and institutional separate accounts, mutual funds and other pooled investment options. BlackRock aims to provide a wide range of investment solutions, helping investors strike a balance between risk and opportunities.

Below we will share with you 5 top rated BlackRock funds. Each has earned a Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) as we expect the fund to outperform its peers in the future. To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all BlackRock funds, then click here.

BlackRock International Opportunities A (NASDAQ:BREAX - News) invests the majority of its assets in equity securities of foreign companies regardless of their size. Not more than 30% of its assets may be utilized to purchase emerging market stocks. The fund has a ten year annualized return of 11.06%.

Thomas Callan is the fund manager and he has managed this BlackRock fund since 1999.

BlackRock Global SmallCap A (NASDAQ:MDGCX - News) seeks long term capital appreciation. The fund invests heavily in small-cap equity securities. Companies issuing these securities must have market capitalizations identical to those which are included in the MSCI World Small Cap Index. At least 40% of its assets are utilized to purchase foreign securities. The fund has a three year annualized return of 14.88%.

As of June 2011, this fund held 164 issues, with 7.53% of its total assets invested in BlackRock Liquidity TempFund Instl.

BlackRock Global Emerging Markets A (NASDAQ:MDDCX - News) invests the majority of its assets in equity securities issued from emerging capital markets. These markets include countries which make up the Morgan Stanley Capital International (NYSE:MSCI - News) Emerging Markets Index. It invests in a minimum of three countries at any given time. The fund has a five year annualized return of 5.48%.

The BlackRock fund has a minimum initial investment of $1,000 and an expense ratio of 1.65% compared to a category average of 1.64%.

BlackRock Latin America A (NASDAQ:MDLTX - News) seeks capital growth over the long term. The fund invests a large share of its assets in Latin American securities. The fund focuses on acquiring equity securities issued by companies from this region regardless of their size. It may also invest n debt securities issued by government agencies, companies and financial institutions from the region. The fund has a ten year annualized return of 20.74%

William Landers is the fund manager and he has managed this BlackRock fund since 2002.

BlackRock California Municipal Bond (NASDAQ:MDCMX - News) invests the majority of its assets in California municipal bonds and securities rated investment grade. The weighted average maturity period of its portfolio is usually higher than ten years. The fund returned 6.95% over the last one year period.

The BlackRock fund has an expense ratio of 0.78% compared to a category average of 0.94%.

To view the Zacks Rank and past performance of all BlackRock funds, then click here.

About Zacks Mutual Fund Rank

By applying the Zacks Rank to mutual funds, investors can find funds that not only outpaced the market in the past but are also expected to outperform going forward. Learn more about the Zacks Mutual Fund Rank at http://www.zacks.com/funds.

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