In the last few days retail you must have lost a lot of money in the stock markets. The same is also true of mutual fund investors. However, if you look at mutual funds from a 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year perspective you will find a host of winners. Of course, there are losers as well.

As you are probably aware, Value Research tracks the performance of mutual funds every single week. When we looked at the data over the past 12 weeks (weeks ended June 1, 2007 to August 17, 2007), we came across some interesting facts.

Diversified equity funds

In the 5-year return slot, Reliance [Get Quote] Growth (Number 1), Magnum Contra (Number 2) and Magnum Global (Number 3) have consistently held on to the top three rankings. The worst performer has been LICMF Equity.

Return per annum

~ Reliance Growth: 60.04 per cent

~ Magnum Contra: 58.22 per cent

~ Magnum Global: 57.07 per cent

~ LICMF Equity: 29.43 per cent

In the 3-year return slot, Magnum Global has reigned as Number 1 and Magnum Contra has been at Number 2.

3-year return per annum

~ Magnum Global: 61.05 per cent

~ Magnum Contra: 58.74 per cent

Over the past six weeks, JM Basic has been the best performer in the 1-year and 2-year return category (weeks ended July 13 to August 17). The returns have been 63.19 per cent (1-year returns) and 51.53 per cent (3-year returns).

Another fund from the JM stable has not been that successful. JM Emerging Leaders is one of the relatively newer funds and entered the 2-year return slot since the week ended July 27.

Since then, it has been one of the worst performers in this slot with a return of 12.55 per cent.

Equity linked saving schemes

Where tax-saving funds are concerned, Magnum Taxgain has been the best performer over the 5-year and 3-year return slots.

Except on two occasions where it slipped to the third slot, HDFC [Get Quote] Taxsaver has been Number 2 in the 5-year and 3-year returns slots.

The worst performers in the 5-year return slot are LICMF Tax Plan and Taurus Libra Taxshield. In the 3-year return slot, BoB ELSS '96, LICMF Tax Plan and UTI Equity Tax Savings take that place.

5-year returns per annum

~ Magnum Taxgain: 61.69 per cent

~ HDFC Taxsaver: 52.76 per cent

~ LICMF Tax Plan: 30.01 per cent

~ Taurus Libra Taxshield: 29.54 per cent

3-year returns per annum

~ Magnum Taxgain: 64.54 per cent

~ HDFC Taxsaver: 51.90 per cent

~ LICMF Tax Plan: 22.46 per cent

~ BoB ELSS '96: 30.91 per cent

~ UTI Equity Tax Savings: 32.40 per cent

Tech funds

Where tech funds are concerned, DSPML Technology.com is the undisputable leader. It has been the number one performer in the 1-year, 2-year, 3-year and 5-year return category. The returns have been 58.29 per cent, 44.93 per cent, 48.85 per cent and 45.06 per cent respectively.

Data is from the weeks ended June 1, 2007 to August 17, 2007.
All the returns are as on August 17, 2007.