International Funds

For example, Russia funds were at the top of the emerging markets list in 1997 with a 98% gain, but then lost 85% in 1999. $10,000 invested would have turned into $2,970 (10,000 plus 98% less 85%).

Who would have invested in Korea in 1998, after seeing Korea funds lose 70% in 1997? But they gained 99% in 1998, and then crashed again in 1999 and 2000.

There are also Regional Funds that invest in companies of a specific continent, country, or region of the world such as Russia, Latin America, or the Pacific Rim.

Looking at the top 25 international funds of 1998-1999, only 2 made money in 2000, one 8% and the other 2%.

Historical performance has shown that putting part of a diversified portfolio into international mutual funds does not provide a higher return on your investment, but certainly does create more risk. You can lose a lot of money because of something as simple as currency devaluation. You are not missing out if you skip them.

Other Stock Market Basics Topics:

1. Mutual Fund Advantages
2. History of Mutual Funds
3. NAV
4. Dollar Cost Averaging
5. General advice about choosing a fund
6. Mutual Fund Ratings
7. Evaluating Mutual Fund Investment Risk
8. Mutual Fund Share Classes
9. Mutual Fund Fees
10. The Mutual Fund Prospectus
11. How important is the manager's length of experience?
12. Why is the prospectus hard to understand?
13. Mutual Fund Annual Report
14. Comparing your fund to the competition
15. Comparing funds on an after-tax basis
16. Average Return on Investment
17. How Not to Pick a Mutual Fund
18. Cashing in Your Fund
19. When to Sell Your Fund
20. Mutual Funds and Asset Allocation
21. When to get started with a mutual fund
22. Types of Mutual Funds
23. Value Stock Funds
24. Growth Stock Funds
25. Small and Micro-cap Stocks
26. Mid Cap
27. Large Cap Companies
28. Income Stock Funds
29. Mutual Fund Index
30. Enhanced Index Funds
31. Sector Mutual Funds
32. Stock Market Sectors
33. Defensive Stocks
34. International Funds
35. Real Estate Mutual Funds
36. Socially Responsible Funds
37. Balanced Funds
38. Tax-Efficient Funds
39. Bond Convertible Funds
40. Junk Bond Funds
41. Mixtures of stock types
42. Closed End Funds
43. Exchange Traded Funds (ETF’s)
44. Stock Picking Strategy - Picking your own stocks?
45. Fund names, and what they really invest in
46. How to get started
47. Where can I start investing with no money?
    

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