Today we are featuring top-performing "European" equity mutual funds, which primarily invest in equity securities of companies based in Europe.

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

3 Solid Samples

ING European Real Estate Fund A (IAERX) seeks to provide investors with high total return, consisting of capital appreciation and current income. It was incepted in November 2007.

The fund normally invests at least 80% of net assets in a portfolio of equity securities of real estate companies located in Europe. The fund may invest in convertible securities, initial public offering and depositary receipts.

The fund has an expense ratio of 1.75%. As of July 2009, it has a portfolio turnover of 166%.

Steven D. Burton has been lead manager of the fund since November 2007. Burton is a managing director at ING and has 24 years investment experience.

T. Rowe Price European Stock

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The following appeared in the November issue of Business Diary Botswana:

Despite the IMF’s recent projection that Botswana’s economy will contract 10.3% this year, the lender expects a 4.1% uptick next year such that emergency funding would not be required. Back in June the country tapped a $1.5bn “budget support loan” from the African Development Bank–the largest such facility ever granted by the Bank–in order to finance part of a budget deficit then estimated at around 13.5% of GDP, and since revised to 14%. The IMF cited a renewal of demand for diamonds as a central facet of its optimistic forecast. Furthermore, it predicted, GDP growth across sub-Saharan Africa will rise to approximately 4% next year and 5% in 2011, up from 1.1% in 2009. “We think it should be possible for sub-Saharan Africa to recover quicker this time around and have a ‘V-shaped recovery,’”

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View Systems Inc., a security and teledata solutions provider, announced today an initial order for 40 ViewScan units from Belcom, a company based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Belcom, which conducts business in the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, is one of the fastest growing telecom, IT, and security services firms in the Middle East. It is also a dealer for and business partner of View Systems.

The company’s ViewScan product is fast becoming the choice screening system, both domestically and internationally. It’s a computer-based system that can scan up to 1200 people per hour. As a person passes through the portal, a photograph is taken and stored on the laptop computer that comes with the unit. “Threat” objects are visually located on the computer screen and an audible alert can easily be set to sound.

The company is currently procuring the parts necessary to build more than

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FDA Approves NeurogesX's Qutenza After the market closed on November 16, 2009, NeurogesX (NGSX) announced that the U.S. FDA had approved Qutenza (capsaicin patch) for the management of neuropathic pain due to postherpetic neuralgia (PHN).  We expect management to spend the next several months preparing for the launch by facilitating reimbursement procedure, establishing distribution channels, hiring and training the specialty sales force, and conducting the manufacturing for commercial supply. Key to our bullish sales forecast for the drug will be establishing a permanent reimbursement code for both the product and application, as Qutenza requires administration by a physician or healthcare professional. Qutenza is a cutaneous (skin) patch designed to treat peripheral neuropathic pain conditions. The Qutenza patch provides a pure high concentration (8%) of a synthetic capsaicin, known as trans­-capsaicin, directly to the site of pain via a rapid-delivery cutaneous delivery system designed to provide ...

Recently, Occidental Petroleum Corp. (OXY) entered into a partnership to develop oil and natural gas fields in Bahrain. Occidental along with partners Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) and the National Oil and Gas Authority of Bahrain (NOGA) formed a new joint operating company, Tatweer Petroleum-Bahrain Field Development Company, which will serve as the operator for the Bahrain field.   The company will operate under the Development and Production Sharing Agreement signed in April 2009 by all three partners, approved by the parliament of Bahrain in May 2009 and ratified by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Kalifa. Tatweer Petroleum will begin start operations in the Bahrain field immediately. The operating team would include individuals from the Bahrain Petroleum Company (Bapco), Occidental and Mubadala employees and few local employees.   Oil and natural gas production from the Bahrain field is expected to peak at 100,000 barrels per day and ...

Energy-focused engineering and construction company, McDermott International Inc. (MDR) reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings, driven by robust performance from the Offshore Oil and Gas Construction segment. Earnings per share came in at 50 cents, 10 cents above the Zacks Consensus Estimate and 13 cents above the prior-year period. Revenues were up marginally (by 0.7%) to $1.7 billion.   Offshore Oil and Gas Construction   McDermott’s Offshore Oil and Gas Construction segment revenues were up 26% to a record $1 billion, as higher sales in the Middle East and Caspian regions more than offset reduced levels in other areas. Operating income for the quarter came in at $106.5 million (second highest quarterly income ever), compared to a loss of $19.7 million during the third quarter of 2008, reflecting strength in the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions. As of Sept 30, 2009, segment backlog was $3.9 billion, as against a backlog

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The International Energy Agency increased its forecast for 2010 global oil demand as the pace of economic recovery in Asia and the Middle East quickens, but has apparently cautioned that rising oil prices could jeopardize the green shoots of recovery. President Medvedev called for an end to Russia's 'humiliating' dependence on commodities in yesterday's state of the nation speech, whilst it is rebounding oil prices that are palliating Russia's current economic problems. Gazprom plans to increase its investment program by 5% next year, to $27.94 billion. The heads of the Russian state giant and Naftogaz are to meet to discuss the Ukrainian company's parlous financial status and issues related to the November supply of gas. Russia will apparently produce next-generation nuclear reactors and new types of nuclear fuel by 2014. Gazprom has confirmed plans ...

Steel Output Mounting The Steel industry, which consists of companies engaged in the extraction of iron ore and coke coal for the processing of iron and steel, has the major chunk of sales concentrated with a few producers. The industry includes metal ore exploration and mining services, iron and steel foundries for smelting, rolling, forging, spinning, recycling, stamping, polishing and plating of iron and steel products such as pipes, tubes, wire, spring, rolls and bars. The largest drivers of steel consumption have historically been the automotive and construction markets, which make up more than 50% of total steel consumption. Other steel consuming industries include appliances, converters, containers, tin, energy, electrical equipment, agricultural, domestic and commercial equipment and industrial machinery. Large automakers such as General Motors, Ford Motor Company ([url=http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/f]F[/url]), Toyota Motor Corporation ([url=http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/tm]TM[/url]) and Honda Motor Company ([url=http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/hmc]HMC[/url]) depend upon the steel industry. ArcelorMittal ([url=http://www.zacks.com/stock/quote/mt]MT[/url]) is ...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 12, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Southern Copper Corporation (PCU), Logitech International (LOGI), Cisco Systems Inc. (CSCO), Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV (PHG).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Southern Copper’s Earnings Jump

Southern Copper Corporation (PCU), one of the leading copper producers in the world, posted net earnings of 37 cents in the third quarter of 2009, better than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 31 cents. Earnings jumped 78.6% from 21

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For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – November 12, 2009 – Zacks.com announces the list of stocks featured in the Analyst Blog. Every day the Zacks Equity Research analysts discuss the latest news and events impacting stocks and the financial markets. Stocks recently featured in the blog include: Vodafone Group Plc (VOD), Telefonica (TEF), Deutsche Telekom (DT), France Telecom (FTE) and Verizon (VZ).

Get the most recent insight from Zacks Equity Research with the free Profit from the Pros newsletter: http://at.zacks.com/?id=5513

Here are highlights from Wednesday’s Analyst Blog:

Vodafone Profit Leaps, Lifts Savings

Vodafone Group Plc (VOD), the largest wireless carrier in the world by revenue, has announced interim results for fiscal year 2010 with adjusted net income of £4.58 billion (US$7.3 billion) increasing 15% year over year from £3.99 billion (US$6.4 billion) reported a year

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