BOND FUNDS

 

For relatively safe investments now, in the uncertain conditions we face, short term and intermediate term bond funds may be the best choices:

2010 2008--10 2006--10 Average % Average % Return Return Return 3 Year 5 Year Short Term Bond Funds Fidelity Spartan Sht Term Treas Bond Index FSBIX 3.5 3.9 4.6 Vanguard Sht Term Federal VSGBX 3.2 4.3 4.9 Vanguard Sht Term Treasury VFISX 2.6 3.5 4.4 Intermediate Term Bond Funds Fidelity Gov Income FGOVX 5.1 5.7 5.7 Fidelity Spartan Intermed Treas Bond Index FIBIX 8.4 6.2 6.2 Vanguard Intermed Term Treasury VFITX 7.3 6.1 6.2 2014 2012-14 2010-14 Average % Average % Return Return Return 3 Year 5 Year Short Term Bond Funds Fidelity Spartan Sht Term Treas Bond Index FSBIX 1.0 0.4 1.6 Vanguard Sht Term Federal VSGBX 1.1 0.7 1.6 Vanguard Sht Term Treasury VFISX 0.7 0.4 1.2 Intermediate Term Bond Funds Fidelity Gov Income FGOVX 5.4 1.7 3.6 Fidelity Spartan Intermed Treas Bond Index FIBIX 6.3 1.5 5.0 Vanguard Intermed Term Treasury VFITX 4.3 1.2 4.1