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Label Element Value
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Risk/Return [Heading] rr_RiskReturnHeading First Eagle Gold Fund
Objective [Heading] rr_ObjectiveHeading Investment Objective
Objective, Primary [Text Block] rr_ObjectivePrimaryTextBlock

First Eagle Gold Fund (“Gold Fund”) seeks to provide investors the opportunity to participate in the investment characteristics of gold (and to a limited extent other precious metals) for a portion of their overall investment portfolio.

Expense [Heading] rr_ExpenseHeading Fees and Expenses of the Gold Fund
Expense Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseNarrativeTextBlock

The following information describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Gold Fund.


You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you, together with certain related accounts, invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Gold Fund. Information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the How to Purchase Shares and Public Offering Price of Class A Shares sections on pages 74 and 80, respectively.

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text] rr_ShareholderFeesCaption Shareholder Fees (fees paid directly from your investment)
Operating Expenses Caption [Text] rr_OperatingExpensesCaption Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)
Portfolio Turnover [Heading] rr_PortfolioTurnoverHeading Portfolio Turnover Rate
Portfolio Turnover [Text Block] rr_PortfolioTurnoverTextBlock

The Gold Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or “turns over” its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes when Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual Fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund’s performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the Fund’s portfolio turnover rate was 9.19% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate rr_PortfolioTurnoverRate 9.19%
Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text] rr_ExpenseBreakpointDiscounts You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you, together with certain related accounts, invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $25,000 in the Gold Fund.
Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount] rr_ExpenseBreakpointMinimumInvestmentRequiredAmount $ 25,000
Expense Example [Heading] rr_ExpenseExampleHeading Example
Expense Example Narrative [Text Block] rr_ExpenseExampleNarrativeTextBlock

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Gold Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. This hypothetical example assumes you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then either redeem or do not redeem all shares at the end of those periods. The example also assumes the average annual return is 5% and operating expenses remain the same. Please keep in mind your actual costs may be higher or lower.

Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleByYearCaption Sold
Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text] rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionByYearCaption Held
Strategy [Heading] rr_StrategyHeading Principal Investment Strategies
Strategy Narrative [Text Block] rr_StrategyNarrativeTextBlock

To achieve its objective of providing investors the opportunity to participate in the investment characteristics of gold, the Gold Fund invests at least 80% of its total assets in gold and/or securities (which may include both equity and, to a limited extent, debt instruments) directly related to gold or of issuers principally engaged in the gold industry, including securities of gold mining finance companies as well as operating companies with long-, medium- or short-life mines. Up to 20% of the Fund’s assets may be invested in equity and, to a limited extent, debt instruments unrelated to gold or the gold industry where such securities are consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. The Fund may invest up to 20% of its total assets in debt securities. Investment decisions for the Fund are made without regard to the capitalization (size) of the companies in which it invests. The Fund may invest in any size company, including large, medium and smaller companies. The Fund may also invest in fixed-income instruments (without regard to credit rating or time to maturity), short-term debt instruments, other precious metals, and futures contracts related to precious metals. The Fund “counts” relevant derivative positions towards its “80% of assets” allocation, and in doing so, values each position at the price at which it is held on the Fund’s books.


An investment in the Gold Fund is not intended to be a complete investment program. However, many investors believe that, historically, a limited exposure to investments in gold or gold-related instruments may provide some offset against the market impact of political and economic disruptions, as well as relieve inflationary or deflationary pressures.

Risk [Heading] rr_RiskHeading Principal Investment Risks
Risk Narrative [Text Block] rr_RiskNarrativeTextBlock

As with any mutual fund investment, you may lose money by investing in the Gold Fund. The likelihood of loss may be greater if you invest for a shorter period of time.


Principal risks of investing in the Gold Fund, which could adversely affect its net asset value and total return, are:


  • Market Risk — The value of the Fund’s portfolio holdings may fluctuate in response to events specific to the companies or markets in which the Fund invests, as well as economic, political, or social events in the United States or abroad.

  • Gold Risk — The Fund may invest in both physical gold and the securities of companies in the gold mining sector. Prices of gold-related issues are susceptible to changes to U.S. and foreign taxes, currencies, mining laws, inflation, and various other market conditions.

  • Derivatives Risk — Futures contracts or other “derivatives,” including hedging strategies, present risks related to their significant price volatility and risk of default by the counterparty to the contract. To date, derivatives have been used mainly under a hedging program intended to reduce the impact of foreign exchange rate changes on the Fund’s value.

  • Foreign Investment Risk — The Fund may invest in foreign investments. Foreign investments are susceptible to less politically, economically and socially stable environments, foreign currency and exchange rate changes, and adverse changes to government regulations. Because of the Gold Fund’s policy of investing primarily in gold, securities directly related to gold and/or of companies engaged in the gold industry, a substantial part of the Gold Fund’s assets will generally be invested in securities of companies domiciled or operating in one or more foreign countries, including emerging markets.

  • Diversification Risk — The Fund is a non-diversified mutual fund, and as a result, an investment in the Fund may expose your money to greater risks than if you invest in a diversified fund. The Fund may invest in a limited number of companies and industries, therefore gains or losses in a particular security may have a greater impact on their share price.

  • Small and Medium-Size Company Risk — The Fund may invest in small and medium-size companies, the securities of which can be more volatile in price than those of larger companies.

  • Credit Risk — Credit risk is the risk that the issuer of a bond or other instrument will not be able to make payments of interest and principal when due. Changes in an issuer’s credit rating or the market’s perception of an issuer’s creditworthiness may also affect the value of the Fund’s investment in that issuer. The Fund may invest in debt securities that are below investment grade, i.e., junk bonds, which are considered speculative, and carry a higher risk of default. In addition, fluctuations in interest rates can affect the value of debt instruments held by the Fund. An increase in interest rates tends to reduce the market value of debt instruments, while a decline in interest rates tends to increase their values. Longer-duration instruments tend to be more sensitive to interest rate changes than those with shorter durations.

  • Currency Risk — Currency risk is the risk that foreign currencies will decline in value relative to that of the U.S. dollar and affect the Fund’s non-U.S. currencies or securities that trade in and receive revenue in non-U.S. currencies.


For more information on the risks of investing in the Gold Fund, please see the More Information about the Funds’ Investments section.

Risk Lose Money [Text] rr_RiskLoseMoney As with any mutual fund investment, you may lose money by investing in the Gold Fund.
Risk Nondiversified Status [Text] rr_RiskNondiversifiedStatus The Fund is a non-diversified mutual fund, and as a result, an investment in the Fund may expose your money to greater risks than if you invest in a diversified fund. The Fund may invest in a limited number of companies and industries, therefore gains or losses in a particular security may have a greater impact on their share price.
Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading] rr_BarChartAndPerformanceTableHeading Investment Results
Performance Narrative [Text Block] rr_PerformanceNarrativeTextBlock

The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Gold Fund by showing changes in the Fund’s performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund’s average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance. As with all mutual funds, past performance is not an indication of future performance (before or after taxes).


After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rate for each year, and do not reflect the effect of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on your individual tax situation. After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred accounts, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.


Updated performance information is available at www.firsteaglefunds.com/funds/goldfund.php or by calling 800.334.2143.


The following bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions and does not reflect any sales charges. If sales charges were included, the returns would be lower.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text] rr_PerformanceInformationIllustratesVariabilityOfReturns The following information provides an indication of the risks of investing in the Gold Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year to year, and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for 1, 5 and 10 years compare with those of a broad measure of market performance.
Performance Availability Phone [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityPhone 800.334.2143
Performance Availability Website Address [Text] rr_PerformanceAvailabilityWebSiteAddress www.firsteaglefunds.com/funds/goldfund.php
Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text] rr_PerformancePastDoesNotIndicateFuture As with all mutual funds, past performance is not an indication of future performance (before or after taxes).
Bar Chart [Heading] rr_BarChartHeading Calendar Year Total Returns - Class A
Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text] rr_BarChartDoesNotReflectSalesLoads The following bar chart assumes reinvestment of dividends and distributions and does not reflect any sales charges. If sales charges were included, the returns would be lower.
Bar Chart Closing [Text Block] rr_BarChartClosingTextBlock

 

 

 

Best Quarter

Third Quarter 2007

 

 

21.55

%

 

 

Worst Quarter

Third Quarter 2008

 

 

-20.95

%

 

 

Highest Quarterly Return, Label rr_HighestQuarterlyReturnLabel Best Quarter
Highest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2007
Highest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartHighestQuarterlyReturn 21.55%
Lowest Quarterly Return, Label rr_LowestQuarterlyReturnLabel Worst Quarter
Lowest Quarterly Return, Date rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturnDate Sep. 30, 2008
Lowest Quarterly Return rr_BarChartLowestQuarterlyReturn (20.95%)
Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate rr_PerformanceTableUsesHighestFederalRate After-tax returns are calculated using the highest individual federal income tax rate for each year, and do not reflect the effect of state and local taxes.
Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred rr_PerformanceTableNotRelevantToTaxDeferred After-tax returns are not relevant to investors in tax-deferred accounts, such as 401(k) plans or individual retirement accounts.
Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text] rr_PerformanceTableOneClassOfAfterTaxShown After-tax returns for Class C and Class I shares will vary.
Performance Table Narrative rr_PerformanceTableNarrativeTextBlock

The following table discloses after-tax returns only for Class A shares. After-tax returns for Class C and Class I shares will vary.

Caption rr_AverageAnnualReturnCaption Average Annual Total Returns as of December 31, 2012
MSCI World Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 15.83%
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (1.18%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 7.51%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 7.00%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 15, 2003
FTSE Gold Mines Index
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (15.43%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 (0.95%)
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 8.24%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 9.08%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 15, 2003
Class A
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) on Purchases (as a percentage of public offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice 5.00%
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of your purchase or redemption price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 0.25%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total Annual Operating Expenses (%) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.21%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 617
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 865
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,132
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,893
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 617
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 865
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,132
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,893
Annual Return 2003 rr_AnnualReturn2003 39.43%
Annual Return 2004 rr_AnnualReturn2004 (5.11%)
Annual Return 2005 rr_AnnualReturn2005 26.25%
Annual Return 2006 rr_AnnualReturn2006 21.32%
Annual Return 2007 rr_AnnualReturn2007 23.48%
Annual Return 2008 rr_AnnualReturn2008 (14.27%)
Annual Return 2009 rr_AnnualReturn2009 39.18%
Annual Return 2010 rr_AnnualReturn2010 34.64%
Annual Return 2011 rr_AnnualReturn2011 (11.13%)
Annual Return 2012 rr_AnnualReturn2012 (5.15%)
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (9.88%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.17%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 12.40%
Class A | After Taxes on Distributions
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (9.92%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.48%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 11.26%
Class A | After Taxes on Distributions and Sale of Fund Shares
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (6.37%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 4.27%
10 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear10 10.59%
Class I
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) on Purchases (as a percentage of public offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of your purchase or redemption price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther none
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets none
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total Annual Operating Expenses (%) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 0.96%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 98
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 306
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 531
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 1,178
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 98
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 306
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 531
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 1,178
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (4.91%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 6.52%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 14.25%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 15, 2003
Class C
  
Risk/Return: rr_RiskReturnAbstract  
Maximum Sales Charge (Load) on Purchases (as a percentage of public offering price) rr_MaximumSalesChargeImposedOnPurchasesOverOfferingPrice none
Maximum Deferred Sales Charge (Load) (as a percentage of the lesser of your purchase or redemption price) rr_MaximumDeferredSalesChargeOverOther 1.00%
Redemption Fee (as a percentage of Amount Redeemed) rr_RedemptionFeeOverRedemption (2.00%)
Management Fees rr_ManagementFeesOverAssets 0.75%
Distribution and Service (12b-1) Fees rr_DistributionAndService12b1FeesOverAssets 1.00%
Other Expenses rr_OtherExpensesOverAssets 0.21%
Total Annual Operating Expenses (%) rr_ExpensesOverAssets 1.96%
Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleYear01 299
Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear03 615
Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear05 1,057
Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleYear10 2,285
Expense Example, No Redemption, 1 Year rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear01 199
Expense Example, No Redemption, 3 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear03 615
Expense Example, No Redemption, 5 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear05 1,057
Expense Example, No Redemption, 10 Years rr_ExpenseExampleNoRedemptionYear10 $ 2,285
1 Year rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear01 (6.81%)
5 Years rr_AverageAnnualReturnYear05 5.46%
Since Inception rr_AverageAnnualReturnSinceInception 13.12%
Inception Date rr_AverageAnnualReturnInceptionDate May 15, 2003