Oppenheimer International Bond Fund (OIBAX)

Oppenheimer International Bond Fund (OIBAX) is a popular world bond mutual fund. It invests mainly in developed and emerging markets countries debts. It provides income for investors.

Oppenheimer International Bond Fund (OIBAX)

The investment objective of Oppenheimer International Bond Fund is to provide total return. The mutual fund uses majority of its assets in foreign debt securities. This taxable bond fund invests in debt securities of issuers in both developed and emerging markets throughout the world. It invests mainly in debt securities of foreign government and corporate issuers. The fund may buy securities issued by companies of any size or market capitalization range and at times might emphasize securities of issuers in a particular capitalization range. It is non-diversified.

Fund Details

OIBAC fund

• Fund Inception Date: June 14, 1995
• Ticker Symbol: OIBAX
• CUSIP: 68380T103
• Beta (3yr): 0.34
• Rank in category (YTD): 31%
• Category: World Bond 
• Distribution: 3.68%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.02%
• Net Assets: $ 13.1 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 3 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 111% 

Updated on May 24, 2013

Best Performing Intermediate Term Bond ETFs May 2013

Best performing intermediate term bond ETFs May 2013 are PIMCO Total Return ETF, Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond, iShares Financials Sector Bond fund.

Top ETFs

Intermediate Term Bond Fund

Intermediate term bond fund should be your primarily choice for income diversification. It has a lower risk than long term bond fund. It also has a higher yield than short term bond fund. You can invest in intermediate-term bond fund through mutual fund, exchange traded fund, or closed end fund.

The intermediate term bond fund uses its assets to purchase investment grade corporate bonds, government bonds (U.S. Treasury) or other U.S. fixed income debts. These debts typically have durations of 4 to 7 years. As mentioned before, they are less sensitive to interest rates, therefore less volatile than long duration bonds.

Top Performer ETFs

These top performer ETFs are sorted based on its 1 year return (up to May 2013). You can find the fund review from this article. Other fund information can be found below such as expense ratio, Morningstar rating, fund’s NAV, managers, fund’s holdings, yield, etc.

Best performing intermediate term bond ETFs May 2013 are:

1. PIMCO Total Return ETF (BOND)
2. Guggenheim BulletShares 2020 Corporate Bond (BSCK)
3. iShares Financials Sector Bond (MONY)
4. Vanguard Intermediate-Term Corporate Bond Index ETF (VCIT)
5. Guggenheim BulletShares 2019 Corp Bond (BSCJ)
6. PIMCO Investment Grade Corporate Bond Index ETF (CORP)
7. Guggenheim BulletShares 2017 Corporate Bond (BSCH)
8. iShares Barclays Credit Bond (CFT)
9. Vanguard Intermediate-Term Bond ETF (BIV)
10. SPDR Barclays Cap Intermediate Term Corporate Bond (ITR)

Fidelity Select Banking Fund (FSRBX)

Fidelity Select Banking Fund (FSRBX) is a sector stock mutual fund. It provides a tool for investor who likes to diversify in banking or financial sectors. It also has a higher yield than other stock fund.

Fidelity Select Banking Fund (FSRBX)

The investment aim of Fidelity Select Banking Fund is to provide capital appreciation. The fund utilizes its assets to purchase common stocks of companies mainly engaged in banking. The fund invests in domestic and foreign issuers. It uses fundamental analysis of factors such as each issuer’s financial condition and industry position to choose the companies. It may use market and economic conditions to select investments as well.

Fund Profile

Fidelity fund details

• Fund Inception Date: June 29, 1986
• Ticker Symbol: FSRBX
• CUSIP: 316390640
• Beta (3yr): 1.12
• Rank in category (YTD): 64%
• Category: Financial
• Distribution: 1.17%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.87%
• Net Assets: $ 549.5 million
• Number of Years Up: 18 years
• Number of Years Down: 8 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 91.00%

updated on 5/242013

Top Performing Convertibles Mutual Funds May 2013

The top performing convertibles mutual funds May 2013 are Fidelity Convertible Securities fund, Putnam Convertible Securities, etc. These convertible funds provide income for investors.

Convertible Bond Mutual Funds

Top Funds

Convertibles mutual funds are part of balanced funds. They invest primarily in convertible bonds and convertible preferred stocks. The portfolios provide investors a capital growth opportunity and regular income. The convertible bonds in the mutual fund allow the fund to convert the bonds into shares of stock. The funds act like stocks and like bonds; hence they are part of balanced fund.

Investors can buy this convertibles mutual fund from brokerage such as Vanguard, Fidelity, T. Rowe Price, and other brokers. This fund can be bought with as little as $1,000 or $250 for your investment account or retirement account. You can find the best performing convertibles mutual funds below.

These top performers are sorted based on its 1 year return (up to May 2013). You can find the fund review from this article. Other fund information can be found below such as expense ratio, Morningstar rating, fund’s NAV, managers, fund’s holdings, yield, etc.

The top performing convertibles mutual funds May 2013 are:

1. Fidelity Convertible Securities fund (FCVSX)
2. Putnam Convertible Securities fund (PCONX)
3. Invesco Convertible Securities fund (CNSAX)
4. AllianzGI Convertible fund (ANZAX)
5. Columbia Convertible Securities fund (PACIX)
6. Vanguard Convertible Securities fund (VCVSX)
7. Lord Abbett Convertible fund (LACFX)
8. Franklin Convertible Securities fund (FISCX)
9. RBC BlueBay Global Convertible Bond I (RGCBX)
10. MainStay Convertible fund (MCOAX)

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund (GICAX)

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund is an international stock fund. It invests in non-U.S. companies stocks. It also has a high yield of 4.35%.

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund (GICAX)

Goldman Sachs Structured International Small Cap Fund objective is to provide long term capital appreciation. It uses its assets to buy a broadly diversified portfolio of equity investments in small-cap non-U.S. issuers. It seeks to maximize its expected return, while maintaining risk, style, and capitalization characteristics similar to the MSCI Europe, Australasia, Far East Small Cap Index. It may invest in emerging countries and fixed income securities.

Fund Details

Goldman Sachs fund

• Fund Inception Date: 09/27/2007
• Ticker Symbol: GICAX
• CUSIP:
• Beta (3yr): 1.00
• Rank in category (YTD): 6%
• Category: Foreign Small/Mid Value
• Distribution: 4.35%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.30%
• Net Assets: $ 286.3 million
• Number of Years Up: 3 years
• Number of Years Down: 2 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 150%

Updated on 5/21/2013

Best Hartford Mutual Funds 2013

Top 19 Best Hartford mutual funds 2013 are Hartford Balanced Income fund, Hartford Equity Income, Hartford Dividend & Growth, etc. You may find stock, bond, and balanced funds.

Best Funds

Top 19 Hartford Mutual Funds

Hartford Funds is part of The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc (NYSE: HIG). It is mostly known as The Hartford. It is one of the America’s largest insurance and investment companies for individual and business customers. It has 4 business segments: commercial markets, consumer markets, wealth management, and runoff operations.

The Hartford funds consist of 54 mutual funds. There are 5 main categories such as domestic equity, international/ global equity, fixed income, alternatives, and multi strategy. For instance, you can find the Hartford Target Retirement 2020 fund in multi strategy category.

These best Hartford mutual funds for 2013 are selected based on its performance history. The funds are ranked with 3 star rating or higher by Morningstar. You may find the fund review below and other fund information.

The best Hartford mutual funds 2013 are:

1. Hartford Balanced Income fund (HBLAX)
2. Hartford Equity Income fund (HQIAX)
3. Hartford Dividend & Growth fund (IHGIX)
4. Hartford Midcap fund (HFMCX)
5. Hartford Growth Opportunities fund (HGOAX)
6. Hartford Inflation Plus fund (HIPAX)
7. Hartford Growth Allocation fund (HRAAX)
8. Hartford Healthcare fund (HGHAX)
9. Hartford International Opportunities fund (IHOAX)
10. Hartford Short Duration fund (HSDAX)
11. Hartford Small Company fund (IHSAX)
12. Hartford Mid Cap Value fund (HMVAX)

ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICRAX)

ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICRAX) is a sector stock fund. It invests in common stocks of companies which are operated in consumer staples. The companies are Procter & Gamble Co, Wal-Mart Stores Inc, etc.

ICON Consumer Staples Fund (ICRAX)

The investment objective of ICON Consumer Staples Fund is to provide long-term capital appreciation. The mutual fund uses its assets to purchase equity securities of companies in the Consumer Staples sector. Equity securities in which the fund may invest include common stocks and preferred stocks of companies of any market capitalization. It is non-diversified.

Fund Details

ICRAX fund

• Fund Inception Date: 09/29/2010
• Ticker Symbol: ICRAX
• CUSIP: 44929K291
• Beta (3yr): 0.48
• Rank in category (YTD): 60%
• Category: Consumer Defensive
• Distribution: 1.38%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.77%
• Net Assets: $ 42.6 million
• Number of Years Up: 2 years
• Number of Years Down: 0 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 81.81% 

Updated on 5/17/2013