Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund (VBLTX)

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund (VBLTX) is a taxable bond mutual fund. It invests mainly in long dated bonds with high yield. You can find the fund review from this post below.

Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund (MUTF: VBLTX)

The Vanguard Long-Term Bond Index Fund objective is to track the performance of a market-weighted bond index with a long-term dollar-weighted average maturity. The mutual fund employs an indexing investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital U.S. Long Government/Credit Float Adjusted Index. It invests >80% of assets in bonds held in the index. The fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity ranges between 15 and 30 years.

Fund Details

Vanguard fund details

• Fund Inception Date: February 28, 1994
• Ticker Symbol: VBLTX
• CUSIP: 921937405
• Beta (3yr): 3.12
• Rank in category (YTD): 95%
• Category: Long-Term Bond
• Distribution: 4.03%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.22%
• Net Assets: $ 778.9 million
• Number of Years Up: 16 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Average Duration: 24.1 years
• Average Maturity: 14.8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 45.00%

updated on 5/5/2013

Best High Yield Closed End Funds for 2013 and 2014

Best high yield closed end funds for 2013 and 2014 are John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income fund, Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income, etc.

Best High Yield CEFs

Closed end funds or CEFs is traded like stocks or ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). They are publicly traded investment companies which invest in stocks, bonds, preferred, and money market fund. They raise their capital through an IPO (initial public offering). They are traded in national exchange such as NYSE, NASDAQ, AMEX, etc.

These investment funds are managed actively by the fund manager(s). The fund’s market price may trade at a discount or premium to its NAV (Net Asset Value). These CEFs are categorized into several classes such as stock CEF, bond CEF, and balanced CEF.

Top High Yield CEFs

These top high yield CEFs provide better value and yield for investors. Some of these CEFs in the list are traded at discount to their NAV. They also provide high dividend yield for income. From this list, you may find wide selection of funds.

The top high yield CEFs include: value fund, real estate fund, mortgage bond, emerging markets, high yield bond, corporate bond, etc. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table.

Best high yield closed end funds for 2013 and 2014 are:

1. John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income fund (HTD)
2. Neuberger Berman Real Estate Securities Income fund (NRO)
3. Nuveen Dividend Advantage fund (NAD)
4. Nuveen Quality Preferred Income fund 2 (JPS)
5. BlackRock Credit Allocation Income fund (BTZ)
6. Managed High Yield Plus fund (HYF)
7. DWS Global High Income fund (LBF)
8. Lazard Global Total Return & Income fund (LGI)

Updated on 5/2/2013

Fidelity Conservative Income Bond Fund (FCONX)

Fidelity Conservative Income Bond Fund (FCONX) is an ultrashort bond mutual fund. It invests mainly in money market and high quality bonds.

Fidelity Conservative Income Bond Fund (FCONX)

The Fidelity Conservative Income Bond Fund objective is to obtain a high current income level, consistent with capital preservation. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase a portfolio of U.S. dollar-denominated money market and high quality investment-grade debt securities of all types, and repurchase agreements for those securities. It invests >25% of total assets in the financial services industries. The fund normally retains a dollar-weighted average maturity of 0.75 years or less. It invests in fixed rate securities with a maximum maturity of two years or less and floating rate securities with a maximum maturity of three years or less.

Fund Profile

FCONX fund

• Fund Inception Date: March 2, 2011
• Ticker Symbol: FCONX
• CUSIP: 316146539
• Beta (3yr): N/A
• Rank in category (YTD): 35%
• Category: Ultrashort Bond
• Yield: 0.70%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.40%
• Net Assets: $ 2.4 billion
• Number of Years Up: 1 year
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Average Duration: 0.3 years
• Average Maturity: 0.7 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 31% 

Updated on as of March 31, 2013

Best Performing Currency Mutual Funds April 2013

The best performing currency mutual funds April 2013 are Eaton Vance Diversified Currency Income fund, Lord Abbett Emerging Markets Currency, more. It provides alternative opportunity for hedging.

Top Currency Funds

Currency Funds

Currency mutual funds invest in U.S. and non-U.S. currencies around the world. The portfolios use short term money market, derivative, forward currency contracts, index swaps / options, and cash deposits. The mutual fund invest mostly in major currency such as US dollar (USD), European Euro (EUR), Japanese Yen (JPY), British Pound (GBP), Australian Dollar (AUD), Canadian Dollar (CAD), Swiss Franc (CHF), and more. They may invest in other currencies such as Hong Kong Dollar (HKD), Swedish Koran (SEK), South Korean Won (KRW), and Singapore Dollar (SGD).

From this best performing funds list, you may find each individual fund review. You can find the fund performance, expense ratio, and dividend yield from the table below. The list is sorted based on its 1 year return up to April 21, 2013.

Top Mutual Funds

The best performing currency mutual funds April 2013 are:

1. Eaton Vance Diversified Currency Income fund (EAIIX)
2. Rydex Strengthening Dollar 2x Strategy fund (RYSDX)
3. Lord Abbett Emerging Markets Currency fund (LDMAX)
4. ProFunds Rising US Dollar fund (RDPIX)
5. PIMCO Emerging Markets Currency fund (PLMAX)
6. Columbia Absolute Return Currency & Income fund (RARAX)
7. Ashmore Emerging Markets Currency fund (ECYAX)
8. JPMorgan Ex-G4 Currency Strategies fund (EXGAX)
9. JHancock2 Currency Strategies fund (JCUAX)
10. JPMorgan International Currency Income fund (JCIAX)

BlackRock Latin America Fund (MDLTX)

BlackRock Latin America Fund (MDLTX) is a Latin America stock mutual fund. This international stock fund invests mainly in equities of companies located in Latin America.

BlackRock Latin America Fund (Ticker: MDLTX)

The BlackRock Latin America Fund objective is to seek long-term capital appreciation. The mutual fund uses its assets to purchase Latin American securities. It emphasizes equity securities of companies of any market capitalization located in Latin America. It may invest in selected countries in Latin America only. It can invest in securities denominated in the currencies of Latin American countries or in other currencies. The fund is non-diversified.

Fund Details

BlackRock Latin America Fund

• Fund Inception Date: September 26, 1991
• Ticker Symbol: MDLTX
• CUSIP: 09250X105
• Beta (3yr): 1.07
• Rank in category (YTD): 60%
• Category: Latin America Stock
• Distribution: 1.41%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.53%
• Net Assets: $ 573.1 million
• Number of Years Up: 13 years
• Number of Years Down: 8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 50%

Updated on 4/28/2013

Top Performing Long Government Mutual Funds April 2013

Top performing long Government mutual funds April 2013 are American Century Zero Coupon 2025 fund, Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index. It has high yield for income.

Top Performer Funds

Best Performing Long Government Mutual Funds 2013

Long government mutual fund invests mainly in long duration U.S. government debts including U.S. treasuries. These bonds are backed by U.S. government; hence they have low credit risk default. The bonds have duration of more than six years. These portfolios are more sensitive to interest rates, and are riskier than bonds with shorter durations.

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 1 year total return up to April 15, 2013.

The top performing long Government mutual funds April 2013 are:

1. Direxion Monthly 10 Year Note Bull 2X fund (DXKLX)
2. American Century Zero Coupon 2025 fund (BTTRX)
3. Rydex Government Long Bond 1.2x Strategy fund (RYGBX)
4. Vanguard Extended Duration Treasury Index fund (VEDTX)
5. PIMCO Extended Duration fund (PEDIX)
6. PIMCO Long-Term US Government fund (PGOVX)
7. American Century Zero Coupon 2020 fund (BTTTX)
8. ProFunds US Government Plus fund (GVPIX)
9. Vanguard Long-Term Government Bond Index fund (VLGIX)
10. Vanguard Long-Term Treasury fund (VUSTX)
11. Fidelity Spartan L/T Treasury Bond Index fund (FLBIX)
12. T. Rowe Price US Treasury Long-Term fund (PRULX)

Updated on 4/26/2013

Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Fund (EAGMX)

Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Fund (EAGMX) is a nontraditional bond mutual fund. This Eaton Vance fund invests mainly in bonds, derivatives or other instruments.

Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Fund (EAGMX)

The investment aim of Eaton Vance Global Macro Absolute Return Fund is to provide total return. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to buy portfolio of securities, derivatives and other instruments to establish long and short investment exposures around the world. It generally invests in multiple countries and may have significant exposure to foreign currencies. The fund’s long and short investments mainly are sovereign exposures, including currencies, interest rates and debt instruments issued or guaranteed by sovereign entities. It is non-diversified.

fund details

Fund Profile

• Fund Inception Date: 10/30/1997
• Ticker Symbol: EAGMX
• CUSIP: 277923736
• Beta (3yr): -0.06
• Rank in category (YTD): 38%
• Category: Nontraditional Bond
• Distribution: 3.61%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.32%
• Net Assets: $ 6.8 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Duration: 0.45 year
• Annual Turnover Rate: 39%

updated on 4/23/2013