Mutual Funds

Average total return, including dividends, in percent for periods ended Thursday, Oct. 31.

Category (No. of funds) Week Year-to-date 12 months Science and technology (21) +3.69% +34.64% +53.98% Health/biotechnology (9) +3.51 +60.03 +83.56 Small company (105) +2.53 +41.48 +60.63 Capital appreciation (136) +2.29 +30.32 +42.77 Growth (292) +2.25 +27.37 +39.80 Growth and income (237) +1.82 +22.17 +32.40 Utilities (23) +1.69 +14.86 +19.51 Global: U.S. and foreign stocks (55) +1.64 +16.19 +17.40 Equity income (71) +1.58 +20.93 +29.10 Balanced: stock and bond (63) +1.58 +18.80 +26.63 International: foreign stocks only (79) +1.20 +11.04 +9.13 Natural resources (21) +0.85 +8.99 +8.31 Fixed income (611) +0.78 +13.91 +17.31 Gold (36) -1.19 -1.94 +0.55 S&P; 500 index, excluding dividends +5.26 +20.25 +31.03 General stock fund average +2.11 +27.59 +39.89

Source: Lipper Analytical Services Inc.