Huntington Launches New Fund to Tap Emerging Markets

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Funds launched the Huntington Global Select Markets Fund. Both institutional shares (Ticker HGSIX) and A-shares (Ticker HGSAX) are available. It is managed by veteran portfolio manager Paul Attwood, CFA, vice president, Huntington Asset Advisors.

The new fund is an addition to the Huntington Funds family of mutual funds and money market offerings.

"In the Huntington Global Select Markets Fund, we identify countries that are not just developing nations, but those that are exhibiting what we believe are superior characteristics in terms of fiscal responsibility and monetary policies. We also look for specific actions they are taking to capitalize on their natural resources - particularly those we feel may take precedence in the markets to come," said Randy Bateman, president, Huntington Asset Advisors.

The fund strives to provide investors with exposure to what is believed to be the best markets across the globe. In addition to emerging markets, the fund has the flexibility to invest in equity opportunities both at home and abroad, as well as fixed-income securities and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs).

"Many emerging economies are committed to building infrastructure and creating new opportunities for local entrepreneurs. These same improvements encourage large domestic blue-chip companies to expand subsidiary operations internationally and engage in worldwide trade," said Attwood. "These positive changes in the world are creating potential growth opportunities for investors."

The investment process begins with the same top down discipline employed by all the Huntington Funds, guided by Huntington's senior economist, George Mokrzan, Ph.D. Mokrzan also serves as a member of the Economic Advisory Council of the American Bankers' Association.

Each investment is analyzed for fundamental strengths and growth characteristics. Risk is managed by monitoring industry and geographic exposure in the Fund in light of changing global economics, striving to meet the objective of total return for investors. Currencies are considered in the context of each individual investment; however they may at times be hedged or managed separately from their underlying security.

About Huntington Funds

Huntington Funds are part of Huntington Bancshares, a financial institution with more than a 90-year heritage of managing money. Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc. (HAA) and its affiliates have been managing money since 1917. As of September 30, 2009, HAA and its affiliates manage more than $13 billion for individuals, institutions, endowments, foundations, retirement plans, IRAs, and municipalities across a six state region. HAA is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Huntington National Bank, which is the principal subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares Incorporated, a regional bank holding company headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with $52 billion in assets.

For more information regarding Huntington Funds, please visit the funds' web site at huntingtonfunds.com.

Important notes:

Diversification does not ensure a profit or guarantee against loss.

The Fund is subject to the risks associated with its investments in emerging market securities, which tend to be more volatile and less liquid than securities traded in developed countries.

An investment in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange traded) that has the same investment objectives, strategies and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate up or down, and the Fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs may be subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (i) the market price of an ETF's shares may trade above or below their net asset value; (ii) an active trading market for an ETF's shares may not develop or be maintained; or (iii) trading of an ETF's shares may be halted if the listing exchange's officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are delisted from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide "circuit breakers" (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Mid-cap and small-cap investing involves greater risk not associated with investing in more established companies, such as greater price volatility, business risk, less liquidity and increased competitive threat.

International investing involves special risks including currency risk, increased volatility of foreign securities, political risks and differences in auditing and other financial standards.

For more complete information about the Huntington Funds, please call 1-800-253-0412 for a prospectus or log onto our web site at www.huntingtonfunds.com. You should consider the Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before you invest. Information about these and other important subjects is in the Funds' prospectus, which you should read carefully before investing. The investment return and principal value of an investment will fluctuate so that an investor's shares when redeemed may be worth more or less than their original cost.

The funds are distributed by Unified Financial Securities, Inc. (Member FINRA) a wholly owned subsidiary of Huntington Bancshares, Inc. and an affiliate of Huntington Asset Advisors, Inc. the advisor to the Huntington Funds.

SOURCE Huntington Funds