David Semple Completes Five Years at Helm of Van Eck Emerging Markets Fund.

Manager focuses on smaller, lesser-known stocks, first-hand research;

Fund's five-year performance ranks competitively in emerging market space

NEW YORK -- New York-based asset manager Van Eck Global is pleased to announce that David Semple has completed a five-year tenure as portfolio manager of the $187 million Van Eck Emerging Markets Fund (GBFAX)1. Semple was appointed to his position on December 18, 2002. The Fund, which is well-rated relative to its peers both in terms of overall performance and risk/return profile, returned 35.66 percent in 2007 and 38.68 percent annualized for the five-year period ending December 31, 20071.

The Van Eck Emerging Market Fund differs from many of its peers in that it focuses on smaller, lesser-known companies. Approximately 50 percent of the Fund's assets are invested in companies with market capitalizations of less than $1 billion. Many of the companies the Fund invests in have a large share of their business vested in their local economies - economies that are growing rapidly as a result of urbanization and industrialization. And as these small- and mid-sized firms do operate exclusively in local markets, they are not typically covered by Wall Street analysts. Less than 10 percent of the Van Eck Emerging Markets Fund invests in companies that trade on U.S. exchanges via American Depository Receipts (ADRs).

This specialization in relatively undiscovered foreign stocks requires a great deal of legwork from the portfolio management team. To develop insights into local stock market opportunities, the Scotland-born Semple spends much of his time outside the U.S., averaging 300 meetings per year with company management.

1 See return table and important disclosure.

"In emerging markets, it's imperative that you have on-the-ground exposure to the companies you invest in," says Semple. "Particularly with smaller companies, you need to get out and kick the tires."

As of December 31, 2007, the top-five country allocations within the Van Eck Emerging Markets Fund were China/Hong Kong (16.0%), Brazil (12.2%), Korea (10.0%), India (9.8%) and South Africa (7.0%). Top holdings included Cal Vale do Rio Doce (3.0%), a mining and metals firm based in Brazil; Reliance Capital Ltd. (2.7%), a financial services company based in India; and KNM Group Bhd (3.1%), a Malaysian-based industrial holding company and manufacturer.

Despite the outsize returns generated by the emerging markets fund category in recent years, Semple continues to see long-term prospects for the asset class. "There is a secular change going on in many of these markets," he says. "Although some volatility remains, the underlying economic fundamentals continue to be attractive as free markets and wealth continues to spread around the globe."

About Van Eck Global

Van Eck Global was founded in 1955. The company manages over $9.2 billion in assets for individuals, insurers and institutional investors, as of December 31, 2007. Van Eck has an over 50 year tradition of offering global investment choices in hard assets, emerging markets, precious metals including gold, and other specialized asset classes.

Van Eck Global investment products are designed for investors seeking innovative choices for portfolio diversification.

Performance Data: Van Eck Emerging Markets Fund (All returns are expressed in percentages).

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The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) Emerging Markets Index is calculated with dividends reinvested. The Index captures 60% of the publicly traded equities in each industry for approximately 25 emerging markets.

The index listed is an unmanaged index and does not reflect the payment of transaction costs, advisory fees or expenses that are associated with an investment in the Fund. An index's performance is not illustrative of the Fund's performance. An index is not a security in which an investment can be made.

The table presents past performance which is no guarantee of future results and which may be lower or higher than current performance. Returns reflect current temporary expense and fee waivers. Had the Fund incurred all expenses and fees, investment returns would have been reduced. Investment returns and Fund share values will fluctuate so that investor's shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost. Fund returns assume that dividends and capital gains distributions have been reinvested in the Fund at NAV. Performance information current to the most recent month end is available by calling 1.800.826.2333 or by visiting www.vaneck.com.

Index returns assume that dividends of the Index constituents in the Index have been reinvested.

You can lose money by investing in the Fund. Any investment in the Fund should be part of an overall investment program, not a complete program. 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. The Fund's investments in foreign securities involve risks related to adverse political and economic developments unique to a country or a region, currency fluctuations or controls, and the possibility of arbitrary action by foreign governments, including the takeover of property without adequate compensation or imposition of prohibitive taxation. The Fund is subject to risks associated with investments in debt securities, derivatives, commodity-linked instruments, illiquid securities, asset-backed securities, CMOs and small or mid-cap companies. The Fund is also subject to inflation risk, short-sales risk, market risk, non-diversification risk and leverage risk. Please see the prospectus for information on these and other risk considerations.

Please call 1.800.826.2333 or visit www.vaneck.com for performance information current to the most recent month end and for a free prospectus. An investor should consider the Fund's investment objective, risks, and charges and expenses carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information. Please read it carefully before investing.