In general, Gold funds move 3 times as much as gold and provide a potential method of capital appreciation unmatched in mutual funds. When the gold market reverses up, some funds will look like a rocket . Some funds specialize in South African mining stocks. Some funds do not allow investments in South Africa. Some funds are mostly government securities with little gold.
Some funds have heavy bullion holdings.
One gold fund gave up in June 1999. One new fund started in February 1999. Conservative or daring. Africa or North America. T he EagleWing Guide to Gold Funds provides information which an investor can use to compare these funds and covers unique fund characteristics, expense ratios, loads, sizes, portfolio turnovers, recent and long term NAV changes, investment objectives, and brokerage arrangements.