New York ? Mutual funds suffered along with the rest of the stock market during a troubled third quarter, with growth and technology sector funds posting the worst returns.

According to preliminary figures from fund tracker Lipper Inc., small-cap growth funds were the worst-performing domestic equity funds, posting a 7.23 percent negative return for the quarter, followed by mid-cap growth funds with a 5.85 percent negative return and large-cap growth funds with a 5.27 percent negative return.

Specialty diversified mutual funds — funds that typically invest on a particular philosophy or theme that crosses sectors and market caps — were the only broad-based U.S. equity funds to post a positive return for the quarter, a small 1.22 percent. The next best fund group was equity income funds, which had a 0.23 percent negative return.

Overall, U.S. diversified equity mutual funds posted a 3.61 percent negative return for the third quarter, which, as of Thursday, saw the Standard & Poor’s 500 index lose 0.9 percent.

“This continues a trend we’ve seen all year, value outperforming growth, that reflects the kind of choppy, sideways market we’ve been in,” said Michael Porter, senior research analyst with Lipper. “Growth has had a good run, but is more vulnerable in this type of market.”

The more specialized sector funds posted an overall return of 2.09 percent for the quarter, buoyed by strong gains in real estate funds, natural resources and utility funds. Surging oil prices helped natural resources funds post a 6.83 percent return, while real estate funds had a 6.2 percent return and utility funds saw returns of 4.72 percent.

Technology-focused funds saw the worst losses as a string of semiconductor firms warned that their third-quarter earnings would be far less than expected. Science and technology funds posted an 11.04 percent negative return for the quarter. Health and biotechnology funds saw negative returns of 4.53 percent, while telecommunications funds had a 2.07 percent negative return.

Some of the best performing mutual funds of the quarter were international funds, especially those focused on the developing world. Latin American funds led all international funds with a 12.69 percent return, followed by general emerging markets funds with a 6.98 percent return. Japanese equity funds were the worst performers with a 10.15 percent negative return as that country struggled with rising oil prices alongside the United States.

Overall, however, world equity funds posted a 0.02 percent negative return for the quarter.

“Developing markets have been incredible performers this year, and keep in mind that the oil and natural resources stocks are often based in developing countries,” Porter said. “Plus, you have good fundamentals and valuations in emerging markets.”

Eight international funds were among the top 25 best performers of the quarter, with the iShares Brazil Index Fund posting a 21.4 percent return as the top performer. That was followed by Forester’s Value Fund with a 16.4 percent return, ProFunds’ Precious Metals fund with a 15 percent return, Merrill Lynch’s Latin America fund with a return of 14.18 percent and Oppenheimer’s Real Asset Fund, a natural resources fund, with a 14.12 percent return.

Just as international funds were among the best performers, 12 technology funds were among the 25 worst performing for the quarter. ProFunds’ Semiconductors fund suffered a 30.39 percent negative return. The Reynolds Fund, a large-cap growth fund, was next with a 22.48 percent negative return, followed by ProFunds’ Internet fund with a 22.15 percent negative return, and the Apex Mid Cap Growth Fund and the Rydex Series Trust Electronics Fund, which both had a 21.20 percent negative return.