Columbia Acorn International Fund (LAIAX)

Columbia Acorn International Fund (Ticker: LAIAX) is an international stock mutual fund. The mutual fund invests in non-US companies with small and mid-size market capitalization.

Columbia Acorn International A (Ticker: LAIAX)

The Columbia Acorn International fund aim is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund utilizes its total assets to purchase equities of foreign companies in developed markets. It invests in developed countries such as Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom and in emerging markets such as China, India and Brazil. It mostly focuses in the common stock of small- and mid-sized companies with market capitalizations under $5 billion at the time of investment.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 10/12/2000
• Ticker Symbol: LAIAX
• CUSIP: 197199847
• Beta (3yr): 0.88
• Rank in category (YTD): 43%
• Category: Foreign Small/ Mid Growth
• Distribution: 0.15%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.30%
• Net Assets: $ 6.47 billion
• Number of Years Up: 7 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 32%

Updated on 12/13/2012

Best Performing Inflation Protected Bond Mutual Funds in December 2012

The 10 best performing inflation protected bond mutual funds are PIMCO Real Return Asset fund, Lord Abbett Inflation Focused, Harbor Real Return fund, etc.

Top Performer Inflation Protected Bond Funds

Another popular taxable bond mutual fund category is inflation protected bond fund. This inflation protected bond mutual fund invests mainly in debt securities that adjust their principal with the rate of inflation. These bonds are issued by U.S. Treasury typically, corporations, and other non-U.S. government entities. The fund also provides regular income for investors.

You will find each individual fund review from this top performer funds. Other fund information such as fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend can be found below. The list is sorted based on its year to date performance in 2012 (up to December 10, 2012).

Best performing inflation protected bond mutual funds 2012 (up to December 10th, 2012) are:

1. PIMCO Real Return Asset P (PRTPX)
2. GMO Inflation Indexed Plus Bond III (GMITX)
3. Lord Abbett Inflation Focused A (LIFAX)
4. PIMCO Real Return A (PRTNX)
5. JHFunds2 Real Return Bond 1 (JIRRX)
6. Harbor Real Return Institutional (HARRX)
7. DFA Inflation-Protected Securities I (DIPSX)
8. VALIC Company I Inflation Protected (VCTPX)
9. Columbia Inflation Protected Securities A (APSAX)
10. Vanguard Inflation-Protected Securities Investor (VIPSX) 

Updated on 12/13/2012

PIMCO Short-Term Fund (PSHAX) Class A

PIMCO Short-Term Fund (Ticker: PSHAX) is a taxable bond mutual fund. It focuses its assets in high quality bond with short term maturity. It provides higher yield than regular saving account.

PIMCO Short-Term A (Ticker: PSHAX)

The investment objective of PIMCO Short-Term fund is to seek maximum current income, consistent with capital preservation and daily liquidity. The fund utilizes its total assets to purchase a diversified portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments of varying maturities. It may use forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts or swap agreements. It invests mainly in investment grade debt securities, but may invest up to 10% of its total assets in high yield securities (“junk bonds”) rated B or higher. The credit rating are rated by Moody’s, or equivalently rated by S&P or Fitch.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 01/20/1997
• Ticker Symbol: PSHAX
• CUSIP: 693391211
• Beta (3yr): 0.03
• Rank in category (YTD): 19%
• Category: Ultra short Bond
• Yield: 0.89%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.71%
• Net Assets: $ 11.63 billion
• Number of Years Up: 13 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Effective duration: 0.95 years
• Effective maturity: 1.16 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 307%

Updated on 12/12/2012

Best Performing Diversified Emerging Markets Mutual Funds 2012

Best Performing Diversified Emerging Markets Mutual Funds 2012 are Nile Pan Africa fund, Fidelity Emerging Markets Discovery, etc. These funds invest in companies located in emerging markets region.

Top Performer Emerging Markets Funds

Diversified emerging markets funds are part of international stock mutual funds. These funds utilize their assets in the financial markets of developing countries. These countries are located in Eastern Europe, Africa, Middle East, Latin America, Far East, and Asia. Some of popular emerging market countries are China, Brazil, India, Russia, South Africa, Indonesia, etc.

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below. The list is sorted based on its year to date performance in 2012 (up to December 5, 2012).

The 12 Best Performing Diversified Emerging Markets Mutual Funds 2012 are:

1. Nile Pan Africa A (NAFAX)
2. Fidelity Emerging Markets Discovery (FEDDX)
3. William Blair Emerging Markets Small Cap Growth Fund (WESNX)
4. Columbia Acorn Emerging Markets A (CAGAX)
5. Van Eck Emerging Markets A (GBFAX)
6. Rochdale Emerging Markets (RIMIX)
7. Driehaus Emerging Markets Small Cap Gr (DRESX)
8. Mirae Asset Emerging Markets Great Consumer A (MECGX)
9. Forward Select EM Dividend Investor (FSLRX)
10. Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap (WAEMX)
11. Templeton Emerging Markets Small Cap A (TEMMX)
12. PIMCO Emerging Markets Fundamental IndexPLUS TR ST P (PEFPX)

Updated on 12/11/2012

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund (VFISX) Investor Shares

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund (VFISX) is another popular taxable bond mutual fund. This investor shares fund focuses its assets in short term maturity government bonds.

Vanguard Short-Term Treasury Fund (Ticker: VFISX)

The Vanguard Short-Term Treasury fund objective is to seek current income while maintaining limited price volatility. The mutual fund invests majority assets (>80%) in U.S. Treasury securities. It may invest in bills, bonds, and notes issued by the U.S. Treasury. It will maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of 1 to 4 years.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 10/27/1991
• Ticker Symbol: VFISX
• CUSIP: 922031703
• Beta (3yr): 0.45
• Rank in category (YTD): 68%
• Category: Short Government
• Distribution: 0.54%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%
• Net Assets: $ 6.50 billion
• Number of Years Up: 19 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 302%

Updated on 12/7/2012

Fidelity Series Investment Grade Bond Fund (FSIGX)

Fidelity Series Investment Grade Bond Fund (Ticker: FSIGX) is a taxable bond mutual fund. This fixed income fund invests in high quality bonds.

Fidelity Series Investment Grade Bond Fund (FSIGX)

The investment aim of Fidelity Series Investment Grade Bond fund is to achieve high current income level. It uses its assets to purchase investment-grade debt securities. It uses overall interest rate risk to the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. This fixed income fund may invest in domestic and foreign issuers. It may invest in lower-quality debt securities or high yield bonds.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: Oct 8, 2008
• Ticker Symbol: FSIGX
• CUSIP: 316146729
• Beta (3yr): 0.96
• Rank in category (YTD): 65%
• Category: Intermediate-Term Bond
• Distribution: 2.81%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.45%
• Net Assets: $ 24.05 billion
• Number of Years Up: 3 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Average Duration: 4.9 years
• Average Maturity: 6.9 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 213%

Updated on 12/05/2012

Best Performer High Yield Bond Closed End Funds 2012

The best performer high yield bond closed end funds 2012 are First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund, BlackRock Strategic Bond Fund, Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, etc. These CEFs provide high yield.

YTD Top Performer CEFs

High yield bond closed end funds invest most of its assets in lower rated corporate bonds. These bond funds provide high yield regular income. These bond funds also provide capital appreciation for investors. The fund’s average duration is about 3 to 6 years.

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below. The list is sorted based on its year to date performance in 2012 (up to December 2, 2012).

Best performer high yield bond closed end funds 2012 are:

1. First Trust High Income Long/Short Fund (FSD)
2. Invesco Van Kampen High Income II Fund (VLT)
3. Helios Strategic Income Fund (HSA)
4. Helios Advantage Income Fund (HAV)
5. BlackRock Strategic Bond Fund (BHD)
6. Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund (DHY)
7. First Trust Strategic High Income 2 Fund (FHY)
8. Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund (HYI)
9. Helios Multi-Sector High Income Fund (HMH)
10. BlackRock Senior High Income Portfolio Fund (ARK)

Updated on 12/3/2012