Look for consistency in mutual funds. As
redemption requests mount and conditions deteriorate, some
value funds shift managerial styles in an attempt to make up lost
ground. Not only does this suggest that these funds never had a
strategy to start with, but it also suggests a lack of
discipline, which is exactly what we don't
want. Studies show that value funds, in particular, tend to
rebound more sharply than other
investment choices because they're often chock
full of
quality stocks
trading at deep - but temporary - discounts.