Mutual Funds Performance update - Q1 2011 report

Let me refresh your memory, dear readers:


Image via WikipediaWhat is a Mutual Fund?

A mutual fund collectively pools money from individual and corporate investors. These funds are managed by a professional fund manager who invests the collected money in financial securities such as stocks, bonds, or money market instruments. In local lingo, this is one type of  "bakas" system of investing, as I mentioned in a previous article of mine. (Read about it here). 


Our friends from the Investment Company Association of the Philippines (www.icap.com.ph).has made public the Philippine Mutual Funds Performance Report for the 1st quarter, 2011, as follows:

In bullet points:

• Mutual funds in the Philippines were off to a not-so-good start in 2011, as most funds registered negative returns during the first quarter of the year.
• This was in stark contrast to the funds’ performance during the similar period last year, wherein all but one mutual fund were in positive territory.

Note: 

a) Figures in (xxx) below denote a loss; 

b) In blue means a gain 

EQUITY FUNDS (primarily invested in Peso equity securities): 
Sun Life Prosperity Phil. Equity Fund – (1.18%)
Philequity PSE Index Fund – (1.31%)
Philequity Fund – (1.52%)
United Fund – (2.11%)
Philam Strategic Growth Fund – (2.78%)
Philippine Stock Index Fund – (4.18%)
First Metro Save and Learn Equity Fund – (4.86%)
ATR KimEng Equity Opportunity Fund – (5.46%)

FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED EQUITY FUND
ATR KimEng AsiaPlus Recovery Fund – (0.05%)

BALANCED FUNDS (primarily invested in Peso debt and equity securities)
Sun Life Prosperity Balanced Fund – (1.51%)
Optima Balanced Fund - (2.29%)
Bahay Pari Solidaritas Fund – (2.79%)
GSIS Mutual Fund - (2.82%)
Philam Fund, Inc. – (2.82%)
NCM Mutual Fund of the Phils. – (2.86%)
First Metro Save and Learn Balanced Fund Inc. – (5.16%)
MFCP Kabuhayan Fund – (5.90%)
ALFM Growth Fund – (6.74%)


FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED BALANCED FUNDS: 
Cocolife Dollar Fund Builder – 0.68%
Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Advantage Fund – 0.19%

BOND FUNDS (primarily invested in Peso debt securities)
Cocolife Fixed Income Fund – 1.33%
First Metro Save and Learn Fixed Income Fund – (0.13%)
Grepalife Bond Fund Corporation – (0.24%)
ALFM Peso Bond Fund – (0.37%)
Philequity Peso Bond Fund – (0.82%)
Sun Life Prosperity Bond Fund – (1.00%)
Ekklesia Mutual Fund – (1.28%)
Philam Bond Fund – (1.32%)
Prudentialife Fixed Income Fund - (3.01%)
Sun Life Prosperity GS Fund – (3.06%)

FOREIGN CURRENCY-DENOMINATED BOND FUNDS:
PAMI Global Bond Fund – 0.41%
Philequity Dollar Income Fund – 0.02%
ALFM Dollar Bond Fund – (0.04%)
Grepalife Fixed Income Fund Corp. – (0.22%)
Grepalife Dollar Bond Fund – (0.31%)
Sun Life Prosperity Dollar Abundance Fund – (0.90%)
Philam Dollar Bond Fund – (0.93%)
ATR KimEng Total Return Bond Fund – (1.35%)
ALFM Euro Bond Fund – (1.73%)
MAA Privilege Euro Fixed Income Fund - (2.90%)
MAA Privilege Dollar Fixed Income Fund – (4.76%)


MONEY MARKET FUNDS (primarily invested in short-term Peso securities)
ALFM Money Market Fund – 0.41%
ATR KimEng Money Market Fund – 0.34%
First Metro Save and Learn Money Market Fund, Inc. – 0.29%
Philam Managed Income Fund – 0.14%
Sun Life Prosperity Money Market Fund – 0%

My take:
Although the rate of return is a good measure of performance, other things such as consistency of return and exposure to risks must also be considered. Note that past performance of a fund is not and cannot be a guarantee of future returns.


So there. Again, INFORMATION IS KEY! Be wise with your investments, readers.

You may also want to read my article on : Earning while sleeping. Read here.
Hesitant? Read my article on hesitation here.