Closed-end funds are funds with a fixed number of shares outstanding and, as a result, trade more like a share of common stock than their open-end fund cousins which trade at their net asset value ("NAV"). Shares of closed-end funds can trade at a price that is either a discount or a premium to their net asset value based upon market demand. This condition can often lead to much greater volatility and price dispersion for closed-end funds when compared to open-end funds. For example, according to the Stifel Nicolaus October 2009 Closed-End Funds Monthly Review report, closed-end funds have traded at an average discount to their NAV of 4.52% over the last ten-year period.Read more
An Update on Closed-End Funds
Published: Dec. 14, 2009