YTD Best Performing Closed End Funds June 2012

The Year-To-Date best performing closed end funds up until June 15, 2012 are Firsthand Technology Value, Thai Capital Fund, Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term, PIMCO Municipal Income, etc.

Intro

One of the investment funds is closed end fund or CEF. A closed-end fund is traded like stock in a stock exchange such as NYSE or the NASDAQ. It consists of a variety of securities such as stocks, bonds, and combination between the two.

The following article is about the top performer for domestic stock CEF, international stock CEF, taxable bond fund, and municipal bond fund. They may include sector equity, preferred stock, option strategy, growth fund, emerging markets stock, global stock, high yield, mortgage bond, bank loan, tax free municipal.

Top Stock CEF’s

YTD Best performer general equity closed end funds of June 2012 are:

1. Firsthand Technology Value (SVVC) - 26.80%
2. Nuveen Tax-Advantage Float Rate (JFP) - 26.59%
3. H&Q Life Sciences Investors (HQL) - 26.25%
4. Diamond Hill Financial Trends (DHFT) - 20.92%
5. First Trust Specialty Finance & Financial Opportunities (FGB) - 20.36%
6. Alpine Global Premier Property (AWP) - 20.18%
7. H&Q Healthcare Investors (HQH) - 18.8%
8. Cohen & Steers Quality Income Realty (RQI) - 18.61%
9. Cohen & Steers Select Preferred & Income (PSF) - 17.83%
10. Cornerstone Strategy Value (CLM) - 17.82%

The Firsthand Technology Value Fund (Ticker: SVVC) has a market cap of $158.7 million. It has a YTD return of 26.80%. It also has an expense ratio of 2.76%.

Top International Stock CEF’s

YTD Best performing international equity closed end funds of June 2012 are:

1. Thai Capital Fund (TF) - 29.16%
2. Thai Fund (TTF) - 28.22%
3. Turkish Investment Fund (TKF) - 20.25%
4. JF China Region Fund (JFC) - 18.78%
5. Calamos Global Dynamic Income (CHW) - 13.81%
6. Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust (GGT) - 12.91%
7. Eaton Vance Tax-Advantage Global Dividend (ETG) - 11.56%
8. Morgan Stanley Frontier Emerging Markets (FFD) - 11.4%
9. Morgan Stanley China A (CAF) - 10.09%
10. First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity (FEO) - 9.74%

The investment objective of Thai Capital Fund is to provide capital growth. It uses its assets to purchase an investment in the stock and unlisted securities of Thai companies. The fund sponsor is Daiwa SB Investments Ltd (Singapore). The top 2 holdings are Ptt Public Company Limited, and Advanced Info Service Public Company Ltd.

Top Taxable Bond CEF’s

Year-to-Date Best performer taxable bond closed end funds of June 2012 are:

1. Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term (JLS) - 25.88%
2. Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term 2 (JMT) - 22.38%
3. PIMCO High Income (PHK) - 20.48%
4. Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunities (HYI) - 18.27%
5. First Trust High Income Long/Short (FSD) - 18.04%
6. Western Asset Mortgage Defined Opportunity (DMO) - 17.61%
7. PIMCO Income Strategy (PFL) - 17.18%
8. Nuveen Credit Strategy Income (JQC) - 16.81%
9. Helios High Income (HIH) - 16.66%
10. PIMCO Income Strategy II (PFN) - 15.86%

The Nuveen Mortgage Opportunity Term fund invests majority of assets in mortgage-backed securities (MBS). The fund managers are John V miller and Michael F Garrett. The current distribution rate is 8.45%. It is paid monthly. Since inception, it has returned 7.87% per year.

Top Muni Bond CEF’s

YTD Best performer municipal bond closed end funds of June 2012 are:

1. Delaware Investments Colorado Municipal Income (VCF) - 17.87%
2. Pimco Municipal Income II (PML) - 16.11%
3. PIMCO Municipal Income III (PMX) - 14.18%
4. PIMCO California Municipal Income III (PZC) - 14.05%
5. BlackRock MuniYield Investment (MYF) - 12.85%
6. Delaware Investments Minnesota Municipal II (VMM) - 12.45%
7. Pimco California Municipal Income II (PCK) - 12.45% - 12.45%
8. Eaton Vance Massachusetts Municipal Bond (MAB) - 12.23%
9. PIMCO California Municipal Income (PCQ) - 12.09%
10. Nuveen Municipal High Income Opportunity 2 (NMD) - 12.07%

Delaware Investments Colorado Municipal Income fund utilizes its assets to buy investment grade CO municipal bonds. Its objective is to provide income or yield exempt from Federal and CO income tax. The current yield is 4.4%. Its expense ratio is only 0.72%. The fund has an average duration of 8.84 years.

Disclosure: No Position