Van Eck Global Hard Assets Fund (GHAAX)

Van Eck Global Hard Assets Fund (GHAAX) is a sector stock mutual fund. Van Eck Global Hard Assets Fund invests mainly in natural resources companies.

Van Eck Global Fund

The investment aim of Van Eck Global Hard Assets Fund is to seek long-term capital appreciation; income is secondary. This mutual fund uses its assets to purchase securities of “hard asset” companies and instruments that derive their value from “hard assets”. Hard assets include precious metals (including gold), base and industrial metals, energy, natural resources and other commodities. This Van Eck Global fund may also invest up to 20% of its net assets in securities issued by other investment companies, including exchange-traded funds. The fund is non-diversified.

Van Eck Global Hard Assets Fund Profile

GHAAX fund

• Fund Inception Date: 11/1/1994
• Ticker Symbol: GHAAX
• CUSIP: 921075750
• Beta (3yr): 1.34
• Rank in category (YTD): 68%
• Category: Natural Resources
• Distribution: 0.56%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.38%
• Net Assets: $ 4.0 billion
• Number of Years Up: 14 years
• Number of Years Down: 4 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 27%

Updated on July 25, 2013

Best Municipal Bond ETFs 2014

Find best municipal bond exchange traded funds (ETFs) 2014. These top muni bond funds are great for investors hence they provide tax free income from federal income tax.

Top Muni Bond ETFs

ETFs or exchange traded funds are traded like stock. They also provide choice for investment. Investing in individual municipal bond is difficult for small investors. Using ETFs, investor can pick and choose certain sector of municipal bond funds.

Municipal bond ETFs invest mainly in investment grade fixed income securities issued by states, cities, town, and public utilities in USA. The high yield municipal bond funds invest in lower quality municipal debts. Income provided by the funds is exempted from federal income tax. If you are in high tax bracket, investing in municipal bond ETFs can provide higher total return through capital appreciation and tax free income.

Best Municipal Debt ETFs

These best ETFs for 2013 are selected based several things such as future performance, low cost, and growth opportunity. The funds are ranked with among the best in municipal bond ETFs. You may find the fund review below and other fund information.

The 10 best municipal bond ETFs 2014 are:

1. iShares S&P National Municipal Bond Fund (MUB)
2. PIMCO Intermediate Municipal Bond Exchange-Traded Fund (MUNI)
3. iShares S&P Short Term National Municipal Bond Fund (SUB)
4. SPDR Nuveen S&P High Yield Municipal Bond ETF (HYMB)
5. Market Vectors Short Municipal Index ETF (SMB)
6. SPDR Nuveen Barclays Short Term Municipal Bond ETF (SHM)

T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX)

T. Rowe Price Japan Fund (PRJPX) invests mainly in stocks of Japanese companies. This equity fund is part of international stock mutual fund.

T. Rowe Price Fund

This T Rowe Price Japan Fund investment objective is to achieve long-term growth of capital through investment in the common stocks of companies located, or with primary operations, in Japan. This equity fund utilizes its assets to purchase a wide range of Japanese companies and industries. It seeks to identify company that can achieve as well as sustain above-average and long-term earnings growth.

T. Rowe Price Japan Fund Profile

PRJPX fund

• Fund Inception Date: 12/30/1991
• Ticker Symbol: PRJPX
• CUSIP: 77956H708
• Beta (3yr): 0.57
• Rank in category (YTD): 32%
• Category: Japan Stock
• Distribution: 0.71%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 1.14%
• Net Assets: $ 259.3 million
• Number of Years Up: 10 years
• Number of Years Down: 11 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 55.10%

Updated on July 5, 2013

Best Target Date 2016-2020 Mutual Funds

Discover best target date 2016-2020 mutual funds for your investment. You can invest these top mutual funds in your retirement account, 401(k) account or regular brokerage account.

Top Retirement Mutual Funds

The target date 2016-2020 mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase a portfolio of bonds, stocks, and short term cash. It is suitable for investors who have the years 2016-2020 date for retirement or other goal. The mutual fund will adjust its risk and return based on this target date. Over time, the fund will become more conservative as the target date approaches.

You may find the individual fund review from this best mutual funds list. Check the fund performance, expense ratio, and yield or dividend from the table below. The list is sorted based on fees, yield, fund returns, and potential for growth.

Best target date 2016-2020 mutual funds are:

1. Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 Fund (VTWNX)
2. T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020 Fund (TRRBX)
3. TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2020 Fund (TLWIX)
4. Schwab Target 2020 Fund (SWCRX)
5. American Funds Target Date Retirement 2020 Fund (AACTX)
6. TIAA-CREF Lifecycle 2020 Retirement Fund (TCLTX)
7. Vantagepoint Milestone 2020 Fund (VPROX)
8. JPMorgan SmartRetirement 2020 Fund (JTTAX)
9. American Century Asset Allocation Portfolios One ChoiceSM 2020 Portfolio (ARBMX)
10. MFS Lifetime 2020 Fund (MFLAX)

Updated on July 19, 2013

Vanguard Explorer Fund (VEXPX)

Vanguard Explorer Fund (VEXPX) is a domestic stock fund. This Vanguard fund invests in equities of companies with small capitalization.

Vanguard Fund

The investment objective of Vanguard Explorer Fund is to achieve long-term capital appreciation. The mutual fund invests mainly in the stocks of small companies. These companies tend to be unseasoned but are considered by the fund’s advisors to have superior growth potential. Most of these companies often provide little or no dividend income. The fund uses multiple investment advisors.

Vanguard Explorer Fund Profile

Vanguard fund

• Fund Inception Date: December 11, 1967
• Ticker Symbol: VEXPX
• CUSIP: 921926101
• Beta (3yr): 1.25
• Rank in category (YTD): 16%
• Category: Small Growth
• Distribution: 0.28%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.49%
• Net Assets: $ 10.4 billion
• Number of Years Up:  34years
• Number of Years Down: 11 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 59%

Updated on July 17, 2013

Best Performing Emerging Markets CEFs July 2013

Find best performing emerging markets CEFs July 2013 for the past year. These closed end funds invests mainly in companies stocks that are located in emerging markets countries.

Top Emerging Markets Stock Funds

These emerging markets stock CEFs utilizes its assets to purchase a companies located in emerging markets countries. The companies are located in Brazil, China, Russia, Taiwan, India, Mexico, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, etc. Closed end funds are traded like stocks and ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds). They may provide opportunity for growth, value and income.

These best performing closed end funds are sorted based on its 1 year total return up to July 15, 2013. You may find other fund review information: expense ratio, fund’s NAV, management, objective, yield, premium/discount, top holdings, etc.

The best performing emerging markets CEFs July 2013 are:

1. Mexico Fund (MXF)
2. Mexico Equity & Income (MXE)
3. Herzfeld Caribbean Basin (CUBA)
4. Turkish Investment Fund (TKF)
5. Morgan Stanley Eastern Europe (RNE)
6. Aberdeen Emerging Markets Smaller Company Opportunities (ETF)
7. India Fund (IFN)
8. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets (MSF)
9. Central Euro Russia & Turkey (CEE)
10. First Trust/Aberdeen Emerging Op (FEO)
11. Aberdeen Latin America (LAQ)
12. Templeton Emerging Markets (EMF)
13. ING Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity (IHD)
14. Morgan Stan India Investment (IIF)

Updated on July 15, 2013

T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund (PRITX)

T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund (PRITX) invests in non-U.S. company equities. As part of T. Rowe Price, T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund is very popular among investors.

T. Rowe Price Fund

The investment aim of T. Rowe Price International Stock Fund is to provide long-term capital growth through investments primarily in the common stocks of established, non-U.S. companies. The fund expects to invest substantially all of its assets in stocks outside the U.S. and to diversify broadly among developed and emerging countries throughout the world. It may purchase the stocks of any size companies, but its focus is on large-sized companies and medium-sized companies.

Fund Details

T Rowe Price fund

• Fund Inception Date: May 8, 1980
• Ticker Symbol: PRITX
• CUSIP: 77956H203
• Beta (3yr): 0.99
• Rank in category (YTD): 74%
• Category: Foreign Large Growth
• Distribution: 1.26%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.85%
• Net Assets: $ 11.0 billion
• Number of Years Up: 22 years
• Number of Years Down: 10 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 33.50%

Updated on July 13, 2013