen funds at least once over a multiple year rotation, meeting with key investment and business personnel. The Independent Board Members noted that NAM recommended the renewal of the Sub-advisory Agreement and considered the basis for such recommendations and any qualifications in connection therewith.

     
     
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Annual Investment Management
Agreement Approval Process
(continued)

 
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members found that, overall, the nature, extent and quality of services provided (and expected to be provided) to the Fund under the Investment Management Agreement or Sub-advisory Agreement, as applicable, were satisfactory.
 
B.  The Investment Performance of the Fund and Fund Advisers
The Board considered the investment performance of the Fund, including the Fund’s historic performance as well as its performance compared to funds with similar investment objectives (the “Performance Peer Group”) based on data provided by an independent provider of mutual fund data as well as recognized and/or customized benchmarks. The Independent Board Members reviewed performance information including, among other things, total return information compared with the Fund’s Performance Peer Group and recognized and/or customized benchmarks for the quarter- and one-year periods ending December 31, 2008 and for the same periods ending March 31, 2009. This information supplemented the Fund performance information provided to the Board at each of its quarterly meetings.
 
In comparing a fund’s performance with that of its Performance Peer Group, the Independent Board Members took into account that the closest Performance Peer Group in certain instances may not adequately reflect the respective fund’s investment objectives and strategies thereby hindering a meaningful comparison of the fund’s performance with that of the Performance Peer Group. The Independent Board Members further considered the performance of the Fund in the context of the volatile market conditions during the past year, and their impact on various asset classes and the portfolio management of the Fund.
 
Based on their review and factoring in the severity of market turmoil in 2008, the Independent Board Members determined that the Fund’s investment performance over time had been satisfactory.
 
C.  Fees, Expenses and Profitability
1. Fees and Expenses
The Board evaluated the management fees and expenses of the Fund reviewing, among other things, the Fund’s gross management fees, net management fees and total expense ratios (before and after expense reimbursements and/or waivers) in absolute terms as well as compared to the fee and expenses of a comparable universe of unaffiliated funds based on data provided by an independent fund data provider (the “Peer Universe”) and in certain cases, to a more focused subset of funds in the Peer Universe (the “Peer Group”).
 
The Independent Board Members further reviewed data regarding the construction of the applicable Peer Universe and Peer Group. In reviewing the comparisons of fee and expense information, the Independent Board Members took into account that in certain instances various factors such as the asset level of a fund relative to peers, the size and particular composition of the Peer Universe or Peer Group, the investment objectives of the peers, expense anomalies, changes in the funds comprising the Peer Universe or Peer Group from year to year, levels of reimbursement and the timing of information used may impact the comparative data, thereby limiting the ability to make a meaningful comparison. The Independent Board Members also considered, among other things, the differences in the use and type of leverage compared to the peers. In reviewing the fee schedule for the Fund, the Independent Board Members also considered the fund-level and complex-wide breakpoint schedules (described in further detail below) and any fee waivers and reimbursements provided by Nuveen (applicable, in particular, for certain closed-end funds launched since 1999).
 
Based on their review of the fee and expense information provided, the Independent Board Members determined that the Fund’s management fees and net total expense ratio were reasonable in light of the nature, extent and quality of services provided to the Fund.
 
2. Comparisons with the Fees of Other Clients
The Independent Board Members further reviewed information regarding the nature of services and fee rates offered by NAM to other clients. Such clients include separately managed accounts (both retail and institutional accounts) and funds that are not offered by Nuveen but are sub-advised by one of Nuveen’s investment management teams. In evaluating the comparisons of fees, the Independent Board Members noted that the fee rates charged to the Fund and other clients vary, among other things, because of the

     
     
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different services involved and the additional regulatory and compliance requirements associated with registered investment companies, such as the Fund. Accordingly, the Independent Board Members considered the differences in the product types, including, but not limited to, the services provided, the structure and operations, product distribution and costs thereof, portfolio investment policies, investor profiles, account sizes and regulatory requirements. The Independent Board Members noted, in particular, that the range of services provided to the Fund (as discussed above) is much more extensive than that provided to separately managed accounts. Given the inherent differences in the products, particularly the extensive services provided to the Fund, the Independent Board Members believe such facts justify the different levels of fees.
 
In considering the fees of the Sub-Adviser, the Independent Board Members also considered the pricing schedule or fees that the Sub-Adviser charges for similar investment management services for other fund sponsors or clients (such as retail and/or institutional managed accounts) as applicable. The Independent Board Members noted that such fees were the result of arm’s-length negotiations.
 
3. Profitability of Fund Advisers
In conjunction with its review of fees, the Independent Board Members also considered the profitability of Nuveen for its advisory activities (which incorporated Nuveen’s wholly-owned affiliated sub-advisers other than Winslow Capital) and its financial condition. The Independent Board Members reviewed the revenues and expenses of Nuveen’s advisory activities for the last two years, the allocation methodology used in preparing the profitability data and an analysis of the key drivers behind the changes in revenues and expenses that impacted profitability in 2008. In addition, the Independent Board Members reviewed information regarding the financial results of Nuveen for 2008 based on its Form 8-K filed on March 31, 2009. The Independent Board Members noted this information supplemented the profitability information requested and received during the year to help keep them apprised of developments affecting profitability (such as changes in fee waivers and expense reimbursement commitments). In this regard, the Independent Board Members noted that they had also appointed an Independent Board Member as a point person to review and keep them apprised of changes to the profitability analysis and/or methodologies during the year. The Independent Board Members also considered Nuveen’s revenues for advisory activities, expenses, and profit margin compared to that of various unaffiliated management firms with similar amounts of assets under management and relatively comparable asset composition prepared by Nuveen.
 
In reviewing profitability, the Independent Board Members recognized the subjective nature of determining profitability which may be affected by numerous factors including the allocation of expenses. Further, the Independent Board Members recognized the difficulties in making comparisons as the profitability of other advisers generally is not publicly available and the profitability information that is available for certain advisers or management firms may not be representative of the industry and may be affected by, among other things, the adviser’s particular business mix, capital costs, types of funds managed and expense allocations. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Independent Board Members reviewed Nuveen’s methodology and assumptions for allocating expenses across product lines to determine profitability. In reviewing profitability, the Independent Board Members recognized Nuveen’s investment in its fund business.
 
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded that Nuveen’s level of profitability for its advisory activities was reasonable in light of the services provided. The Independent Board Members also considered the Sub-Adviser’s revenues, expenses and profitability margins (pre- and post-tax). Based on their review, the Independent Board Members were satisfied that the Sub-Adviser’s level of profitability was reasonable in light of the services provided.
 
In evaluating the reasonableness of the compensation, the Independent Board Members also considered other amounts paid to a Fund Adviser by the Fund as well as any indirect benefits (such as soft dollar arrangements, if any) the Fund Adviser and its affiliates receive, or are expected to receive, that are directly attributable to the management of the Fund, if any. See Section E below for additional information on indirect benefits the Fund Adviser may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. Based on their review of the overall fee arrangements of the Fund, the Independent Board Members determined that the advisory fees and expenses of the Fund were reasonable.

     
     
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Annual Investment Management
Agreement Approval Process
(continued)

 
D.  Economies of Scale and Whether Fee Levels Reflect These Economies of Scale
With respect to economies of scale, the Independent Board Members have recognized the potential benefits resulting from the costs of a fund being spread over a larger asset base, although economies of scale are difficult to measure and predict with precision, particularly on a fund-by-fund basis. One method to help ensure the shareholders share in these benefits is to include breakpoints in the advisory fee schedule. Generally, management fees for funds in the Nuveen complex are comprised of a fund-level component and a complex-level component, subject to certain exceptions. Accordingly, the Independent Board Members reviewed and considered the applicable fund-level breakpoints in the advisory fee schedules that reduce advisory fees as asset levels increase. In this regard, the Independent Board Members noted that although closed-end funds may from time-to-time make additional share offerings, the growth of their assets will occur primarily through the appreciation of such funds’ investment portfolio. While economies of scale result when costs can be spread over a larger asset base, the Independent Board Members also recognized that the asset levels generally declined in 2008 due to, among other things, the market downturn. Accordingly, for funds with a reduction in assets under management, advisory fee levels may have increased as breakpoints in the fee schedule were no longer surpassed.
 
In addition to fund-level advisory fee breakpoints, the Board also considered the Fund’s complex-wide fee arrangement. Pursuant to the complex-wide fee arrangement, the fees of the funds in the Nuveen complex generally are reduced as the assets in the fund complex reach certain levels. The complex-wide fee arrangement seeks to provide the benefits of economies of scale to fund shareholders when total fund complex assets increase, even if assets of a particular fund are unchanged or have decreased. The approach reflects the notion that some of Nuveen’s costs are attributable to services provided to all its funds in the complex and therefore all funds benefit if these costs are spread over a larger asset base. Generally, the complex-wide pricing reduces Nuveen’s revenue because total complex fund assets have consistently grown in prior years. As noted, however, total fund assets declined in 2008 resulting in a smaller downward adjustment of revenues due to complex-wide pricing compared to the prior year.
 
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded that the breakpoint schedules and complex-wide fee arrangement (as applicable) were acceptable and reflect economies of scale to be shared with shareholders when assets under management increase.
 
E.  Indirect Benefits
In evaluating fees, the Independent Board Members received and considered information regarding potential “fall out” or ancillary benefits the respective Fund Adviser or its affiliates may receive as a result of its relationship with the Fund. In this regard, the Independent Board Members considered revenues received by affiliates of NAM for serving as agent at Nuveen’s trading desk.
 
In addition to the above, the Independent Board Members considered whether the Fund Adviser received any benefits from soft dollar arrangements whereby a portion of the commissions paid by the Fund for brokerage may be used to acquire research that may be useful to the Fund Adviser in managing the assets of the Fund and other clients. With respect to NAM, the Independent Board Members noted that NAM does not currently have any soft dollar arrangements; however, to the extent certain bona fide agency transactions that occur on markets that traditionally trade on a principal basis and riskless principal transactions are considered as generating “commissions,” NAM intends to comply with the applicable safe harbor provisions. With respect to the Sub-Adviser, the Independent Board Members considered that the Sub-Adviser does not participate in soft dollar arrangements. It may, however, pay higher commissions for execution services as permitted under applicable law.
 
Based on their review, the Independent Board Members concluded that any indirect benefits received by a Fund Adviser as a result of its relationship with the Fund were reasonable and within acceptable parameters.
 
F.  Other Considerations
The Independent Board Members did not identify any single factor discussed previously as all-important or controlling. The Board Members, including the Independent Board Members, unanimously concluded that the terms of the Investment Management Agreement and Sub-advisory Agreement are fair and reasonable, that the respective Fund Adviser’s fees are reasonable in light of the services provided to the Fund and that the Investment Management Agreement and the Sub-advisory Agreement be renewed.

     
     
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Reinvest Automatically
Easily and Conveniently

 
 
Nuveen makes reinvesting easy. A phone call is all it takes to set up your reinvestment account.
 
Nuveen Closed-End Funds Dividend Reinvestment Plan
Your Nuveen Closed-End Fund allows you to conveniently reinvest dividends and/or capital gains distributions in additional Fund shares.
 
By choosing to reinvest, you’ll be able to invest money regularly and automatically, and watch your investment grow through the power of tax-free compounding. Just like dividends or distributions in cash, there may be times when income or capital gains taxes may be payable on dividends or distributions that are reinvested.
 
It is important to note that an automatic reinvestment plan does not ensure a profit, nor does it protect you against loss in a declining market.
 
Easy and convenient
To make recordkeeping easy and convenient, each month you’ll receive a statement showing your total dividends and distributions, the date of investment, the shares acquired and the price per share, and the total number of shares you own.
 
How shares are purchased
The shares you acquire by reinvesting will either be purchased on the open market or newly issued by the Fund. If the shares are trading at or above net asset value at the time of valuation, the Fund will issue new shares at the greater of the net asset value or 95% of the then-current market price. If the shares are trading at less than net asset value, shares for your account will be purchased on the open market. If the Plan Agent begins purchasing Fund shares on the open market while shares are trading below net asset value, but the Fund’s shares subsequently trade at or above their net asset value before the Plan Agent is able to complete its purchases, the Plan Agent may cease open-market purchases and may invest the uninvested portion of the distribution in newly-issued Fund shares at a price equal to the greater of the shares’ net asset value or 95% of the shares’ market value on the last business day immediately prior to the purchase date. Dividends and distributions received to purchase shares in the open market will normally be invested shortly after the dividend payment date. No interest will be paid on dividends and distributions awaiting reinvestment. Because the market price of the shares may increase before purchases are completed, the average purchase price per share may exceed the market price at the time of valuation, resulting in the acquisition of fewer shares than if the dividend or distribution had been paid in shares issued by the Fund. A pro rata portion of any applicable brokerage commissions on open market purchases will be paid by Plan participants. These commissions usually will be lower than those charged on individual transactions.

     
     
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Flexible
You may change your distribution option or withdraw from the Plan at any time, should your needs or situation change. Should you withdraw, you can receive a certificate for all whole shares credited to your reinvestment account and cash payment for fractional shares, or cash payment for all reinvestment account shares, less brokerage commissions and a $2.50 service fee.
 
You can reinvest whether your shares are registered in your name, or in the name of a brokerage firm, bank, or other nominee. Ask your investment advisor if his or her firm will participate on your behalf. Participants whose shares are registered in the name of one firm may not be able to transfer the shares to another firm and continue to participate in the Plan.
 
The Fund reserves the right to amend or terminate the Plan at any time. Although the Fund reserves the right to amend the Plan to include a service charge payable by the participants, there is no direct service charge to participants in the Plan at this time.
 
Call today to start reinvesting dividends and/or distributions
For more information on the Nuveen Automatic Reinvestment Plan or to enroll in or withdraw from the Plan, speak with your financial advisor or call us at (800) 257-8787.

     
     
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Glossary of Terms
Used in this Report

 
 
n  Average Annual Total Return: This is a commonly used method to express an investment’s performance over a particular, usually multi-year time period. It expresses the return that would have been necessary each year to equal the investment’s actual cumulative performance (including change in NAV or market price and reinvested dividends and capital gains distributions, if any) over the time period being considered.
 
n  Current Distribution Rate (also known as Market Yield, Dividend Yield or Current Yield): Market yield is based on the Fund’s current annualized quarterly distribution divided by the Fund’s current market price. The Fund’s quarterly distributions to its shareholders may be comprised of ordinary income, net realized capital gains and, if at the end of the calendar year the Fund’s cumulative net ordinary income and net realized gains are less than the amount of the Fund’s distributions, a tax return of capital.
 
n  Net Asset Value (NAV): A Fund’s NAV per share is calculated by subtracting the liabilities of the Fund from its total assets and then dividing the remainder by the number of shares outstanding. Fund NAVs are calculated at the end of each business day.

     
     
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Notes

 

     
     
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Notes

 

     
     
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Notes

 

     
     
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Other Useful Information

 
 
Board of Trustees
John P. Amboian
Robert P. Bremner
Jack B. Evans
William C. Hunter
David J. Kundert
William J. Schneider
Judith M. Stockdale
Carole E. Stone
Terence J. Toth
 
Fund Manager
Nuveen Asset Management
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
 
Custodian
State Street Bank & Trust Company
Boston, MA
 
Transfer Agent and
Shareholder Services
State Street Bank & Trust Company
Nuveen Funds
P.O. Box 43071
Providence, RI 02940-3071
(800) 257-8787
 
Legal Counsel
Chapman and Cutler LLP
Chicago, IL
 
Independent Registered
Public Accounting Firm
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chicago, IL
 
Quarterly Portfolio of Investments and Proxy Voting Information
 
You may obtain (i) the Fund’s quarterly portfolio of investments, (ii) information regarding how the Fund voted proxies relating to portfolio securities held during the most recent twelve-month period ended June 30, 2009, and (iii) a description of the policies and procedures that the Fund used to determine how to vote proxies relating to portfolio securities without charge, upon request, by calling Nuveen Investments toll-free at (800) 257-8787 or on Nuveen’s website at www.nuveen.com.
 
You may also obtain this and other Fund information directly from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The SEC may charge a copying fee for this information. Visit the SEC on-line at http://www.sec.gov or in person at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Call the SEC at (202) 942-8090 for room hours and operation. You may also request Fund information by sending an e-mail request to publicinfo@sec.gov or by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section at 100 F Street NE, Washington, D.C. 20549.
 
CEO Certification Disclosure
 
The Fund has filed with the SEC the certification of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
 
Common Share Information
 
The Fund intends to repurchase shares of its own common stock in the future at such times and in such amounts as is deemed advisable. During the period covered by this report, the Fund repurchased shares of its common stock as shown in the accompanying table.
 
             
    Common Shares
     
    Repurchased      
      96,200      
 
Any future repurchases will be reported to shareholders in the next annual or semi-annual report.

     
     
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Nuveen Investments:
Serving Investors for Generations

 
 
Since 1898, financial advisors and their clients have relied on Nuveen Investments to provide dependable investment solutions. For the past century, Nuveen Investments has adhered to the belief that the best approach to investing is to apply conservative risk-management principles to help minimize volatility. Building on this tradition, we today offer a range of high quality equity and fixed-income solutions that are integral to a well-diversified core portfolio. Our clients have come to appreciate this diversity, as well as our continued adherence to proven, long-term investing principles.
 
We offer many different investing solutions for
our clients’ different needs.
 
Nuveen Investments is a global investment management firm that seeks to help secure the long-term goals of institutions and high net worth investors as well as the consultants and financial advisors who serve them. Nuveen Investments markets its growing range of specialized investment solutions under the high-quality brands of HydePark, NWQ, Nuveen, Santa Barbara, Symphony, Tradewinds and Winslow Capital. In total, the Company managed approximately $128 billion of assets on June 30, 2009.
 
Find out how we can help you reach your financial goals.
 
To learn more about the products and services Nuveen Investments offers, talk to your financial advisor, or call us at (800) 257-8787. Please read the information provided carefully before you invest. Be sure to obtain a prospectus, where applicable. Investors should consider the investment objective and policies, risk considerations, charges and expenses of the Fund carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information relevant to an investment in the Fund. For a prospectus, please contact your securities representative or Nuveen Investments, 333 W. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. Please read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money.
 
Learn more about Nuveen Funds at www.nuveen.com/cef
 
  •  Share prices
 
  •  Fund details
 
  •  Daily financial news
 
  •  Investor education
 
  •  Interactive planning tools
 
 
         
Distributed by
Nuveen Investments, LLC
333 West Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60606
www.nuveen.com
       

ESA-I-0609D


 

ITEM 2. CODE OF ETHICS.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 3. AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 4. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 5. AUDIT COMMITTEE OF LISTED REGISTRANTS.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 6. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS.
See Portfolio of Investments in Item 1.
ITEM 7. DISCLOSURE OF PROXY VOTING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES FOR CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 8. PORTFOLIO MANAGERS OF CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES.
Not applicable to this filing.
ITEM 9. PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY CLOSED-END MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANY AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS.
                                 
    (a)   (b)   (c)   (d)*
        AVERAGE   TOTAL NUMBER OF SHARES   MAXIMUM NUMBER (OR
    TOTAL NUMBER OF   PRICE   (OR UNITS) PURCHASED AS   APPROXIMATE DOLLAR VALUE) OF
    SHARES (OR   PAID PER   PART OF PUBLICLY   SHARES (OR UNITS) THAT MAY YET
    UNITS)   SHARE (OR   ANNOUNCED PLANS OR   BE PURCHASED UNDER THE PLANS OR
Period*   PURCHASED   UNIT)   PROGRAMS   PROGRAMS
JANUARY 1-31, 2009
    0               0       1,489,900  
 
                               
FEBRUARY 1-28, 2009
    16,200       8.36       16,200       1,473,700  
 
                               
MARCH 1-31, 2009
    15,300       7.14       15,300       1,458,400  
 
                               
APRIL 1-30, 2009
    0               0       1,458,400  
 
                               
MAY 1-31, 2009
    10,300       9.30       10,300       1,448,100  
 
                               
JUNE 1-30, 2009
    54,400       9.50       54,400       1,393,700  
 
                               
TOTAL
    96,200                          
 
*   The registrant’s repurchase program, which authorized the repurchase of 1,645,000 shares, was announced August 7, 2008. Any repurchases made by the registrant pursuant to the program were made through open-market transactions.
ITEM 10. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
There have been no material changes to the procedures by which shareholders may recommend nominees to the registrant’s Board implemented after the registrant last provided disclosure in response to this item.
ITEM 11. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
  (a)   The registrant’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, have concluded that the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) (17 CFR 270.30a-3(c))) are effective, as of a date within 90 days of the filing date of this report that includes the disclosure required by this paragraph, based on their evaluation of the controls and procedures required by Rule 30a-3(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(b)) and Rules 13a-15(b) or 15d-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)(17 CFR 240.13a-15(b) or 240.15d-15(b)).
 
  (b)   There were no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-3(d)) that occurred during the second fiscal quarter of the period covered by this report that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS.
File the exhibits listed below as part of this Form.
(a)(1) Any code of ethics, or amendment thereto, that is the subject of the disclosure required by Item 2, to the extent that the registrant intends to satisfy the Item 2 requirements through filing of an exhibit: Not applicable to this filing.
(a)(2) A separate certification for each principal executive officer and principal financial officer of the registrant as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(a)) in the exact form set forth below: Ex-99.CERT attached hereto.
(a)(3) Any written solicitation to purchase securities under Rule 23c-1 under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.23c-1) sent or given during the period covered by the report by or on behalf of the registrant to 10 or more persons: Not applicable.
(b) If the report is filed under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provide the certifications required by Rule 30a-2(b) under the 1940 Act (17 CFR 270.30a-2(b)); Rule 13a-14(b) or Rule 15d-14(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13a-14(b) or 240.15d-14(b)), and Section 1350 of Chapter 63 of Title 18 of the United States Code (18 U.S.C. 1350) as an exhibit. A certification furnished pursuant to this paragraph will not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act (15 U.S.C. 78r), or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Such certification will not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that the registrant specifically incorporates it by reference. Ex-99.906 CERT attached hereto.

 


 

SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
         
(Registrant) Nuveen Core Equity Alpha Fund
 
   
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Kevin J. McCarthy      
  Kevin J. McCarthy     
  Vice President and Secretary     
 
Date: September 8, 2009
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Gifford R. Zimmerman      
  Gifford R. Zimmerman     
  Chief Administrative Officer
(principal executive officer) 
   
 
Date: September 8, 2009
         
     
By (Signature and Title)* /s/ Stephen D. Foy      
  Stephen D. Foy     
  Vice President and Controller
(principal financial officer) 
   
 
Date: September 8, 2009
 
*   Print the name and title of each signing officer under his or her signature.