Stock funds return to the doldrums, gold is back on top
By Ray Goldbacher, USATODAY.com
(Updated 4/18/2003 12:11 PM)
Stock mutual funds were back in the doldrums this week, with the average diversified fund off 0.9% through April 10, according to Lipper, the fund trackers.
Gold funds were the week's best performers, up 4.2% on average. But the category, which gained an incredible 62.9% in 2002, is still off 12.4% in 2003, vs. the average fund's modest 1.5% loss.
Trailing gold were funds that invest in the Pacific region outside Japan, up 2.6% on average for the week (but off 6.2% for the year); international small-cap funds, up 2.4% for the week (but off 1.6% for the year); and emerging markets funds, up 2.0% for the week (off 2.0% for the year).
The big losers last week were science-and-technology funds, off 3.2% on average (but still up 0.7% for the year); health-and-biotechnology funds, off 2.9% for the week (but up 1.2% for the year); and mid-cap growth funds, off 1.9% for the week (and down 0.9% for the year).
The year-to-date winners, believe it or not, are Latin America funds, up 3.3% on average, real estate funds, up 3.2% and convertible securities funds, up 2.9% through April 10. Only six other fund categories are in the black for 2003.
The past five years, only 11 of Lipper's 41 stock fund categories are showing positive returns. That about says it all.
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