Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund (NYSE:FOF)

A Cohen and Steers Fund of Fund Product that products diversification into 94 CEFS

Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund, Inc. is a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company. The fund invests in the common stock of closed-end management investment companies (Portfolio Funds) that invest significantly in equity or income-producing securities. These Portfolio Funds focuses on equity or income-producing securities, sectors or strategies, such as dividend strategies, covered call option strategies, total return strategies, balanced strategies, general equities, limited duration strategies, convertible securities, preferred securities, high yield securities and real estate, energy, utility and other equity or income-oriented strategies. At any time, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the fund's net assets is invested in common stocks issued by Portfolio Funds.

The year 2006 for US utility industry witnessed positive returns as growth in S&P Utilities Sector in terms of percent of U.S. Dollars reached over 19.6% as of Dec. 2006 compared to 16.8 % in 2005. On the energy side of the industry equation where many assets are tied to the weakening dollar the business in second half of 2006 seems to have been particularly good. However, the energy sector might under perform due to softening of global demand, as well as fall in consumer credit that usually lead energy stocks to under-perform.

The US real estate industry especially office, industrial and shopping center witnessed significant growth offset by slowing housing market. During 2007, the pace of the ongoing economic recovery will slow, impacting construction activity and the investment outlook and would stabilize and steady growth in the real estate industry.

With slowing economy and uncertainties about the impacts of the ongoing housing ‘correction’ on the economy, including a weaker housing wealth effect on consumer spending and fallout from the evolving subprime mortgage debacle, the prospects of Cohen & Steers Closed-End Opportunity Fund remains in dark.