European funds

Much like the euro, most European mutual funds have struggled to stay above water this year.

Only a few of the top performing funds in this group are beating the return of the Standard & Poor's 500 index for 1999, according to mutual-fund tracker Lipper Inc.

Total return

Fund name YTD 3-yr.

Mutual European A 12.8% N/A

800-342-5236

Templeton Greater European A 12.0 N/A

800-342-5236

Fidelity Nordic 8.1 24.4

800-544-8888

Merrill Lynch EuroFund A 7.3 23.3

800-637-3863

Payden & Rygel Euro. Grth & Inc R 2.7 N/A

800-572-9336

MSDW European Growth B 1.8 18.1

800-869-6397

Putnam Europe Growth A 1.2 19.7

800-225-1581

Alliance New Europe A 0.5 17.6

800-227-4618

S&P 500 Index 5.8 26.9

Source: Lipper Inc. as of 6/15

N/A - not available