Reference no: EM131110477

The economies of the world tend to rise and fall in cycles that offset each other. International stocks can provide possible diversification for a portfolio heavy on U.S. equities. Because research on foreign companies is usually difficult for individual investors to track on their own, a foreign equity mutual fund offers the investor the expertise of a global fund manager.

Foreign-stock funds provide exposure to overseas markets at varying levels of risk. Economic and currency risk can swing in a positive or negative direction. Hence, diversification is the key to managing risk. Funds that invest overseas fall into four basic categories: global, international, emerging-market, and country-specific. The wider the reach of the fund, the less risky it is likely to be. 
Briefly explain the differences between the following funds:

(1) Global fund

(2) International fund

(3) Emerging-market fund

(4) Country-specific fund