YTD Top Performer Municipal Bond ETFs July 15 2012

YTD Top Performer Municipal Bond ETFs up to July 15, 2012 are Market Vectors High Yield Municipal Index ETF, SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF, etc.

Best Performing Muni Bond ETFs

These best performing municipal bond exchange traded funds can be categorized into various classes such as short term muni bond, intermediate term muni bond, long term municipal bond, high yield municipal bond, etc. These funds provide income exempt from federal tax rate and possibly state tax.

The muni bond ETFs have expense ratio ranging from 0.16% to 1.43%. The fund providers are Columbia, Invesco PowerShares, iShares, PIMCO, State Street, and Van Eck.

Top Performer ETFs

YTD Top Performer Municipal Bond ETFs up to July 15 2012 are

1. Market Vectors High Yield Municipal Index ETF (HYD)
2. SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (HYMB)
3. Market Vectors CEF Municipal Income ETF (XMPT)
4. Market Vectors-Lehman Brothers AMT-Free Long Municipal Index ETF (MLN)
5. PowerShares Insured National Municipal Bond Portfolio (PZA)
6. Market Vectors Intermediate Municipal Index ETF (ITM)
7. Grail McDonnell Intermediate Municipal Bond ETF (GMMB)
8. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital Municipal Bond ETF (TFI)
9. iShares S&P National Municipal Bond Fund (MUB)
10. PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Strategy Fund (MUNI)

updated on 7/15/2012

Best PIMCO Mutual Funds 2012

This post is about the best PIMCO mutual funds of 2012 including bond, stock and balanced funds. The top funds are PIMCO Total Return, PIMCO High Yield Fund, PIMCO Emerging Markets Bond, etc.

Intro

PIMCO is one of the popular mutual fund families. It provides a wide selection of mutual funds across all asset classes. Investors can choose different fund to achieve a portfolio diversification. These funds may provide high yield income, capital appreciation, and capital preservation. Bill Gross and Mohamed El Erian are the co-CIO of the PIMCO (Pacific Investment Management Company, LLC). PIMCO Investment is a unit of Allianz Global Investors.

Top PIMCO Mutual Funds

These top mutual funds are selected based on its long term track record. They may include diversified bond fund, high yield bond, emerging markets bond, balanced fund, commodities fund, etc. You can find the fund review from this post.

Note: This list provides Class A fund which may have a sales load. You can try to invest in Class D or Institutional Class which doesn’t charge a sales load.

Best PIMCO Mutual Funds of 2012 are

1. PIMCO Total Return A (PTTAX)
2. PIMCO Emerging Markets Bond A (PAEMX)
3. PIMCO High Yield Fund A (PHDAX)
4. PIMCO Real Return A (PRTNX)
5. PIMCO All Asset A (PASAX)
6. PIMCO Commodity Real Return Strategy A (PCRAX)
7. PIMCO Fundamental IndexPLUS TR Fund A (PIXAX)
8. PIMCO International StocksPLUS TR Str A (PPUAX)
9. PIMCO Convertible Fund A (PACNX)
10. PIMCO RealRetirement Income and Distribution Fund A (PTNAX)

Updated on 7/14/2012

Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining Fund (VGPMX) Investor Shares

Precious metals such as Gold and Silver have become an important portfolio asset for investors. Owning these precious metals directly does involve significant work for retail investors. Using mutual funds, investors can achieve the same investment goal. One of the popular precious metals mutual funds is Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining Inv.

Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining Investor (VGPMX)

Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining

The Vanguard Precious Metals and Mining fund objective is to provide long-term capital appreciation through investment in the stocks of foreign and U.S. companies of metals or minerals. These precious metals companies may involve in the exploration, mining, development, fabrication, processing, marketing, or distribution. The majority of these companies will be mainly involved in activities related to gold, silver, platinum, diamonds, and rare metals or minerals.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: May 23, 1984
• Ticker Symbol: VGPMX
• CUSIP: 921908208
• Beta (3yr): 126.08
• Rank in category (YTD): 2%
• Category: Equity Precious Metals
• Yield: 0.53%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.27%  
• Net Assets: $ 4.37 billion
• Number of Years Up: 15 years
• Number of Years Down: 12 years

YTD Top Performer Municipal Bond Closed End Funds July 10, 2012

YTD Top Performer Municipal Bond Closed End Funds up to July 10, 2012 are PIMCO CA Muni Income, PIMCO Municipal Income II, MFS Investment Grade Municipal Trust, etc.

Best Performing Municipal Bond CEFs

In 2012, municipal bond funds have a good year to date performance. These top performer muni bond CEFs are classified into various categories such as diversified national municipal bond, high yield muni, California municipal bond, Ohio municipal debt, etc. Most of these top performers are highly leveraged.

YTD Top Performer Municipal Bond Closed End Funds up to July 10, 2012 are

1. PIMCO CA Muni Income (PCQ)
2. PIMCO CA Muni Income III (PZC)
3. Eaton Vance OH Muni Bond (EIO)
4. PIMCO Muni Income II (PML)
5. PIMCO Muni Income III (PMX)
6. Nuveen NJ Div Adv Muni 2 (NUJ)
7. MFS Inv Gr Muni Tr (CXH)
8. Alliance CA Muni Inc (AKP)
9. PIMCO NY Muni Income II (PNI)
10. Pimco CA Muni Income II (PCK)

updated on 7/11/2012

PIA High Yield Fund (PHYSX) Investor Class

PIA High Yield Fund is a taxable bond mutual fund. This high yield bond fund focuses its investment in domestic and foreign high yield debts. The fund review can be found in this post.

PIA High Yield Investor (Ticker: PHYSX)

The investment objective of PIA High Yield fund is to seek a high current income level and capital growth. This fund utilizes majority of its assets to purchase a diversified portfolio of domestic and foreign high yield instruments. They include junk bonds, forward commitments, loan participations and assignments, and preferred stocks. It may invest in foreign currencies and emerging market countries bonds.

Fund Profile

PIA High Yield fund

• Fund Inception Date: 02/26/1999
• Ticker Symbol: PHYSX
• CUSIP: 007989163
• Beta (3yr): N/A
• Rank in category (YTD): 48 %
• Category: High Yield Bond
• Yield: 5.60%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.98%
• Net Assets: $ 27.48 million
• Number of Years Up: 10 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: N/A

Updated on 7/11/2012

YTD Top Performer Domestic Stock Closed End Funds July 8th, 2012

The YTD Top Performer Domestic Stock Closed End Funds of 2012 are H&Q Life Sciences Investors, Cohen & Steers Quality Realty, Firsthand Technology Value, etc.

Best Performing CEFs

These top performing domestic stock CEFs are sorted based on its YTD performance up until July 8th, 2012. The top performers consist of health sector equity, real estate fund, global real estate, diversified fund, financial sector, option fund, etc. You can find the fund review below.

Top Performer Domestic Stock Closed End Funds up to July 8th, 2012 are

1. H&Q Life Sciences Investors (HQL)
2. Cohen & Steers Quality Realty (RQI)
3. Firsthand Technology Value (SVVC)
4. Alpine Global Premier Properties (AWP)
5. First Trust Specialty Finance & Financial Opportunities (FGB)
6. Cornerstone Total Return (CRF)
7. H&Q Healthcare Investors (HQH)
8. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income (NRO)
9. RMR Real Estate Income (RIF)
10. NASDAQ Premium Income & Growth (QQQX)

updated on 7/8/2012

YTD Top Performer Domestic Stock CEFs

Best No Load Emerging Markets Bond Mutual Funds 2012

The best no load emerging markets bond mutual funds of 2012 are Fidelity New Markets Income, TCW Emerging Markets Income, etc. You can find the fund review in this post.

Introduction

Emerging market bond fund is part of taxable bond mutual fund categories. This emerging market debt fund invests in debt securities of emerging market countries. It may invest in corporate and government bonds. This fund provides high yield for investors who seek income.

Best Emerging Markets Bond Mutual Funds 2012

Top Emerging Markets Bond Funds

These top emerging market bond mutual funds have no sales load and good long term track record. You can find the fund management, fund review, top holding, top sector, average maturity, yield, expense ratio, etc.

The 5 Best No Load Emerging Markets Bond Mutual Funds of 2012 are

1. Fidelity New Markets Income (FNMIX)
2. TCW Emerging Markets Income N (TGINX)
3. PIMCO Emerging Markets Bond D (PEMDX)
4. T. Rowe Price Emerging Market Bond (PREMX)
5. GMO Emerging Country Debt III (GMCDX)

updated on 7/9/2012