The Wall Street Journal-20080204-Investing in Funds- A Monthly Analysis- Leaders and Laggards

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Investing in Funds: A Monthly Analysis; Leaders and Laggards

Full Text (1134  words)

Performance numbers are total returns (changes in net asset values with

reinvested distributions) as of January 31; assets are as of December 31. All

bond fixed-income data are preliminary.

--------PERFORMANCE-------------

ASSETS ---- ANNUALIZED ----

FUND ($ MLNS) JAN 1-YR 3-YR 5-YR 10-YR

Best-Performing Stock Funds

ProShares:UlS Semicond 8.5 36.0 14.8 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:NAS Br 2.5x;Inv 6.3 34.3 -10.5 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS Tech 19.9 29.0 3.4 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlSFTSE/XC25 374.1 28.6 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:Chn Bear 2x;Inv 0.2 28.0 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Rydex Dyn:Inv OTC 2x;H 179.0 27.0 -4.3 -9.5 -24.7 N.A.

ProFunds:UltSh NAS;Svc N/A 26.9 -6.0 -10.6 -25.4 N.A.

ProShares:UltraSht QQQ 1,255.9 26.8 -4.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS OIl Gas 267.6 23.5 -34.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:UltSh Japan;Inv N/A 22.2 51.2 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS Rus 2K G 25.0 20.2 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

IShares:Dow US Hme Cns 215.2 19.0 -50.4 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:UltSh Intl;Inv N/A 18.9 1.2 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:EM Br 2x;Inv 9.0 18.4 -44.2 N.A. N.A. N.A.

MACROshares:Oil Dn Tr 12.0 17.7 -53.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:SC Br 2.5x;Inv 14.7 17.7 18.8 -12.6 -19.3 N.A.

ProShares:UlSMSCI EAFE 33.3 17.2 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:DM Br 2x;Inv 17.0 17.1 -0.6 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS Rus 1K G 18.8 17.1 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS Rus MC G 4.8 17.0 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS MSCI EM 82.2 16.9 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:S&P Br 2.5x;Inv 10.6 16.2 9.2 N.A. N.A. N.A.

SPDR S&P Homebuilders 303.3 16.1 -40.9 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:UltSh EM;Inv N/A 15.8 -54.9 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS Util 11.4 14.9 -14.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Rydex Dyn:Inv Rus 2x;H 84.0 14.5 20.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Rydex Inv 2x Rus 2000 11.7 14.0 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:UlS Rus 2000 604.5 13.9 20.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:UltSh Sm-Cp;Inv N/A 13.8 19.0 -10.7 N.A. N.A.

IShares:Silver Trust 2,488.4 13.4 24.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Best-Performing Bond Funds

Principal:Pref Sec;Inst 981.4 8.4 -0.5 2.6 4.4 N.A.

Direxion:10Y Bl 2.5x;Inv 7.4 8.2 29.3 N.A. N.A. N.A.

BlackRock:Strat Port I 59.9 6.4 13.3 5.6 5.0 6.9

PIMCO:Rl Rtn Asst;Inst 1,533.7 6.2 18.7 6.5 8.9 N.A.

PIMCO:For Bd (UH);Inst 1,713.8 5.3 18.3 4.8 N.A. N.A.

PIMCO:Gl Bd (UH);Inst 1,083.1 5.0 16.2 4.9 7.8 7.1

Nuveen Pref Secs;R 19.7 4.9 -5.6 N.A. N.A. N.A.

TA IDEX:PIM RR TIP;I 722.2 4.9 16.1 6.0 N.A. N.A.

Pac Lf:Infl Mgd;A 114.1 4.8 15.6 5.4 6.2 N.A.

Laudus Mo Intl FI;Inst 26.2 4.7 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Delaware Pld:Intl Fxd 32.9 4.7 17.4 4.0 8.4 6.8

Diamond Hill Str Inc;I 69.8 4.6 -1.1 4.2 N.A. N.A.

Dreyfus Prem Intl Bd;A 4.8 4.6 17.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

J Hancock II:Gl Bd;NAV 795.4 4.5 16.5 N.A. N.A. N.A.

PIMCO:Real Rtn;Inst 5,934.7 4.5 16.6 6.4 7.2 8.5

Eaton Vance Intl Inc;A 1.7 4.5 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

JPMorgan:Real Rtn;Sel 63.7 4.3 13.8 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Delaware Pld:Gl Fixed 284.2 4.3 16.9 4.7 8.6 7.5

DFA Inflat-Prtctd Secs 252.7 4.3 16.4 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Amer Cent:Inf-Adj;Inv 646.5 4.3 15.6 5.8 6.5 7.2

Amer Cent:Inf Pr Bd;A 20.7 4.2 15.5 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Goldman:Inf Prt Secs;I 8.8 4.2 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

FFTW:US Infl-Idx;Adv 94.7 4.2 15.9 6.5 7.3 N.A.

Morg Stan Inst:In FI;I 216.7 4.1 16.4 3.7 7.5 6.1

Western Asset Inf Ix+;I 759.8 4.1 14.7 6.2 6.9 N.A.

First Amer:Infl Pro;Y 256.2 4.1 14.1 5.4 N.A. N.A.

Vantagepoint Infl Prot 273.6 4.1 14.2 6.0 4.4 N.A.

MFS Infl Adj Bd;A 12.0 4.1 15.3 5.6 N.A. N.A.

BlackRock:Inf Pr Bd;C 44.2 4.1 15.5 5.7 N.A. N.A.

MassMutual Prem:IP;S 159.2 4.1 15.4 5.8 N.A. N.A.

Worst-Performing Stock Funds

Direxion:Chn Bull 2x;Inv 1.2 -31.5 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:Ult Semicond 32.0 -30.6 -25.5 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:NAS Bl 2.5x;Inv 24.2 -29.3 -11.2 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:Mobile Tel;Inv N/A -26.1 -46.9 -16.3 10.0 N.A.

Oberweis:China Opptys 947.0 -25.6 14.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Berkshire:Focus 21.1 -25.4 4.3 9.8 16.4 -0.8

ProShares:Ult Tech 60.6 -24.9 -11.4 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:OE S&D US;Inv N/A -23.8 23.1 N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:Semiconduct;Inv N/A -23.5 -18.0 -4.7 5.6 N.A.

Rydex Dyn:OTC 2x;H 384.7 -23.2 -4.1 5.0 18.9 N.A.

ProFunds:UltraNASDAQ;Inv N/A -23.0 -4.4 4.9 19.1 -7.2

ProShares:Ultra QQQ 892.5 -22.9 -4.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Oppenheimer Bar Chin;A 74.5 -21.9 32.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

SPDR S&P China 192.4 -21.6 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:Ult Oil & Gas 57.6 -21.4 32.1 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Van Wagoner:Growth Opp 6.9 -20.9 -30.5 -12.5 N.A. N.A.

Van Wagoner:Sm-Cap Gr 7.8 -20.9 -29.2 -9.5 -4.2 -2.0

Van Wagoner:Emrg Growth 22.3 -20.8 -27.7 -11.3 -6.1 -9.0

Birmiwal:Oasis Fund 24.8 -20.4 -2.6 26.1 N.A. N.A.

iShares:FTSE/Xinhua 7,145.2 -20.4 35.2 39.2 N.A. N.A.

ProFunds:UltraJapan;Inv N/A -19.9 -40.9 10.4 17.3 N.A.

Direxion:Jap Bull 2x;Inv 7.4 -19.4 -40.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Nationwide:China Op;A 46.9 -19.1 38.1 36.0 N.A. N.A.

AIM China;A 299.4 -18.9 44.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:EM Bl 2x;Inv 54.3 -18.8 23.5 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Fidelity Sel Computer 565.5 -18.7 -3.4 5.7 12.8 5.5

ProFunds:Technology;Inv N/A -18.6 -6.3 4.6 12.4 N.A.

Dreyfus Prem EM Asia;A 6.6 -18.5 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

ProShares:Ult Rus 2K G 9.8 -18.4 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Eaton Vance Grtr Ch;A 334.4 -18.3 28.0 30.8 30.1 12.2

Worst-Performing Bond Funds

RMK Select Intm Bd;I 70.9 -17.3 -58.9 -22.5 -12.0 N.A.

RMK Select High Inc;I 74.3 -11.3 -64.6 -24.7 -10.6 N.A.

TA IDEX:Trans Conv;I 141.4 -6.8 7.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Fidelity Convertible 2,977.4 -5.9 6.5 10.9 13.2 11.1

Nich-App Inst:US Cv;IV 252.5 -5.3 8.7 N.A. N.A. N.A.

MainStay:Convertbl;A 377.6 -5.2 6.9 8.9 10.5 7.5

Northern Fds:Income Eqty 504.5 -5.0 -2.1 8.3 10.7 6.9

Lord Abbett Convert;I 172.6 -4.8 3.6 6.4 N.A. N.A.

Value Line Convertible 31.9 -4.6 2.1 6.5 8.1 4.6

Integrity:High Inc;A 88.6 -4.5 -15.5 0.6 N.A. N.A.

Highland High Income;Z 4.7 -4.4 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Legg Mason P:Conv;A 34.2 -4.3 -5.0 4.7 10.1 5.3

DWS Floating Rate +;I 29.0 -4.1 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Direxion:Dyn HY Bd;Inv 84.6 -4.0 -4.8 0.8 N.A. N.A.

Calamos:Conv;A 282.4 -3.9 4.3 6.7 9.6 9.0

Fidelity Adv HI Advt;I 1,290.9 -3.9 -3.2 6.4 13.8 5.9

AIM Floating Rate;A 168.6 -3.8 -3.7 2.8 4.3 3.8

Henderson:Ww Income;A 82.2 -3.8 -0.9 4.1 N.A. N.A.

Columbia:Conv Secs;Z 433.0 -3.8 1.1 5.9 10.4 N.A.

SunAmerica:Hi Yld B;A 129.6 -3.7 -3.4 5.3 11.7 N.A.

SunAmerica Sen Float;C 235.8 -3.6 -4.0 2.3 4.3 N.A.

GAMCO Gl:Convert;AAA 9.5 -3.6 -2.6 5.6 8.9 6.3

Security Inc:Inc Opp;A 30.3 -3.6 -3.3 2.5 N.A. N.A.

Rydex:Hi Yld Str;H 68.0 -3.5 N.A. N.A. N.A. N.A.

Davis:Apprec & Inc;A 564.9 -3.4 -4.2 7.3 11.4 5.8

Van Kampen Harbor;A 284.1 -3.4 1.6 5.9 8.8 6.4

Goldman:High Yield;I 1,742.0 -3.3 -2.7 4.6 10.3 6.0

Hartfd:Float Rate;C 1,721.3 -3.3 -4.0 N.A. N.A. N.A.

Oppenheimer Chpn Inc;A 1,615.2 -3.2 -4.5 2.8 8.0 3.9

BlackRock:Hi Inc;A 594.1 -3.2 -2.8 4.1 10.0 3.8

Note: For funds with multiple share classes, only the largest is shown.

N.A.: Not applicable; fund is too new or data not available

Source: Lipper