Investors have gradually begun to recognize the opportunity that
the international bond market has come to represent. Though the
U.S. bond market continues to attract investors, it has featured
only infrequently among the best performing international markets.
Today international markets represent more than half of the world's
fixed income investment opportunities. With the advantages of
widely diversified holdings and professional management, mutual
funds offer a secure route for those looking to invest 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
.
Columbia Emerging Markets Bond A
(
REBAX
) invests the majority of its assets in fixed income securities
issued from emerging markets. Not more than one-fourth of its
assets may be utilized to purchase instruments issued by any single
foreign government. The international bond mutual fund is
non-diversified and returned 11.08% in the last one year
period.
The Fund Manager is Jim Carlen and he has managed this
international bond mutual fund since 2008.
Fidelity New Markets Income
(
FNMIX
) seeks high current income. The fund invests the majority of its
assets in emerging market securities and other instruments related
to such markets. The fund may also invest in other instruments and
is non-diversified. The international bond mutual fund returned
15.07% in the last one year period.
The international bond mutual fund has a minimum initial
investment of $2,500 and an expense ratio of 0.86% compared to a
category average of 1.26%.
T. Rowe Price Emerging Markets Bond
(
PREMX
) invests a large share of its assets in emerging market debt
securities. These could be both government securities and those
issued by corporate entities. Both dollar and non-dollar
denominated securities make up the fund's holdings. The
international bond mutual fund returned 11.39% in the last one year
period.
As of June 2012, this international bond mutual fund held 358
issues, with 7.66% 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 proportion of
its assets in debt securities issued from emerging markets. These
securities may be dollar-denominated or may be issued in foreign
currencies. The international bond mutual fund returned 12.88% in
the last one year period.
The Fund Manager is Roberto Sanchez-Dahl and he has managed this
international bond mutual fund since 2000.
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 12.99% in the last one year
period.
The international bond mutual fund has an expense ratio of 1.00%
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
(FNMIX): ETF Research Reports
(IHIAX): ETF Research Reports
(JEMDX): ETF Research Reports
(PREMX): ETF Research Reports
(REBAX): ETF Research Reports
To read this article on Zacks.com click here.
Zacks Investment
Research