What are some good international mutal funds to buy?

Question

Also, how do you buy them? Do you buy them like you buy stocks?

Answer 1

There are two kinds or perhaps three kinds of mutual funds.

1. open end mutual funds which you buy either directly from the mutual fund company or if the fund has a front end load through a broaker.

2.  closed end mutual funds which are purchased like stocks through a broker.  A sub class of these is index funds, which might be considered as a 3rd class but really are closed end funds.

It is difficult to tell which are going to be good funds.  It is far easier to tell which have been good funds.  

Among the index funds,  these might be good investments in the future; but then again they might not.

VEU.  This fund contains shares of 2200 companies in 47 different countries both developed and developing.  Expense ratio is only 0.25% which is very low.  It currently sells for about $58.00 a share.  This is a new fund started in 2/07.  It life to date return is 14%

EFA.  This fund contains shares of 827 companies in developed markets of Europe, Asia, and Australia. Expense ratio is 0.35%.  It currently sells for about $76.80 a share.  5 year annual return was 20%.

EEM.  This fund contains shares of 360 companies in developing countries.  Its largest holdings are in Brazil, China, Korea, and Taiwan.  Expense ratio is 0.76%.  It currently sells for about $150.00 a share.  5 year annual return was 35%.

Among open end no load mutual funds.  These are worth considering.  

VHGEX by Vanguard.  It contains shares of about 780 companies including 37% U S companies.  10 year annual return is about 11.2%.  Expense ratio is about 0.64%.

Answer 2

TRAMX

Do some research on Dubai and you'll see why I like it.

Mutual funds are purchased just like stocks.

Good Luck.