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Table of Contents

 

3

Chair’s Letter
to Shareholders

Dear Shareholders,

In recent months, economic pessimism has been rising. An escalation in U.S.- China trade tensions and an unpredictable Brexit outcome top the list of geopolitical concerns. Global macroeconomic data shows a further moderation in growth as a result of weaker export and manufacturing activity across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Notably, in the U.S., some of the more historically reliable leading economic indicators have turned more downbeat and economic growth forecasts and corporate earnings outlooks continue to be downgraded. In this environment, equity market volatility has increased while safe-haven assets, including government bonds and gold, have rallied.

While these conditions have contributed to the market’s anxiety and certainly merit watching, it appears the likelihood of a near-term recession remains low. Consumer spending, buoyed by historically low unemployment and modest wage growth, has powered the economic recovery, even as business investment has been lackluster. Additionally, the sectors directly hit by trade, namely manufacturing and commodity-related businesses, represent a much smaller share of the overall economy than in the past. Central bank efforts to extend the economic cycle with lower interest rates encourages business and consumers to borrow at lower rates while markets have been encouraged by the expectation of easier financial conditions. Recession is not necessarily imminent if these factors can provide the economy with a measure of resilience, sustaining growth at a more subdued pace.

Outside the U.S., central banks and governments have been easing monetary conditions and rolling out fiscal spending programs to buffer slowing growth. The European Central Bank recently announced a stimulus plan, and China’s authorities remain committed to keeping economic growth rates steady with fiscal and monetary policy. Until there is more clarity on trade, however, the markets may experience bouts of risk-on, risk-off sentiment.

The opportunity set may be muted, but there may still be scope for gains in this environment. Patience and maintaining perspective can help you weather periodic market volatility. We encourage you to work with your financial advisor to assess short-term market movements in the context of your time horizon, risk tolerance and investment goals. On behalf of the other members of the Nuveen Fund Board, we look forward to continuing to earn your trust in the months and years ahead.

Sincerely,

Terence J. Toth
Chair of the Board
October 25, 2019

4

Portfolio Manager’s Comments


Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund, Inc. (NNY)
Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 (NYV)
Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAN)
Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NRK)

These Funds feature portfolio management by Nuveen Asset Management, LLC (NAM), an affiliate of Nuveen, LLC. Portfolio manager Scott R. Romans, PhD, discusses key investment strategies and the six-month performance of the Nuveen New York Funds. Scott assumed portfolio management responsibility for these four Funds in 2011.

What key strategies were used to manage these Funds during the six-month reporting period ended August 31, 2019?

Each Fund seeks to provide current income exempt from both regular federal and New York state income taxes, and in the case of NRK the alternative minimum tax (“AMT”) applicable to individuals, by investing primarily in a portfolio of municipal obligations issued by state and local government authorities within the state of New York or certain U.S. territories. Under normal market conditions, each Fund invests at least 80% of the sum of its net assets and the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes in municipal bonds that pay interest that is exempt from regular federal personal income tax and a single state’s personal income tax. Each Fund may invest up to 20% in municipal securities that are exempt from regular federal income tax, but not from that single state’s income tax if, in the Sub-Adviser’s judgement, such purchases are expected to enhance the Fund’s after-tax total return potential. To the extent that each Fund invest in bonds of municipal issuers located in other states, each Fund may have income that is not exempt from state personal income tax.

A significant decline in interest rates led to strong gains in municipal bonds during the six-month reporting period. Concerns about slowing economic growth and central banks’ potential responses drove risk-off sentiment in the markets, prompting an equity market sell-off and a flight to assets perceived to be safer, such as U.S. Treasury bonds. Municipal bond valuations benefited from the falling interest rate environment, as well as favorable technical supply-demand conditions. The municipal bond market continued to experience historically robust demand, particularly in high tax states such as California, New York and New Jersey, that has exceeded the currently moderate pace of issuance. The new limits on state and local tax, or SALT, deductions resulted in larger than expected tax burdens for some high income taxpayers, driving demand for the tax benefits offered by municipal bonds. The California municipal market outperformed the national market over this reporting period, as measured by its respective state S&P Municipal Bond Index.

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This material is not intended to be a recommendation or investment advice, does not constitute a solicitation to buy, sell or hold a security or an investment strategy and is not provided in a fiduciary capacity. The information provided does not take into account the specific objectives or circumstances of any particular investor, or suggest any specific course of action. Investment decisions should be made based on an investor’s objectives and circumstances and in consultation with his or her advisors.

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 manager 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 Funds disclaim any obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s (S&P), Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (Moody’s) or Fitch, Inc. (Fitch). This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings, while BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

Bond insurance guarantees only the payment of principal and interest on the bond when due, and not the value of the bonds themselves, which will fluctuate with the bond market and the financial success of the issuer and the insurer. Insurance relates specifically to the bonds in the portfolio and not to the share prices of a Fund. No representation is made as to the insurers’ ability to meet their commitments.

Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for further definition of the terms used within this section.

5

Portfolio Manager’s Comments (continued)

We continued to take a bottom-up approach to discovering sectors that appeared undervalued as well as individual credits that we believed had the potential to perform well over the long term. Our trading activity continued to focus on pursuing the Funds’ investment objectives. During this reporting period, we rotated some of the Funds’ exposure out of New York tobacco settlement bonds and into Puerto Rico bonds. While the Funds’ tobacco holdings performed well in the past, we believe the credit outlook has become less favorable amid declining consumption trends and disruptive new technologies (vaping/e-cigarettes). The prospects for certain Puerto Rico credits, however, appeared more attractive. The Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (PRASA) has maintained sufficiently strong operations to avoid default and is expected to receive federal infrastructure funding in the coming years. The island’s sales tax revenue bonds, known as COFINAs, were the first major credit to exit the bankruptcy-like restructuring process and were restructured with improved security features. We purchased both PRASA and COFINA bonds during this reporting period, using the proceeds from trimming the tobacco exposure. In addition, we repositioned the existing tobacco exposure from credits with weaker structures into more defensively structured tobacco bonds.

Issuance in New York’s municipal bond market tends to be concentrated in a small number of issuers. However, the Funds took advantage of an opportunity to diversify beyond this narrow group with two new issues during this reporting period: Battery Park City Authority and New York Liberty One Bryant Park. New York Liberty bonds are a program financing the rebuilding of Manhattan after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

In addition to those strategic investments, to keep the portfolios fully invested, we bought some high grade, well-structured bonds to hold until a more attractive longer-term opportunity arises. Outside of the tobacco-Puerto Rico repositioning, the proceeds of called and maturing bonds funded most of the buying activity.

As of August 31, 2019, NNY, NAN and NRK continued to use inverse floating rate securities. We employ inverse floaters for a variety of reasons, including duration management, income enhancement and total return enhancement.

How did the New York Funds perform during the six-month reporting period ended August 31, 2019?

The tables in each Fund’s Performance Overview and Holding Summaries section of this report provide the Funds’ total returns for the six-month, one-year, five-year and ten-year periods ended August 31, 2019. Each Fund's total returns at net asset value (NAV) are compared with the performance of corresponding market indexes.

For the six-month reporting period ended August 31, 2019, the total return at common share NAV for all four Funds exceeded the returns for both the S&P Municipal Bond New York Index and the national S&P Municipal Bond Index.

Given the substantial decline in interest rates, duration and yield curve positioning drove much of the Funds’ relative outperformance in the reporting period. The Funds’ longer overall durations and overweight allocations to longer maturity bonds were advantageous as yields on the long end of the yield curve fell by a larger magnitude than yields on the shorter end.

Credit ratings allocations had a positive impact on NNY, NAN and NRK’s relative results, although to a lesser extent than duration and yield curve positioning. Investor demand remained strong for the higher yields offered by lower rated bonds in an environment of low overall interest rates and positive credit fundamentals. Accordingly, the Funds’ overweight allocations to bonds rated single A and lower, as well as underweight allocations to the highest credit quality (AAA and AA rated) bonds, were beneficial to performance. For NYV, however, credit quality positioning detracted from performance due to the underperformance of single A rated bonds. However, the negative impact was more than offset by the outperformance of NYV’s duration and yield curve positioning.

The Funds’ sector positioning yielded mixed results and was not a major influence on performance during this reporting period.

The use of regulatory leverage was a factor affecting the performance of NAN and NRK. NNY and NYV do not use regulatory leverage. Leverage is discussed in more detail later in the Fund Leverage section of this report.

6

Fund Leverage

IMPACT OF THE FUNDS’ LEVERAGE STRATEGIES ON PERFORMANCE

One important factor impacting the returns of the Funds’ common shares relative to their comparative benchmarks was the Funds’ use of leverage through their issuance of preferred shares and/or investments in inverse floating rate securities, which represent leveraged investments in underlying bonds. The Funds use leverage because our research has shown that, over time, leveraging provides opportunities for additional income, particularly in the recent market environment where short-term market rates are at or near historical lows, meaning that the short-term rates the Fund has been paying on its leveraging instruments in recent years have been much lower than the interest the Fund has been earning on its portfolio of long-term bonds that it has bought with the proceeds of that leverage.

However, use of leverage can expose Fund common shares to additional price volatility. When a Fund uses leverage, the Fund common shares will experience a greater increase in their net asset value if the municipal bonds acquired through the use of leverage increase in value, but will also experience a correspondingly larger decline in their net asset value if the bonds acquired through leverage decline in value, which will make the shares’ net asset value more volatile, and total return performance more variable, over time.

In addition, common share income in levered funds will typically decrease in comparison to unlevered funds when short-term interest rates increase and increase when short-term interest rates decrease. Over the last few quarters, short-term interest rates have indeed increased from their extended lows after the 2007-09 financial crisis. This increase has reduced common share net income, and also reduced potential for long-term total returns. Nevertheless, the ability to effectively borrow at current short-term rates is still resulting in enhanced common share income, and management believes that the advantages of continuation of leverage outweigh the associated increase in risk and volatility described above.

Leverage from inverse floating rate securities had a negligible impact on performance for NNY over this reporting period. Leverage had a positive impact on the performance of NAN and NRK over this reporting period.

As of August 31, 2019, the Funds’ percentages of leverage are as shown in the accompanying table.

 

7

Fund Leverage (continued)

THE FUNDS’ REGULATORY LEVERAGE

As of August 31, 2019, the following Funds have issued and outstanding preferred shares as shown in the accompanying table. As mentioned previously, NNY and NYV do not use regulatory leverage.

 

Refer to Notes to Financial Statements, Note 5 – Fund Shares, Preferred Shares for further details on preferred shares and each Funds’ respective transactions.

8

Common Share Information

COMMON SHARE DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION

The following information regarding the Funds’ distributions is current as of August 31, 2019. Each Fund’s distribution levels may vary over time based on each Fund’s investment activity and portfolio investments value changes.

During the current reporting period, each Fund’s distributions to common shareholders were as shown in the accompanying table.

 

Each Fund seeks to pay regular monthly dividends out of its net investment income at a rate that reflects its past and projected net income performance. To permit each Fund to maintain a more stable monthly dividend, the Fund may pay dividends at a rate that may be more or less than the amount of net income actually earned by the Fund during the period. Distributions to shareholders are determined on a tax basis, which may differ from amounts recorded in the accounting records. In instances where the monthly dividend exceeds the earned net investment income, the Fund would report a negative undistributed net ordinary income. Refer to Note 6 – Income Tax Information for additional information regarding the amounts of undistributed net ordinary income and undistributed net long-term capital gains and the character of the actual distributions paid by the Fund during the period.

All monthly dividends paid by each Fund during the current reporting period were paid from net investment income. If a portion of the Fund’s monthly distributions is sourced or comprised of elements other than net investment income, including capital gains and/or a return of capital, shareholders will be notified of those sources. For financial reporting purposes, the per share amounts of each Fund’s distributions for the reporting period are presented in this report’s Financial Highlights. For income tax purposes, distribution information for each Fund as of its most recent tax year end is presented in Note 6 – Income Tax Information within the Notes to Financial Statements of this report.

9

Common Share Information (continued)

CHANGE IN METHOD OF PUBLISHING NUVEEN CLOSED-END FUND DISTRIBUTION AMOUNTS

Beginning on or about November 1, 2019, the Nuveen Closed-End Funds will be discontinuing the practice of announcing Fund distribution amounts and timing via press release. Instead, information about the Nuveen Closed-End Funds’ monthly and quarterly periodic distributions to shareholders will be posted and can be found on Nuveen’s enhanced closed-end fund resource page, which is at www.nuveen.com/closed-end-fund-distributions, along with other Nuveen closed-end fund product updates. Shareholders can expect regular distribution information to be posted on www.nuveen.com on the first business day of each month. To ensure that our shareholders have timely access to the latest information, a subscribe function can be activated at this link here, or at this web page (www.nuveen.com/en-us/people/about-nuveen/for-the-media).

COMMON SHARE REPURCHASES

During August 2019, the Funds’ Board of Directors/Trustees reauthorized an open-market share repurchase program, allowing each Fund to repurchase an aggregate of up to approximately 10% of its outstanding shares.

As of August 31, 2019, and since the inception of the Funds’ repurchase programs, the Funds have cumulatively repurchased and retired their outstanding common shares as shown in the accompanying table.

 

During the current reporting period, the Funds did not repurchase any of their outstanding common shares.

OTHER COMMON SHARE INFORMATION

As of August 31, 2019, and during the current reporting period, the Funds’ common share prices were trading at a premium/(discount) to their common share NAVs as shown in the accompanying table.

 

10

Risk Considerations

Fund shares are not guaranteed or endorsed by any bank or other insured depository institution, and are not federally insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund, Inc. (NNY)

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Debt or fixed income securities such as those held by the Fund, are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. State concentration makes the Fund more susceptible to local adverse economic, political, or regulatory changes affecting municipal bond issuers. These and other risk considerations such as tax risk are described in more detail on the Fund’s web page at www.nuveen.com/NNY.

Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 (NYV)

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Debt or fixed income securities such as those held by the Fund, are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. State concentration makes the Fund more susceptible to local adverse economic, political, or regulatory changes affecting municipal bond issuers. These and other risk considerations such as tax risk are described in more detail on the Fund’s web page at www.nuveen.com/NYV.

Nuveen New York Quality Municipal Income Fund (NAN)

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Debt or fixed income securities such as those held by the Fund, are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Leverage increases return volatility and magnifies the Fund’s potential return and its risks; there is no guarantee a fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. State concentration makes the Fund more susceptible to local adverse economic, political, or regulatory changes affecting municipal bond issuers. These and other risk considerations such as inverse floater risk and tax risk are described in more detail on the Fund’s web page at www.nuveen.com/NAN.

Nuveen New York AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund (NRK)

Investing in closed-end funds involves risk; principal loss is possible. There is no guarantee the Fund’s investment objectives will be achieved. Closed-end fund shares may frequently trade at a discount or premium to their net asset value. Debt or fixed income securities such as those held by the Fund, are subject to market risk, credit risk, interest rate risk, derivatives risk, liquidity risk, and income risk. As interest rates rise, bond prices fall. Leverage increases return volatility and magnifies the Fund’s potential return and its risks; there is no guarantee a fund’s leverage strategy will be successful. State concentration makes the Fund more susceptible to local adverse economic, political, or regulatory changes affecting municipal bond issuers. These and other risk considerations such as inverse floater risk and tax risk are described in more detail on the Fund’s web page at www.nuveen.com/NRK.

11

 

 

Past performance is not predictive of 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. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

Common Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

12

 

Refer to the Glossary of Terms Used in this Report for further definition of the terms used within this section.
Average Annual Total Returns as of August 31, 2019
	Cumulative	Average Annual
	6-Month	1-Year	5-Year	10-Year
NYV at Common Share NAV	7.12%	9.36%	4.27%	5.13%
NYV at Common Share Price	9.73%	13.21%	4.01%	5.05%
S&P Municipal Bond New York Index	5.84%	8.15%	3.69%	4.49%
S&P Municipal Bond Index	5.92%	8.26%	3.79%	4.72%

Past performance is not predictive of 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. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

Common Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

13

 

 

Past performance is not predictive of 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. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes are not available for direct investment.

Common Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

14

 

 

Past performance is not predictive of 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. Returns at NAV are net of Fund expenses, and assume reinvestment of distributions. Comparative index return information is provided for the Fund’s shares at NAV only. Indexes averages are not available for direct investment.

Common Share Price Performance — Weekly Closing Price

This data relates to the securities held in the Fund’s portfolio of investments as of the end of the reporting period. It should not be construed as a measure of performance for the Fund itself. Holdings are subject to change.

For financial reporting purposes, the ratings disclosed are the highest rating given by one of the following national rating agencies: Standard & Poor’s Group, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. or Fitch, Inc. This treatment of split-rated securities may differ from that used for other purposes, such as for Fund investment policies. Credit ratings are subject to change. AAA, AA, A and BBB are investment grade ratings; BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D are below-investment grade ratings. Holdings designated N/R are not rated by these national rating agencies.

 

 

 

15

Shareholder Meeting Report

The annual meeting of shareholders was held in the offices of Nuveen on August 7, 2019 for NNY, NYV, NAN and NRK; at this meeting the shareholders were asked to elect Board Members.

 

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