Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (VPACX)

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (Ticker: VPACX) is a popular international stock mutual fund. The mutual fund focuses its investment in stocks of companies located in Pacific/Asia region.

Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund (MUTF: VPACX)

The Vanguard Pacific Stock Index Fund objective is to track the performance of the MSCI Pacific Index, a benchmark index.  The index comprises of stocks issued by companies located in the major markets of the Pacific region. The MSCI Pacific Index consists of approximately 470 common stocks of companies located in Japan, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New Zealand.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 06/17/1990
• Ticker Symbol: VPACX
• CUSIP: 922042106
• Beta (3yr): 0.77
• Rank in category (YTD): 83%
• Category: Diversified Pacific/ Asia
• Distribution: 4.42%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.26%
• Net Assets: $ 3.91 billion
• Number of Years Up: 13 years
• Number of Years Down: 8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 4.00%

Updated on 12/26/2012

Best Performing World Allocation Mutual Funds 2012

The best performing world allocation mutual funds December 2012 are Strategic Latin America fund, PIMCO All Asset All Authority, Templeton Global Balanced, etc.

Top Performer World Allocation Funds

World allocation mutual fund is considered as a balanced mutual fund. This fund invests in 3 major categories: stocks, bonds, and cash. The mutual fund may invest in companies and government around the world. It focuses on the U.S., Canada, Japan, Europe, and other developed countries. It may invest about 10% in emerging markets.

These best performing mutual funds are sorted based on its year-to-date performance up to December 16, 2012. You may find other fund review information: expense ratio, fund’s NAV, management, objective, yield, top holdings, etc.

The 8 best performing world allocation mutual funds December 2012 are:

1. Strategic Latin America A (SLATX)
2. VALIC Company I Global Strategy (VGLSX)
3. PIMCO All Asset All Authority A (PAUAX)
4. Templeton Global Balanced A (TAGBX)
5. Nuveen Real Asset Income A (NRIAX)
6. Ivy Asset Strategy A (WASAX)
7. Waddell & Reed Asset Strategy A (UNASX)
8. Goldman Sachs Satellite Strategies A (GXSAX)

Updated on 12/24/2012

Fidelity Japan Fund (FJPNX)

Fidelity Japan Fund (Ticker: FJPNX) is an international stock mutual fund. This fund invests in equities of Japanese companies. More review can be found inside.

Fidelity Japan Fund (MUTF: FJPNX)

The investment aim of Fidelity Japan Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The fund utilizes its assets to purchase securities of Japanese issuers and other investments that are tied economically to Japan. It invests mainly in common stocks. The fund may use fundamental analysis of factors such as financial condition and industry position, as well as market and economic conditions to select investments.

Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 09/14/1992
• Ticker Symbol: FJPNX
• CUSIP: 315910885
• Beta (3yr): 0.60
• Rank in category (YTD): 37%
• Category: Japan Stock
• Distribution: 1.68%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.80%
• Net Assets: $ 400.29 million
• Number of Years Up: 9 years
• Number of Years Down: 10 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 134.00%

Updated on 12/22/2012

Top Performer Municipal Bond ETFs December 2012

The 10 top performer municipal bond ETFs December 2012 are Market Vectors High-Yield Muni ETF, SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond, etc.

Best Performing Muni Bond ETFs

Exchange Traded Funds or ETFs have gaining popularity among investors. Unlike mutual fund, they provide opportunity to invest and trade like stocks. You can buy ETFs from your brokerage. One of the popular ETF categories is municipal bond ETF.

The municipal bond ETF invests mainly in municipal bond either investment grade muni or high yield municipal. This fund provide tax free yield for investors. Typically it also has lower risk than other bond or stock ETF.

These top performer muni bond ETFs are sorted based on its YTD return. You may find other information such as expense ratio fee, portfolio turnover rate, management or index approach, performance, etc. You can find the fund review and comparison below.

The 10 top performer municipal bond ETFs up to December 2012 are:

1. Market Vectors High-Yield Muni ETF (HYD)
2. SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond (HYMB)
3. Market Vectors CEF Municipal Income ETF (XMPT)
4. Market Vectors Long Municipal Index ETF (MLN)
5. PowerShares Insured National Muni Bond (PZA)
6. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital CA Muni Bond (CXA)
7. PowerShares Insured California Muni Bond (PWZ)
8. PowerShares Insured New York Muni Bond (PZT)
9. iShares S&P CA AMT-Free Municipal Bond (CMF)
10. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Capital NY Muni Bond (INY)

Updated on 12/21/2012

Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund (VUSTX) Investor Shares

The Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Fund (Ticker: VUSTX) is part of taxable bond mutual fund. This investor shares fund invests in long duration government bonds.

Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Investor (VUSTX)

The investment objective of Vanguard Long-Term Treasury fund is to achieve a high and sustainable level of current income. This mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase U.S. Treasury securities. These securities may include bills, bonds, and notes issued by the U.S. Treasury. It is expected to maintain a dollar-weighted average maturity of 15 to 30 years. The current fund’s NAV is $13.59 (11/27/2012).

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: May 18, 1986
• Ticker Symbol: VUSTX
• CUSIP: 922031505
• Beta (3yr): 3.16
• Rank in category (YTD): 65%
• Category: Long Government
• Distribution: 2.53%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.20%
• Net Assets: $ 3.93 billion
• Number of Years Up: 20 years
• Number of Years Down: 5 years
• Average Maturity: 23.2 years
• Average duration: 15.6 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 229%

Updated on 12/20/2012

Best Performing Emerging Markets Stock Closed End Funds December 2012

Best performing emerging markets CEFs 2012 include Turkish Investment Fund, Mexico Fund, Morgan Stanley India, etc. These closed end funds invest in equities of companies in emerging markets region.

Top Performer Closed End Funds

Investor can invest in emerging markets sector through several channels. They can invest in ETF (exchange traded fund), mutual fund, stock, bond, and CEF (closed end fund). This article will look into the emerging markets closed end fund investment especially the best performing funds.

The emerging markets CEFs focus its investment in companies located in emerging markets region. These countries are Brazil, India, China, Turkey, South Africa, etc. Typically, the funds have higher growth rate than the developed countries fund such as US or European.

The top performing list is sorted based on its performance in 2012 (up to 12/13/2012). You can find the fund review, performance, expense ratio, dividend yield, fund’s NAV, management, leverage, fund’s sponsor, premium/discount info, etc.

The 10 best performing emerging markets CEFs 2012 are:

1. Turkish Investment Fund (TKF)
2. Mexico Equity & Income (MXE)
3. Mexico Fund (MXF)
4. Morgan Stanley India Investor (IIF)
5. First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Opportunity (FEO)
6. India Fund (IFN)
7. Morgan Stanley East Europe (RNE)
8. Aberdeen Emerging Markets Telecommunications & Infrastructure (ETF)
9. Aberdeen Latin America (LAQ)
10. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin (CUBA)

Updated on 12/18/2012

Third Avenue International Value Fund (TVIVX)

Third Avenue International Value Fund (TVIVX) is an international stock mutual fund. This equity mutual fund invests in undervalued non-U.S. companies with small- and/or mid-capitalization.

Third Avenue International Value Fund (Ticker: TVIVX)

The investment objective of Third Avenue International Value fund is to seek long-term capital growth. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase a portfolio of common stocks and convertible securities, of well-financed companies (high quality assets and low levels of liabilities) located outside of the United States. It invests primarily in developed countries. It is non-diversified.

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 12/30/2009
• Ticker Symbol: TVIVX
• CUSIP: 884116864
• Beta (3yr): 0.84
• Rank in category (YTD): 42%
• Category: Foreign Small/ Mid Value
• Distribution: 1.34%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.65%
• Net Assets: $ 1.19 billion
• Number of Years Up: 1 year
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 24%

Updated on 12/17/2012