Anchorage Daily News

JUNEAU -- Dropping values of stocks dragged down the return on Alaska Permanent Fund investments 3.6 percent last year.

Chief executive officer Mike Burns says stocks were the weakest part of the portfolio, but positive bond returns helped mitigate some of the losses.

The fund's value at the beginning of the fiscal year was $37.8 billion.

It ended the year at $35.9 billion after paying out $1.3 billion for dividends.

Final audited returns for the last fiscal year will be announced during the Permanent Fund Corporation's annual meeting in Juneau Sept. 24-25.

Despite the current losses, this year's Permanent Fund dividend check could top $2,000 for the first time in the program's history.

The dividend is based on an average of the fund's profits over the past five years from investments in stocks, bonds, real estate and other things.

Using the latest figures from the fund, and factoring in some assumptions such as how many residents will qualify for a check, the Daily News estimates this fall's dividend will be $2,000 to $2,100.

Last year's dividend was $1,654.

The biggest dividend so far was $1,963.86 in the year 2000. Dividends dropped from 2001 to 2005, then began moving up again.

Dividend checks are due in early October, either in the mail or as direct deposits to bank accounts.

The Associated Press and Daily News reporter Wesley Loy contributed to this story.

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