HOW MUTUAL FUNDS PERFORMED

Average total return, including dividends, in percent for periods ended Thursday, July 19.

TOP 10

Fund Type Notes 12 mos. Yr. to date Week Benham Equities: AU NL +11.91% -10.93% +4.93% Gold Eq. Index Strategic Investments AU L -11.05 -37.62 +4.62 Equity Strategies S NL +61.63 +37.65 +4.49 Enterprise Precious Metals AU L +7.48 -8.07 +4.36 Rushmore: Precious AU NL * -14.08 +4.27 Metals Index Blanchard Precious AU NL -10.75 -18.52 +4.08 Metals Fund Lexington Goldfund AU NL +4.96 -13.46 +3.75 M-S Mainstay: AU NL,R +4.15 -11.62 +3.69 Gold & Prec.Metals U.S. New Prospector Fund AU NL -5.95 -19.29 +3.67 Thomson McKinnon: AU NL,R -2.46 -17.03 +3.64 Precious Metals

BOTTOM 10

Fund Type Notes 12 mos. Yr. to date Week SLH Small Capitalization Fund SG L +12.33% +13.54% -4.84% Kaufmann Fund SG NL,R +21.09 +9.20 -4.81 Bull & Bear Special Equities CA NL +32.05 +23.20 -4.57 Schield: Value Portfolio G LL -8.19 -3.89 -4.15 Paribas Instl.: Quantus Equity G NL +20.06 +12.99 -3.83 Flag Investors Emerging Growth SG LL +4.39 -0.30 -3.73 Prudent Speculator: Leveraged SG NL -12.56 +1.12 -3.72 Alliance Technology TK L +18.70 +20.40 -3.67 SteinRoe Invest.: CA NL +1.11 -3.87 -3.57 Capital Opport. AIM Equity: Constellation Fund CA L +25.33 +16.13 -3.51

TYPE: AU = gold, B = balanced, CA = capital appreciation, CV = convertible securities, EI = equity income, EU = European regional, FI = fixed income, FS = financial securities, FX = flexible portfolio, G = growth, GI = growth and income, GL = global-international and U.S. stocks, GX = global flexible portfolio, H = health/biotechnology, I = income, IF = international, MI = mixed income, NR = natural resources, OI = option income, PC = Pacific regional, RE = real estate, S = specialty/misc., SG = small company, TK = science and technology, UT = utility, WI = world income.

NOTES: NL means no sales charge, LL means sales charge of 4 1/2% or less; L means sales charge of greater than 4 1/2%; R means redemption fee may apply.

* Fund not in existence for period covered.

Source: Lipper Analytical Services