Best of the Health Care Mutual Funds

Article Excerpt

Sector or ‘theme’ funds entail special risks, but they are much safer than investing in one or two issues in risky fields such as health care and biotechnology. If you invest in sector funds, limit your investment to modest quantities. Above all, invest only in funds with proven management and high-quality holdings. Here are updates on two we like: RENAISSANCE GLOBAL HEALTH CARE FUND $15.78 (CWA Rating: Speculative) (CIBC Asset Management, 1500 University Street, Suite 800, Montreal, PQ. H3A 3S6. 1-800-268-8258; Web site: www.talvest.com. Available from brokers) invests in companies in a variety of segments of the health-care industry. Its selections may include pharmaceutical firms, designers and manufacturers of medical equipment and supplies, and companies in the biotechnology industry. The fund’s managers look at a firm’s financial strength, the quality of its management, and potential for new products leading to above-average growth in revenues and earnings. Top holdings include Schering-Plough Corp., McKesson Corporation, Merck & Co., AstraZeneca plc, Takeda Pharmaceutical Co., Eisai Co. Ltd.,…