Templeton China World Fund (TCWAX)

As one of emerging markets, China can provide an opportunity for investor to invest. To invest in Chinese companies, investor can invest through mutual funds. One of the best China Region stock fund is Templeton China World fund. The fund review is described below.

Templeton China World A (MUTF: TCWAX)

The Templeton China World fund seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund typically invests most of net assets (>80%) in securities of China companies. This Franklin Templeton fund may also invest <20% of net assets in securities that do not qualify as China company securities, but whose issuers, in the judgment of the investment manager, are expected to benefit from developments in the economy of China. This Templeton fund is non-diversified.

TCWAX Fund Details

Templeton China World fund details

• Fund Inception Date: September 8, 1993
• Ticker Symbol: TCWAX
• CUSIP: 88018X201
• Beta (3yr): 0.86
• Rank in category (YTD): 5
• Category: China Region
• Distribution: 0.86%
• Net Assets: $ 1.21 billion
• Sales Load: 5.75%
• Expense Ratio: 2.02%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 6 years

Updated on 9/14/2011

Top 10 Best Taxable Bond Mutual Funds of September 2011

The following article is about Top 10 best taxable bond mutual funds 2011 for the past 3 years. The top funds include Old Mutual Dwight High Yield, Delaware Extended Duration Bond A, TCW Emerging Markets Income, Direxion Monthly 10 year Note Bull 2x, PIMCO Long Duration Total Return I, etc. The list is recently updated on MEPB Financial.

Introduction

There are two types of bond mutual funds: taxable bond funds and non taxable bond funds. The taxable bond funds provide regular income to investor which is taxable under federal tax rates and state tax rates. Some states may not tax this type of bonds. The non-taxable bond funds are also known as Municipal bond mutual funds or muni bond funds. These muni bond funds provide an income which is exempt from federal tax.

There are variety of taxable bond funds include mortgage backed bond funds, hybrid bond funds, multi sector bond funds, asset backed bond funds, bank loan bond funds, corporate bond funds, government bond funds or treasury bond funds, high yield bond funds or non-investment grade bond funds, foreign bond funds, emerging markets bond funds, and many more.

There are various reasons to invest in taxable bond funds such as:

• These mutual funds provide regular income either monthly or quarterly
• These funds don’t correlate closely to stock markets. Bonds may outperform stocks.
• They can provide instant asset portfolio diversification
• Bond funds can be used to weather volatile market environment especially during economic crisis, depression era, recession environment, etc.

Selection criteria

The fund’s selection criteria are:

• The fund has performed consistently for the past 3 years and long term.
• The fund is acknowledged by Morningstar as one of the best funds with 4 stars or 5 stars rating
• It has one of the top fund’s managers in this category

Top 10 Funds

Top 10 Best taxable bond mutual funds of September 2011 are:

Top 10 Best Taxable Bond Mutual Funds 2011

1. Old Mutual Dwight High Yield Instl
2. Delaware Extended Duration Bond A
3. TCW Emerging Markets Income I
4. Direxion Mthly 10 Year Note Bull 2X
5. PIMCO Long Duration Total Return Instl
6. PIMCO Long-Term US Government Instl
7. GuideStone Funds Extended-Dur Bond GS2
8. MainStay High Yield Opportunities A
9. Dreyfus International Bond A
10. Templeton Global Bond A

updated on 9/14/2011

Westcore International Small-Cap Fund (WTIFX)

There are variety of international stock mutual funds. One of these funds is Small/ Mid cap International stock fund. The following is the review of Wescore International Small Cap Fund. It is considered as one of the best small / mid growth international equity fund.

Westcore International Small Cap Fund (MUTF: WTIFX)

The Westcore International Small-Cap fund’s objective is to seek long-term capital growth. The fund invests mainly in the under value common stock of approximately 35 to 60 foreign small-cap companies per the fund management’s assessment. It invests majority of net assets (>80%) in foreign small-cap companies in developed countries which are companies with <$3.5 billion market capitalizations. This Westcore fund may also invest in emerging markets and/or in U.S.-based companies.

Note: This Westcore International Small-Cap Fund is previously known as Westcore International Frontier

WTIFX Fund Details

Westcore International Small Cap Fund

• Fund Inception Date: December 15, 1999
• Ticker Symbol: WTIFX
• CUSIP: 957904550
• Beta (3yr): 0.95
• Rank in category (YTD): 4
• Category: Foreign Small/ Mid Growth
• Distribution Rate: 0.49%
• Net Assets: $ 138.04 million
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.50%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 7 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years

Updated on 9/14/2011

Payden GNMA Fund (PYGNX)

There are two type of fixed income mutual funds: taxable bond and municipal bond. The following article will present one of the best taxable bond funds, Payden GNMA fund. Details fund's review can be found below.

Payden GNMA Fund (MUTF: PYGNX)

The Payden GNMA Fund's objective is to provide a high level of total return that is consistent with preservation of capital. The fund generally invests most of total assets (>80%) in government National Mortgage Association mortgage-backed securities. This GNMA bonds are debt securities representing part ownership in a pool of mortgage loans backed by the U.S. government. This Payden GNMA fund invests in debt securities of any maturity, and there is no limit on the fund's maximum average portfolio maturity. This bond fund is considered as a non-diversified investment fund.

PYGNX Fund Details

Payden GNMA fund details

• Fund Inception Date: August 27, 1999
• Ticker Symbol: PYGNX
• CUSIP: 704329473
• Beta (3yr): 0.61
• Rank in category (YTD): 17
• Category: Intermediate Government
• Distribution rate: 4.37%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 year
• Net Assets: $705.6 million
• Average Duration: 4.8 years
• Average Maturity: 7.7 years

Updated on 9/13/2011

Sextant International Fund (SSIFX)

The following article will review one of the Best International Equity Mutual Funds. Sextant International has performed consistently for the past decade. This Saturna fund invests mainly in International companies.

Sextant International (MUTF: SSIFX)

The Sextant International fund objective is to provide long-term capital growth. This investment fund invests >65% of assets in companies with their headquarters and major assets and earnings outside the U.S. It diversifies its investments across industries, companies, and countries. This Sextant International fund typically invests in larger established companies, but it may invest in any size of companies (mid cap, small cap, and micro-cap).

SSFIX Fund Details

Sextant International fund details

• Fund Inception Date: September 28, 1995
• Ticker Symbol: SSIFX
• CUSIP: 804096501
• Beta (3yr): 0.54
• Rank in category (YTD): 82
• Category: Foreign Large Blend
• Yield: 0.37%
• Net Assets: $ 184.24 million
• Sales Load: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.03%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 11 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years

Updated on 9/9/2011

JHFunds2 Capital Appreciation 1 (JICPX) Fund

Rated as one of the best US Stock mutual funds, JHFunds 2 Capital Appreciation 1 fund has outperformed its peers. This John Hancock fund can be used as one of the tools for asset diversification. Details about the fund review is below.

JHFunds2 Capital Appreciation 1 (MUTF: JICPX)

As the top large growth fund, this JHFunds2 Capital Appreciation fund is seeking long-term growth of capital. The fund invests most of total assets (>65%) in above average growth prospect companies' equity with more than $1 billion in market capitalization. It may minority of total asset (<20%) in foreign equity securities. The fund may invest in U.S. government bond issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government or by its agency. It may invest in mortgage-related securities issued or guaranteed by U.S. governmental entities. This John Hancock II fund may invest in investment grade fixed incomes or bonds.

JICPX Fund Details

JHFunds2 Capital App 1 fund

• Fund Inception Date: October 14, 2005
• Ticker Symbol: JICPX
• CUSIP: 47803V879
• Beta (3yr): 0.90
• Rank in category (YTD): 7
• Category: Large Growth
• Yield: 0.08%
• Net Assets: $ 2.06 billion
• Sales Load: 0.0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.79%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year

Updated on 9/9/2011

Frost Kempner Treasury and Income Institutional FIKTX Fund

The following article is about Frost Kempner Treasury and Income I fund. This fund is rated as one of the best inflation protected bond mutual fund. Details about the fund reviews can be found below.

Frost Kempner Treasury and Income Institutional (FIKTX)

The Frost Kempner Treasury and Income fund objective is to provide current income consistent with the capital preservation. The fund typically invests majority of net assets (>80%) in full faith and credit U.S. Treasury obligations. This Frost fund's investments include Treasury bonds, Treasury notes, Treasury Inflated Protection Securities, and short-term U.S. government money market funds.

FIKTX Fund Details

Frost Kempner Treasury and Income

• Fund Inception Date: April 25, 2008
• Ticker Symbol: FIKTX
• CUSIP: 00766Y778
• Beta (3yr): 1.06
• Rank in category (YTD): 86
• Category: Inflation-Protected Bond
• Distribution Rate: 2.77%
• Capital Gains: N/A
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Total Net Assets: $30.11 million 
• Effective duration: 10.07 years
• Average Maturity: 11.92 years

Updated on 9/10/2011