Best Performer Inflation Protected Bond Mutual Funds 2011

As part of taxable bond funds, inflation protected bond mutual funds are popular among income seeking investors. These mutual funds can be used as a tool to hedge against inflation. Some of the top performing inflation protected bond funds are: PIMCO Real Return Asset P, GMO Inflation Indexed Plus Bond III, DFA Inflation-Protected Securities I, etc.

Introduction

Bonds or fixed incomes are very popular among the income conscious investors. These investors can be long term investors, retiree, 401k investment investors, inflation hedger, and near retirement investors. There are 4 ways to invest in fixed incomes such as individual bond, exchange traded fund (ETF), mutual fund, and closed end fund. Fixed income mutual funds are among the most popular choice for investors.

Top Performer TIPS bond funds

As we know, there are many bond mutual funds. Bond mutual funds can be classified into two main categories such as taxable bond fund and non taxable bond fund or municipal bond fund. Both categories provide regular income in term of yield or distribution. These funds can be divided even further into its main specific classes.

For taxable bond fund, you can invest in investment grade corporate bond fund, high yield corporate bond fund, government bond fund, inflation protection bond fund, foreign bond fund, emerging markets bond fund, multi sector bond fund, asset backed bond fund, mortgage backed bond fund, bank loan bond fund, etc. The income from these bond funds usually is taxable under federal tax rate.

For non taxable bond fund is also known as municipal bond fund. These bond funds include national municipal bond fund (diversified among many states in US), and single state muni bond fund (California muni bond fund, Texas muni bond fund, New York Muni bond fund, etc). Income from these funds is exempt from federal tax rate.

In this article, I’ll provide the details about Top performer funds in inflation protection bond category. The funds are sorted based on its year to date performance (YTD).

Inflation Protected Bond Fund

Inflation Protected bond fund is type of mutual fund which invests in inflation protected securities in US or foreign countries. In US, this inflation protected obligation instrument is known as TIPS (Treasury Inflation Protected Securities). This TIPS bond is introduced by US government in 1997.

Fidelity Select Insurance Portfolio Fund (FSPCX)

Sector equity fund can be very volatile. It is also very effective for investor to make a bet on certain sector. One of the value equity sector fund is financial sector stock mutual fund. One of this best rated sector fund is Fidelity Select Insurance Portfolio. This is the fund's review of this Fiidelity fund.

Fidelity Select Insurance Portfolio (MUTF: FSPCX)

The Fidelity Select Insurance Portfolio fund seeks capital appreciation. The fund generally invests majority of assets (>80%) in financial companies stocks. These companies usually involve in underwriting, reinsuring, selling, distributing, or placing of property and casualty, life, or health insurance. It invests in domestic and foreign issuers. This financials stock fund is non-diversified sector mutual fund.

FSPCX Fund Details

Fidelity Select Insurance Portfolio

• Fund Inception Date: December 16, 1985
• Ticker Symbol: FSPCX
• CUSIP: 316390541
• Beta (3yr): 1.18
• Rank in category (YTD): 23
• Category: Financial
• Distribution: 0.76%
• Capital Gains: N/A 
• Expense Ratio: 0.91% 
• Net Assets: $242.28 million
• Number of Years Up: 17 years
• Number of Years Down: 8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 193%

updated on July 22, 2011

Mutual Quest A Fund (TEQIX)

Investing in International Stock Mutual fund is one of the easiest ways to diversify in stock or equity investment. World Stock fund usually consist of investment in developed countries (USA, Canada, German, UK, Japan, France, Australia), developing countries (Indonesia, Africa, etc), emerging markets (Brazil, China, Russia, India), and many more. This means investing in world stock fund can provide instant diversification to your investment portfolio. One of these best rated world stock funds (i.e. top fund) can be found below.

Mutual Quest A (MUTF: TEQIX)

As part of Franklin Templeton Investment Funds, the Mutual Quest fund objective is to provide capital appreciation and to provide income as a secondary objective. This Franklin Templeton fund mainly invests in undervalue equity securities of U.S. and foreign companies. These undervalue companies are selected by the manager who believes the companies are available at market prices less than their value based on certain recognized or objective criteria (intrinsic value). This best rated fund invests the equity portion of their portfolio predominantly in mid- and large-cap companies, with the remaining portion in smaller companies. The fund expects to invest majority of assets (<50%) in foreign securities.

TEQIX Fund Details

Mutual Quest fund details

• Fund Inception Date: November 1996
• Ticker Symbol: TEQIX (class A)
• CUSIP: 628380800
• Beta (3yr): 0.46
• Rank in category (YTD): 51
• Category: World Stock
• Distribution: 2.03%
• Distribution Frequency: Semi annually
• Capital Gains: If any, is distributed every September
• Number of Years Up: 12 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Total Net Assets: $5.5 billion
• P/E Ratio: 12.67
• P/B Ratio: 1.48

updated on July 22, 2011

Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund (WAEMX)

This next fund has a unique approach of investing in Emerging Markets companies. This Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap is concentrating its assets in small capitalization companies in Emerging Markets. Details about this fund are described below.

Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap (MUTF: WAEMX)

                

The Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap is seeking long-term capital growth. The fund primarily invests at least 80% of assets in the equity securities (including common stock, preferred stock and securities convertible into common stock) of companies with market capitalizations of less than $3 billion at the time of purchase that are domiciled in emerging market countries.

WAEMX Fund Details

 Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap fund 

• Fund Inception Date: October 1, 2007
• Ticker Symbol: WAEMX
• CUSIP: 936793884
• Beta (3yr): 1.17                
• Rank in category (YTD): 31
• Category: Diversified Emerging Markets                 
• Yield: 0.01%
• Net Assets: $702.06 million                         
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years       
• Number of Years Down: 1 year

updated on July 21th, 2011

Matthews Asian Growth & Income Investor Fund (MACSX)

As part of international stock fund, Matthews Asian Growth & Income fund is among top rated mutual fund in Pacific / Asia Ex-Japan Stock category. Details about this Matthews fund review is described below.

Asia Pacific or APAC is another major economy region in the world. Major developed countries and emerging markets countries lay in this region. These APAC countries are Japan, Singapore, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Vietnam, and more.

Matthews Asian Growth & Income Investor (MUTF: MACSX)

The Matthews Asian Growth & Income Investor investment objective is to seek long-term appreciation of capital and current income. The fund mainly invests majority of total net assets (>80%) in dividend-paying common stock, preferred stock and other equity securities and convertible securities, of any duration or quality, of companies located in Asia. These companies typically are located in China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

MACSX Fund Details

Matthews MACSX fund details

• Fund Inception Date: September 1994
• Ticker Symbol: MACSX
• CUSIP: 577130842
• Beta (3yr): 0.70
• Rank in category (YTD): 59
• Category: Pacific/ Asia ex-Japan Stock
• Distribution: 2.53%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Total Net Assets: $3.86 billion

Updated on July 18th, 2011

Templeton Mutual European A Fund (TEMIX)

Templeton Mutual European A (TEMIX) fund is one of the best international stock mutual funds. This Europe stock fund invests in stocks of companies located in Europe region.

Mutual European A (MUTF: TEMIX)

As part of Franklin Templeton Investment Fund, the Mutual European fund objective is to provide capital appreciation. It also has a secondary consideration which is to provide income. The fund typically invests >80% of net assets in undervalue securities of European companies. The companies are selected by the manager based on the analysis that the companies are available at market prices less than their value based on certain recognized or objective criteria (intrinsic value). It usually invests in securities from at least five different countries, although, from time to time, the fund may invest all of its assets in a single country. The fund also may invest <20% of its total assets in securities of U.S. issuers, and securities of issuers from the Levant (Lebanon, Syria, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian territories), the Middle East, and the remaining regions of the world.

TEMIX Fund Details

Mutual European fund characteristics

• Fund Inception Date: November 1996 
• Ticker Symbol: TEMIX
• CUSIP: 628380834
• Beta (3yr): 0.59
• Rank in category (YTD): 68
• Category: Europe Stock
• Yield: 2.65%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Net Assets: $2.14 billion
• Morningstar Rating: 5
• YTD Return: 6.79% (up to July 13, 2011)

Updated on July 18th, 2011

Top 10 Broad Basket Commodities Mutual Funds 2011

Investing in commodities mutual funds has gained national news media. This article will look into the top performer commodities broad basket mutual funds. The top performing funds include: Direxion Monthly Commodity Bull 2x, PIMCO CommoditiesPLUS Strategy A, Arrow Commodity Strategy A, etc.

Investing in Commodity

Broad Basket Commodities Fund

Commodities investment is gaining popularity nowadays. Often referred to as an alternative asset class, commodities are now becoming mainstream investment. Investing in broad basket commodities can be done through various ways such as mutual fund, exchange traded fund (ETF), and closed end fund (CEF).

Several experts have recommended investing in commodities for portfolio asset diversification. About 0%-5% of total asset should be invested in commodities. Some may even recommended 10% of assets to be invested in this asset class.

Some of the main reasons investors or traders are investing in commodities are:

• Commodities can provide diversification from stocks or equities and bonds or fixed incomes
• Commodities don’t have direct correlation with traditional assets
• Commodities can provide a tool for hedging against the risk of inflation
• Investors can participate in global growth and emerging economies
• Over the long-term period, commodities have strong performance track record

Top Broad Basket Commodities Funds

The 10 Top Performer Broad Basket Commodities Mutual Funds 2011 are

1. Direxion Monthly Commodity Bull 2x (DXCLX)
2. PIMCO CommoditiesPLUS Strategy A (PCLAX)
3. Arrow Commodity Strategy A (CSFFX)
4. Jefferies Asset Management Commodity Strategy Allocation A (JCRAX)
5. Goldman Sachs Commodity Strategy A (GSCAX)
6. Harbor Commodity Real Return Strategy Institutional (HACMX)
7. PIMCO Commodity Real Return Strategy A (PCRAX)
8. Van Eck CM Commodity Index A (CMCAX)
9. Rydex Commodities Strategy A (RYMEX)
10. Oppenheimer Commodity Strategy Total Return A (QRAAX)

note: The following fund is sorted based on its performance up until July 17, 2011.