wfn.org | ABCUSA: MMBB FUNDS OUTPERFORM COUNTERPARTS

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

MMBB FUNDS-BOND, BALANCED, EQUITY, SOCIAL 
AWARENESS AND INTERNATIONAL-OUTPERFORM 
COUNTERPARTS IN MORNINGSTAR AVERAGES
 In 2001, which many financial experts called one 
of the most challenging years for mutual funds, the 
investment funds of MMBB outdistanced those monitored 
by Morningtar, a leading provider of investment 
information.  The MMBB U.S. Bond Fund topped the 
performance list for the year with an 8.47% return, 
compared to the Morningstar average of 5.14% for 877 
similarly managed funds.  What this means is that MMBB 
was about 65% better than its peers in this category in 
2001.
 Even though 2000-2001 marked the first back-to-
back losing years for stock mutual funds since 1973-1974, 
MMBB funds also did better than similarly managed mutual 
funds tracked by Morningstar.  The MMBB Balanced Fund, 
for example, was off 6.83% for the year vs. a 7.13% 
decline for comparable mutual funds.  
 On the equity side of the ledger the MMBB U.S. 
Equity Index Fund was off 11.22% and the MMBB Blended 
Equity Fund fell 9.24% vs. the Morningstar average 
decline of 15.01% for 2,082 comparable funds. The MMBB 
Social Awareness Fund declined 10.22% vs. the 
Morningstar average decline of 11.65% for 47 socially 
responsible funds.
 Looking at international funds, MMBB-managed 
funds also beat the Morningstar comparable universe.  The 
MMBB International Blended Equity Fund dropped 17.22% 
and the MMBB International Equity Index was off 21.34%.  
A Morningstar average of 453 international funds fell 
21.53%.
 For the year 2001 the Dow Jones Index fell 7.1%. 
The New York Stock Exchange composite was off 10.21%.  
The Standard & Poor's 500 Index fell 13.04%, and the 
tech-heavy NASDAQ was off 21.05%.  The average 
domestic fund fell 11.3% in 2001, with large-cap growth 
funds dropping 23.5%, and technology funds fell 38.1%. 
 For 2002 most Wall Street observers feel that 
funds will be in the black.  Historically most stock funds do 
well as the economy strengthens.  While the double-digit 
gains of the 1990s may be a thing of the past, there is a 
consensus that single digit gains can be expected.

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