Fund spotlight

Junk-bond funds mostly invest in corporate bonds given low grades by credit-rating agencies such as Moody's and Standard & Poor's. While riskier than other bond funds, junk-bond funds hold the promise greater returns, and with interest rates expected to fall, now may be a good time to buy. Below, the top performing junk-, or high-yield, bond funds.

Total return

Fund name 1-yr 5-yr.*

Brinson High Yield Bond I 15.7% N/A

800-448-2430

Strong Short-Term High Yield Bond 8.0 N/A

800-368-1400

Conseco High Yield A 6.9 N/A

800-825-1530

PIMCo High Yield A 5.6 N/A

800-426-0107

Columbia High Yield 5.4 9.1

800-547-1707

Fidelity Capital & Income 5.3 8.3

800-544-8888

Payden & Rygel High Income 4.8 N/A

800-572-9336

Vanguard High Yield Corporate 4.7 8.5

800-662-7447

Stein Roe High Yield 4.2 N/A

800-338-2550

Lord Abbet Bond Debenture A 4.1 8.0

800-847-3733