Top EPF Performance Funds from Public Mutual

Just got this information from my public mutual fund agent, and I think is a good thing to share here.

This is 3-years trend for Public Mutual Funds that allowed for EPF withdrawal for investment. Click on it if you can't see it clearly.

Top EPF Performance Funds from Public Mutual

• Public Focus Select Fund (PFSF) ~65%
• Public Regular Savings Fund (PRSF) ~60%
• Public Islamic Select Enterprises Fund (PISEF) ~55%
• Public Dividend Select Fund (PDSF) ~40%
• Public Islamic Dividend Fund (PIDF) ~40%
• Public Islamic Equity Fund (PIEF) ~30%
• Public Growth Fund (PGF) ~20%
• Public Equity Fund (PEF) ~20%

Whenever we look at these numbers (e.g. 65%), don't be fooled by it because of the powerful compound interest. Yes 65% return is really not that bad but we need to translate it to annual return which is around 18%. For 3 years of 40% return, it is around 12% return in annual. For 30% is 9%. For 20% is just  6%.  So PGF, PEF and PIEF  are not really performing in my opinion.

Why Indonesia is identified as N-11 and G-20?

I read this from personal finance magazine and I think it is worth to share it here about Indonesia facts and figures. This probably explains why Indonesia is being selected as part of the N-11 and G-20?

In case you do not know, N-11 stands for Next Eleven are eleven countries (i.e. Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Turkey, and Vietnam) that are being selected by Goldman Sachs investment bank as having a high potential of becoming the world’s largest economies in 21st century. See N-11 in Wikipedia.

Similar to N-11, G-20 stands for group of 20 countries which represent the 80% of the world economy and is believed will be replacing the G8 – Group of Eight major economy countries (i.e. Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States). See G-20 and G8 in Wikipedia.

Please don’t feel sad if your country is not being selected (e.g Malaysia). :D


Indonesia Facts and Figures

Indicators	2005 (%)	2006 (%)	2007 (%)	2008 (%)	2009 (%)	2010 (%)
Economic growth	5.70	5.50	6.30	6.20	4.50	6.10
Inflation	17.10	6.60	6.70	11.10	2.78	6.96
Exchange rate (IDR/USD)	9,713	9,050	9,130	9,691	9,400	8,991
Unemployment Rate	11.2	10.3	9.1	8.3	8.4	7.14
Poverty rate	16.0	17.80	16.60	15.40	14.15	12.13

Source: Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, Indonesia, and Central Bureau of Statistics
 
The only one key highlight here in my opinion (although the magazine highlight a lot of them) is the Indonesia Economy growth is not affected by the global recession of 2008/2009. If you look at the GDP growth rate in Malaysia, we were having recession during that time. From this perspective, Indonesia is pretty strong.

However, if you look the Indonesian unit trusts in Malaysia, not all of them are making money except for PB Indonesia Balanced and Public Indonesia Select funds from public mutual.

Pure Indonesian Funds	6 months return (%)	1 Year Return ended in Dec 9, 2011 (%)
MAAKL Indonesia Equity	-5.93	-7.70
OSK-UOB Indonesia Equity Growth	-3.04	N/A
PB Indonesia Balanced	3.17	8.91
Public Indonesia Select	2.75	7.96
PRIndonesia Equity	-5.72	N/A

Source: Personal Money (February Edition)

This probably tells you that you should buy from the largest unit trust company in Malaysia or it is too early to tell anything now since unit trust is merely for long term investment. I used to have the Public Indonesia Select fund but I have already sold most of them as the return is not as good as the rest. Perhaps I should invest again in this fund?

My take whether we should invest in Indonesia? Yes, let's go for it. Investing in unit trust is a good start. What is your take?