The international bond market has come to represent a
particularly lucrative opportunity for investors. Though the U.S.
bond market continues to attract investors, it has featured
infrequently among the best performing international markets.
Today international markets represent more than half of the
world's fixed income investment opportunities. Further, the
presence of foreign fixed income securities in a portfolio helps
protect capital invested against currency fluctuations. With
their widely diversified holdings, mutual funds offer a secure
route to investing in the international bond market.
Below we will share with you 5 top rated international bond
mutual funds. Each has earned a
Zacks #1
Rank
(Strong Buy) as we expect the fund to outperform its peers in the
future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all
international bond funds, investors can
click here to see the complete list of funds
.
Franklin Templeton Emerging Market Debt
Opportunities
(
FEMDX
) invests a large share of its assets in debt securities issued
from emerging market countries. The fund invests without limit in
debt securities rated below investment grade. The international
bond mutual fund returned 12.9% in the last one year period.
The Fund Manager is William Ledward and he has managed this
international bond mutual fund since 2006.
GMO Emerging Country Debt IV
(
GMDFX
) seeks total return higher than its benchmark, the J.P. Morgan
Emerging Markets Bond Index Global. The fund focuses on investing
in sovereign debt of developing markets but it can also invest in
entities related or not related to the emerging countries. The
international bond mutual fund returned 22.44% in the last one
year period.
The international bond mutual fund has an expense ratio of
0.59% compared to a category average of 1.26%.
JPMorgan Emerging Markets Debt
(
JEMDX
) invests the majority of its assets in debt securities issued in
emerging markets. These securities may be dollar-denominated or
may be issued in foreign currencies. The fund is non-diversified
and may also purchase securities rated below investment grade.
The international bond mutual fund returned 17.13% in the last
one year period.
As of September 2012, this international bond mutual fund held
181 issues, with 6.80% of its total assets invested in Russian
Federation 7.5%
Federated Emerging Market Debt A
(
IHIAX
) seeks high current income. The fund invests a large share of
its assets in fixed income securities from emerging markets. It
invests in securities regardless of their maturity period. The
international bond mutual fund is non-diversified and returned
16.3% in the last one year period.
The Fund Manager is Roberto Sanchez-Dahl and he has managed
this international bond mutual fund since 2001.
Goldman Sachs Emerging Market Debt A
(
GSDAX
) invests heavily in government and corporate debt securities and
in fixed income securities issued from emerging markets. The fund
invests in securities regardless of their credit rating. The
international bond mutual fund returned 16.54% in the last one
year period.
The international bond mutual fund has a minimum initial
investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 1.22% compared to a
category average of 1.26%.
To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all
international bond mutual funds, investors can
click here to see the complete list of funds
.
About Zacks Mutual Fund Rank
By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find
funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also
expected to outperform going forward. Learn more about the Zacks
Mutual Fund Rank at
http://www.zacks.com/funds
.
View All Zacks #1 Ranked Mutual Funds
(FEMDX): ETF Research Reports
(GMDFX): ETF Research Reports
(GSDAX): ETF Research Reports
(IHIAX): ETF Research Reports
(JEMDX): ETF Research Reports
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