Global/International Mutual Funds Offer World Of Opportunity (NAPSA)—A weakdollar, low inflation, attractive prices, strong economic recoveries and improved governance all contributed to making mutual funds with foreign holdings very attractive to many investors in 2004. As a result, it was a record year for investments flowing into global and international stock funds. International funds hold only foreign securities while global funds can hold both inter- national and U.S. securities. However, most investors who have positions in these types of funds do not plan to increase their holdings further. This is just one of the key findings of a survey of massaffluent investors commissioned Ownership of Global/ International Funds Own non-US. stock fund Own non-US. || 32% bond fund | Vr Own both | 13% 46% Do not own/Don’t know | 547% @ According to a recent survey, more than half of the investors queried did not own either global or international funds. managementfirm owned by Ameri- can Express Financial Corp. The survey also revealed: Over half of mass-affluent by American Express Financial Advisors and conducted by NOP World. The survey queried 601 investors use the services of a pro- The survey found that many investors don’t fully understand international investing. Almost two-thirds of those surveyed said making to a professional, while 35 percent use a professional as a source of information. e In particular, owners of global/international funds are more likely to use the services of mass-affluent investors with $100,000 of investable assets. they know “not very much”or less about global/international investing. “Investors appear to be open to the idea of investing overseas, but they are reluctant to act because of a lack of understanding and a lack of guidance,” said David Joy, capital markets strategist with American Express Financial fessional when investing. Eigh- teen percent delegate decision an investment professional. For a majority of mass-afflu- ent investors—75 percent—sav- ing for retirement is the most important goal. To learn more about investing, visit http://finance.american express.com. American Express Financial Advisors will be renamed Advisors. Ameriprise Financial on Aug. 1, veyed investors cited diversification as the primary reason for investing globally/internationally There are special risk considerations associated with international investing Seventy three percent of sur- even though the degree of diversi- fication foreign markets offer has declined in recent years. “The primary motivation to invest internationally should be the opportunity for enhanced returns as well as diversification. Markets aroundthe world offer a wide range of interesting stock opportunities and in many cases the valuations are cheaper,” said Sarah Arkle, chief investmentofficer of Thread- needle Investments, a U.K. asset 2005. related to market, currency, economic, political and other factors. You should consider the investment objectives, risks, and charges and expenses of mutual funds carefully before investing. For more complete information, eall (800) AXP-Fund, TTY: (800) 8464852 for a free prospectus. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest. American Express Financial Advisors Ine. member NASD. American Express Company is separate from American Express Financial Advisors Inc. and is not a broker-dealer.
