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%

Top 10 Natural Resources Mutual Funds 2012

Find top 10 natural resources mutual funds 2012, best materials stock mutual funds for investment. The top natural resources stock funds are Fidelity Select Materials, Van Eck Global Hard Assets, Franklin Natural Resources, etc.

Intro

If you are interested in sector stock mutual funds, you can pick variety of sectors. These sector equities include communications, health care, natural resources, real estate, technology, etc. The natural resources mutual funds invest in companies that are engaged in the extractive industries or services of natural resources. Extraction is commonly defined as mining, logging, and drilling for oil and gas.

Natural resources include precious metals (gold, silver, and diamond), ferrous and nonferrous metals, strategic metals, hydrocarbons, chemicals, paper and forest products, real estate, food, textile and tobacco products, and other basic commodities.

Best Natural Resources Funds

These top natural resources sector funds are chosen based on its long term performance. You may find other fund information such as dividend yield, top stocks, fund manager, fund objective, etc.

Top 10 Natural Resources Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. Fidelity Select Materials (FSDPX)
2. Van Eck Global Hard Assets A (GHAAX)
3. Franklin Natural Resources A (FRNRX)
4. Prudential Jennison Natural Resources A (PGNAX)
5. BlackRock Natural Resources Investor A (MDGRX)
6. Fidelity Select Natural Resources (FNARX)
7. Nuveen Tradewinds Global Resources A (NTGAX)

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund (VTWNX)

The Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 fund (VTWNX) is a target date balanced mutual fund. This fund is popular among investors with retirement account (IRA) or 401(k) account.

Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Investor (VTWNX)

The investment aim of Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 fund is to provide capital appreciation and current income consistent with its asset allocation. This investment fund utilizes its assets to purchase other Vanguard mutual funds according to an asset allocation strategy. It is suitable for investors about to retire and leave the work force in or within the target year of 2020.

Note: Its asset allocation will become more conservative over time.

Fund Details

Vanguard VTWNX fund

• Fund Inception Date: June 7, 2006
• Ticker Symbol: VTWNX
• CUSIP: 92202E805
• Beta (3yr): 1.09
• Rank in category (YTD): 42%
• Category: Target Date 2016-2020
• Yield: 2.18%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.00%
• Net Assets: $ 14.18 billion
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 23.00%

Updated on 6/14/2012

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund (LWEAX) Class A

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund (LWEAX) is a taxable bond mutual fund. This emerging markets bond fund invests in debts issued by emerging markets governments or corporations.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt A (Ticker: LWEAX)

The Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt fund objective is to maximize total return. This fund uses its majority of assets to purchase fixed-income securities issued by governments and corporations located in emerging markets. It may invest in non-U.S. dollar denominated bonds.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: January 13, 2010
• Ticker Symbol: LWEAX (Class A)
• CUSIP: 52469L694
• Beta (3yr): 0.82
• Rank in category (YTD): 72%
• Category: Emerging Markets Bond
• Yield: 4.37%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.25%
• Net Assets: $ 138.23 million
• Number of Up Years: 1 year
• Number of Down Years: 0 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 16.00%

Updated on 6/13/2012

Best T. Rowe Price Mutual Funds 2012

The top 10 T. Rowe Price mutual funds of 2012 are T. Rowe Price Equity Index 500, T. Rowe Price New Income, T Rowe Price Small-Cap Stock, etc. You may find the best stock and bond funds from this list.

Introduction

T. Rowe Price provides a wide selection of over 90 no load mutual funds to investors. It provides either actively managed funds or index funds. Investors can choose these funds for asset diversification. It also offers low cost option for long term investment.

There are 8 main categories in its fund family. The categories are retirement funds, domestic stock funds, domestic bond funds, tax free bond funds or municipal bond funds, international stock funds, international bond funds, money market funds, and asset allocation funds. Depending on your investment objective, you can invest for short term, getting income, long term investment for retirement, tax efficient investing, and tax-exempt.

Best T. Rowe Price Mutual Funds

The Top 10 T. Rowe Price Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. T. Rowe Price Equity Index 500 (PREIX)
2. T. Rowe Price Small-Cap Stock (OTCFX)
3. T. Rowe Price International Equity Index (PIEQX)
4. T. Rowe Price International Discovery (PRIDX)
5. T. Rowe Price Real Estate (TRREX)
6. T. Rowe Price New Income (PRCIX)
7. T. Rowe Price Inflation Protected Bond Fund (PRIPX)
8. T. Rowe Price Tax-Free Income Inv (PRTAX)
9. T. Rowe Price Balanced (RPBAX)
10. T. Rowe Price Personal Strategy Income (PRSIX)

Calamos International Growth Fund (CIGRX) Class A

Calamos International Growth fund is part of international stock mutual fund. This foreign large growth equity fund is ranked among the best mutual funds. More fund review can be found below.

Calamos International Growth A (MUTF: CIGRX)

The Calamos International Growth fund objective is to achieve long-term capital growth. This equity fund invests >40% of its assets in securities of foreign companies. It may invest in emerging markets companies. The fund may invest in all market capitalization companies such as well-established large companies and small companies.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: March 16, 2005
• Ticker Symbol: CIGRX
• CUSIP: 128119575
• Beta (3yr): 0.89
• Rank in category (YTD): 64%
• Category: Foreign Large Growth
• Distribution: 0.00%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.49%
• Net Assets: $ 729.18 million
• Number of Years Up: 4 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 59.60%

Updated on 6/6/2012

YTD Top Performer No Load Conservative Allocation Funds 2012

The year-to-date top performer no load conservative allocation mutual funds of 2012 are IMS Strategic Income, USAA Growth and Tax Strategy, Teberg, etc. You can find each fund review in this post.

There are 6 main balanced mutual funds. They are conservative allocation, moderate allocation, aggressive allocation, world allocation, convertibles, and target date portfolio. The conservative allocation fund objective is to provide income and capital growth through investment in equities, fixed incomes, and cash. This balanced fund has higher assets in bond portion than in stock portion.

Best Performing Funds

These top performer conservative allocation funds are sorted based on its performance in 2012. The last update on this list was done on 6/8/2012. These best performers do not have a sales load. You can find the fund review below as well.

The YTD top performer No Load Conservative Allocation Mutual Funds of 2012 are:

1. IMS Strategic Income (IMSIX)
2. USAA Growth and Tax Strategy (USBLX)
3. Teberg (TEBRX)
4. VALIC Company II Cnsrv Gr Lifestyle (VCGLX)
5. Toews Hedged Growth Allocation (THGWX)
6. TCW Global Conservative Allocation N (TGPNX)
7. Vanguard Tax-Managed Balanced Adm (VTMFX)
8. Sector Rotation Fund (NAVFX)

1. IMS Strategic Income (Ticker: IMSIX)

This IMS Strategic Income fund objective is to seek income and capital growth. It uses its assets to purchase corporate bonds, government bonds, dividend paying common stocks, preferred, convertible, income trusts, money market and cash equivalent. Carl W. Marker is the fund manager. It has an expense ratio of 1.95% per year. The last 12 month yield is 10.1%.

This balanced fund has a year to date return of 5.92%. The 5 year average return is -2.89%. Morningstar has rated it with 3 stars rating. You can buy this fund with $5,000 initial investment for brokerage or IRA account.