Mutual Funds

Average total return, including dividends, in percent for periods ended Thursday, Oct. 17.

Category (No. of funds) Week Yr. to date 12 months Small company (21 ) +5.30% +32.33% +49.68% Health/biotechnology (9 ) +4.87 +54.68 +75.22 Small company (103 ) +4.14 +39.68 +57.06 Capital appreciation (136 ) +3.75 +29.32 +40.79 Gold (36 ) +3.56 -2.52 +1.88 Growth and income (290 ) +3.55 +26.76 +38.59 Natural resources (21 ) +3.25 +9.14 +8.84 Growth and income (237 ) +2.86 +21.74 +31.90 Equity income (71 ) +2.22 +20.48 +29.28 Balanced: stock and bond (63 ) +2.13 +18.09 +26.04 Global: U.S. and foreign stocks (53 ) +1.79 +15.27 +15.10 International: foreign stocks only (79 ) +0.82 +9.89 +6.63 Utilities (23 ) +0.44 +13.36 +20.54 Fixed income (609 ) +0.33 +13.16 +17.51 General stock fund average +3.35 +26.86 +38.64 S&P; 500 index, excluding dividends +2.99 +18.69 +28.19

Source: Lipper Analytical Services Inc.