J Hancock Strategic Income A (JHFIX) seeks a high level of current income. The fund primarily invests in foreign debt securities of developed and emerging markets, U.S. government and agency securities and U.S. high yield bonds.

The fund may also invest in preferred stock and other types of debt securities. At the end of February 2009, its portfolio turnover was 52%.

Daniel S. Janis has been lead manager at the fund since October 1999. The fund has topped total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-, 3- and 5-year periods.

J Hancock Bond A (JHNBX) was incepted in November 1973. The investment seeks to generate a high level of current income consistent with prudent investment risk.

The fund normally invests in diversified bonds that may include, but are not limited to, corporate bonds and debentures, as well as U.S. government and agency securities. It looks at bonds of all quality levels and

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Franklin Biotechnology Discovery A (MAPTX) seeks capital appreciation by primarily investing in securities of biotechnology companies and discovery research firms.

This non-diversified fund may invest a substantial portion of assets in equity securities of smaller capitalization companies with a market capitalization of less than $1.5 billion.

Gilead Sciences Inc. (GILD), Celgene Corp. (CELG) and Genzyme Corp. (GENZ) are among the fund’s key holdings.

Templeton Developing Markets A (TEDMX) seeks long-term capital appreciation through investment in securities of emerging economies.

The fund may invest up to 20% of net assets in the securities of issuers in developed market countries. It may also invest in exchange-traded funds to gain exposure to certain segments of the equity markets while maintaining liquidity.

J. Mark Mobius has been lead manager at the fund since October 1991. The fund distributes dividends and capital gains, if any, annually.

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Matthews Pacific Tiger (MAPTX) was incepted in September 1994. The investment seeks long-term capital appreciation.

The fund primarily invests its total net assets in common and preferred stocks of companies located in Asia excluding Japan. As of March 31, its portfolio turnover was 16.76%.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing, Hang Lung Group Ltd. and Swire Pacific Ltd. are among the key holdings of the fund.

Matthews China (MCHFX) seeks long-term capital appreciation in equity securities of companies located in China.

The fund employs a bottom-up, fundamental investment philosophy with a focus on long-term investment performance. It focuses on companies based in China, including its administrative and other districts, such as Hong Kong.

Richard H. Gao has been lead manager at the fund since January 1999. It has an expense ratio of 1.23%.

Matthews Asian Technology (MATFX) seeks long-term capital appreciation. The fund seeks to achieve its investment objective by

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Today we are featuring top-performing "Asset Allocation" balanced mutual funds, which primarily seek total return and uses an optimization model to choose the best way to distribute assets among various classes.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Asset Allocation Balanced Funds.

3 Well-balanced Picks

Legg Mason Part Lifestyle Inc A (SCAAX) was incepted in February 1996. The investment seeks high current income.

The fund invests primarily in Smith Barney mutual funds that focus on taxable fixed-income securities to generate a high level of income. The fund invests in a broad range of fixed income securities.

Steven D. Bleiberg has been lead manager at the fund since May 2006. The fund has an expense ratio of 0.79%. The fund distributes dividends monthly and capital gains annually.

Eaton Vance Emerg Mkts Loc Inc A (EEIAX) seeks total return. The fund is non-diversified and was

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Today we are featuring top-performing "Energy" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of energy and/or natural resources companies.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Energy Equity Funds.

3 Hot Picks

ICON Energy (ICENX) seeks long-term capital appreciation. It invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of companies in the energy sector which are traded in the U.S.

The fund adopts a quantitative methodology to identify securities that are under priced relative to value. The U.S. equity securities in which the fund may invest include common and preferred stocks of companies of any market capitalization.

Unit holders need to make a minimum initial investment of $1,000 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank (“Strong Buy") fund. It distributes dividends and capital gains, if any, annually.

Derek Rolligson has been lead manager of the fund since May 2007. Rolligson was with

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Today we are featuring top-performing "Convertible" fixed income mutual funds, which primarily invest in convertible securities in search of growth and/or income.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Convertible Fixed Income Funds.

3 Solid Picks

Calamos Convertible Fund A (CCVIX) seeks current income, with growth as a secondary objective. It was founded in June 1985.

The fund generally invests in a diversified portfolio of convertible securities issued by both U.S. and foreign companies. Dividends are declared and paid quarterly. Capital gains, if any, are distributed annually.

John P. Calamos has been lead manager at the fund since June 1985. As a founder of Calamos Asset Management Inc, he has discovered many techniques to help manage risk for both institutional and individual investors over the last thirty years. The fund has an expense ratio of 1.09%.

Franklin Convertible Securities A (FISCX), founded in

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Today we are featuring top-performing “International Bond" Fixed Income mutual funds, which primarily invest in foreign and U.S. bonds in pursuit of current income.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank International Bond Fixed Income Funds.

3 Solid Samples

Loomis Sayles International Bond A (LSIAX) seeks high total investment return through a combination of high current income and capital appreciation.

The fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in fixed-income securities of issuers located outside the United States. It is non-diversified.

Shareholders have to make a minimum initial investment of $2,500 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank (“Strong Buy") fund. It has an expense ratio of 1.10%.

Putnam Global Income A (PGGIX) was incepted in June 1987. The investment seeks current income with preservation of capital and long-term total return as secondary considerations.

The fund

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Rydex Inverse S&P 500 Strategy Inv (RYURX) was incepted in January 1994. The investment seeks to provide investment results that inversely correlate to daily performance of the S&P 500 Index.

The fund normally invests in financial instruments with economic characteristics that should perform opposite to those of its underlying index. It is non-diversified.

Unit holders have to make a minimum initial investment of $2,500 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank (“Strong Buy") fund. It has outstripped the total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-, 3- and 5-year periods.

Rydex Transportation Inv (RYPIX) seeks capital appreciation by investing in companies engaged in providing transportation services or those engaged in design, manufacture, distribution, or sale of transportation equipment.

The fund invests in securities that are traded in the United States, as well as in futures and options contracts. It has an expense ratio of 1.38%.

The fund’s key

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Today we are featuring top-performing “Utilities" Equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of utilities, including telephone or cable-television firms.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Utilities Equity Funds.

3 Electrifying Picks

Van Kampen Utility A (VKUAX) seeks to provide its shareholders with capital appreciation and current income. It may focus on securities that it believes offer capital appreciation and current income at a reasonable risk.

The fund may invest in income securities which include preferred stock and debt securities, including convertible securities, of various maturities which are considered "investment-grade" quality at the time of investment. At the end of March, its portfolio turnover was 120%.

The fund’s top holdings include Exelon Corp. (EXC - Snapshot Report), FPL

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Today we are featuring top-performing “Technology" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of companies that deal in advanced technologies.

Investors can find such funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Technology Equity Funds.

3 Hi-Tech Choices

Firsthand e-Commerce (TEFQX) seeks long-term growth of capital. It may purchase stocks of small-, mid-, and large-cap companies.

The fund represents a single theme and invests primarily in securities of companies that provide products, services, and technology to facilitate the growth of electronic commerce.

Unit holders have to make a minimum initial investment of $2,000 to enter this Zacks#1 Rank (“Strong Buy") fund. It has outstripped the total returns of its benchmark index in the last 1-, 3- and 5-year periods.

Munder Internet A (MNNAX) seeks capital appreciation. It combines a top-down sector analysis with bottom-up security analysis to identify companies positioned to

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