Investors can get such precious metals funds by checking out the entire list of the Zacks #1 Rank Precious Metals Equity Funds.

5 fantastic Examples of Precious Metals

US Global Investors World Precious Minerals (UNWPX) seeks long-term capital appreciation. It also aims to provide protection against inflation and monetary instability. It was incepted in November 1985.

Instead of directly investing in precious metals fund invests a greater part of its assets, at least 80%, in firms principally engaged in the exploration, mining and processing of these metals. This precious metals fund focuses on selecting junior and intermediate exploration companies from around the globe.

Shareholders have to make a minimum initial investment of $5,000 to enter this Zacks #1 Rank (“Strong Buy”) fund. The precious metals fund has an expense ratio of 1.50% against a category average of 1.47%.

Frank E. Holmes has been lead manager of the fund since June 1999. Holmes was formerly President of the Toronto Society of the Investment Dealers Association and is CEO and Chief Investment Officer of U.S. Global Investors, Inc.

Franklin Gold & Precious Metals A (FKRCX) seeks long-term capital appreciation. It was incepted in May 1969.

At least 80% of the net assets of this precious metals fund are invested in gold and precious metals operation companies. This precious metals fund also aims to produce current income from dividends or interest received from its investments.

This precious metals fund has an expense ratio of 1.01 % against a category average of 1.47%. As of July 2009, it has a portfolio turnover of 17%.

Steve Land has been lead manager of this precious metals fund since April 1999. Land is a Chartered Financial Analyst and has been with Franklin Templeton Investments since 1997.

Van Eck International Investors Gold A (INIVX) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in common stocks of gold mining companies. The fund may take current income into consideration in picking investments. It was incepted in January 1956.

This precious metals fund does not directly invest in gold or bullion, but invests in securities of companies principally engaged in gold-related activities, as well as in instruments that derive their value from gold. A company must derive at least 50% of its revenues from gold-related activities to be considered for investment purposes.

The precious metals fund has an expense ratio of 1.44% against a category average of 1.47%. As of June 2009, it has a portfolio turnover of 14%.

Joseph M. Foster has been lead manager of the fund since July 1998. Foster joined Van Eck Associates Corporation in 1996 and is a portfolio manager with the firm.

USAA Precious Metals and Minerals (USAGX) seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation and provide protection of the invested capital against inflation. Providing current income to investors is a secondary objective. It was incepted in August 1984.

This precious metals fund doesn’t invest in gold directly, but in gold mining and other precious metals and mineral mining companies, with at least 80% of its assets invested in such firms. With the right mix of companies, the fund can benefit disproportionately when underlying commodity prices rise, while avoid the worst losses of commodity-price downturns.

Shareholders have to make a minimum initial investment of $3,000 to enter this Zacks #1 Rank (“Strong Buy”) fund. It has an expense ratio of 2.50% against a category average of 1.47%.

Mark W. Johnson has been lead manager of this precious metals fund since January 1994. Johnson is a Chartered Financial Analyst and is executive director of equity investments with USAA Investment Management Company.

Midas Fund (MIDSX) was incepted in January 1986. The precious metals fund seeks capital appreciation and protection against inflation and, secondarily, current income.

This precious metals fund invests at least 65% of its assets in companies which are directly or indirectly involved in the business of mining, and processing precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. It may invest up to 35% of its assets in selected growth companies.

The precious metals fund has an expense ratio of 2.43% against a category average of 1.47%. As of September 2009, it has a portfolio turnover of 62%.

Thomas B. Winmill has been lead manager of the fund since January 2002. Winmill has been president of Midas funds since 1995 and the distributor since 1991.

Discover Many More Funds

Learn more about the new Zacks Mutual Fund Rank and discover some of the best market-beating mutual funds by browsing our mutual funds section. This part of Zacks.com offers a variety of tools, including mutual fund research, a new mutual fund screener, helpful answers to frequently asked questions and quick access to prospectuses and other information.

By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also expected to outperform going forward.

Top Precious Metals Equity Funds

Since the end of the gold standard, gold has largely lost its role as a form of currency, but is still considered by many, including some of the world’s most important central banks, as a store of great wealth and a safe haven in times of calamity. Gold along with other precious metals are seen as unique assets in that they are real value and liquid specimens, unlike some other assets like property which is real but not liquid, or company shares which are liquid but not real, its only paper.

The unique and useful properties of gold, as well as its rarity and increasing demand, make it an attractive commodity investment. Gold is known as the “crisis commodity” because during periods of political, social, or financial disaster, the price of gold tends to rise in response to the same factors which cause other investments to fall.

And gold does preserve a special position in the market with many tax regimes. For example, in the UK the trading of gold is free from taxes.

When currencies have failed or economies collapsed, gold throughout history, has maintained its bargaining power. It is hardly possible that it will ever lose all its value, unlike stocks whose value can be wiped out in short order if one or more of the numerous risks associated with them turns badly.

Buying Bullion bars is initially the most cost effective entry into the physical gold market. They can be purchased in various weights from as low as one troy ounce and up. But be sure to buy from an established dealer that provides a written certificate of weight and gold content.

As gold is a soft metal it is safe for the bars to be sealed in clear plastic protector to prevent any accidental damage or wear causing a loss in weight or identification. Most investors are not fond of keeping their bars at home so annual storage and insurance costs must be taken into account. Many will make their investment by opening an account on line with an authorized gold depository where purchases are kept in a secure vault and can be traded as easily as stocks.

If the purpose of buying is to take physical possession of the gold, then renting a safety deposit box is an answer. Also do not forget to check out the tax implications in your jurisdiction before deciding on investing in bullion bars.

For gold bullion coins currently or recently minted, that are issued by various countries, there is a possibility of getting a simple entry into the ownership of gold. Typically bullion coins are priced according to their weight, with little or no premium above the gold price.They come in a range of sizes from as low as 1/10th of an ounce to one ounce. The prices fluctuate throughout the day in line with spot gold prices and expect to pay up to a 5% premium. The coins are easy to purchase on line and can be shipped to your door by secure delivery. They are easier to store at home, can be traded at local coin dealers or online and as they age, may increase in value as they become of interest to collectors.

There is less likelihood of any adverse tax problems associated with trading in bullion coins on a limited level as they are likely to be considered as a private transaction but to be safe check before purchasing. Not to be confused with commemorative or numismatic coins.

Collectors gold coins include pre 1933 government issues. These coins trade on a highly specialized market where the spot price of gold is not the only factor to consider. 1933 was the year when President Roosevelt made holding gold coins illegal and ordered all US citizens to return them to the US Treasury where they were melted into gold bullion bars, hence the rarity. Note that while it is an unlikely possibility that there would be another gold confiscation order issued by the US or any other major government it has happened before and could happen again.

If your goal is simply to capitalize on price movement, then bullion coins will serve your purposes. If you are interested in long-term asset preservation and you have additional concerns about capital or monetary controls, then you might want to include the lower premium variety of pre-1933 European and American gold coins in the mix. These have been treated by the U.S. government since the 1930s as historical items, and, as a result, afford the privacy-minded investor a greater degree of safety than gold bullion.

If you want to protect yourself against inflation, deflation, stock market weakness and potential currency problems, to hedge financial uncertainties, there is only one portfolio item that will serve you in all seasons and under most circumstances; gold coins and bullion bars.

Now is a great time to invest in gold. The price is expected to continue to rise, with no clear limit in sight. As a hedge against inflation, as a store of value, as a liquid asset, and as a stable core in a diversified portfolio, gold is unmatched.

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Article Source: Physical Gold Investments