Investments  

Best and worst performing funds and sectors revealed

Best and worst performing funds and sectors revealed

Two Investment Association (IA) sectors for investing solely in the Japanese equity market were the best performing in November.

The IA Japanese Smaller Companies sector was the absolute best performer, returning 1.5 per cent in November while the IA Japan sector returned 1.25 per cent over the month.

The worst performing fund sectors were the three related to European equities.

Article continues after advert

The IA European Smaller Companies sector returned minus 1.71 per cent in November, the IA Europe Excluding UK sector lost 1.23 per cent in the month, and the IA Europe Including UK sector lost 1.1 per cent.

In contrast, the IA UK All Companies sector lost 0.98 per cent.

Adrian Lowcock, investment director at Architas, said: "Japan's recent strong trend continued into November although returns from all sectors were much more muted compared to the previous month.

"Japan continues to benefit from political stability following (current prime minister of Japan) Shinzo Abe's election victory and by strong corporate earnings growth which has outstripped other developed economies."

FundPercentage Return
Argonaut FP Argonaut Absolute Return6.07
Legg Mason IF Japan Equity5.66
First State Japan Focus5.26
RWC Nissay Japan Focus4.97
Baillie Gifford Japanese Smaller Companies4.87
Polar Capital UK Absolute Equity4.67
Charlemagne Magna Africa4.43
Lindsell Train Japanese Equity TR4.09
Baring Korea Trust4.02
Elite Webb Capital Smaller Cos Inc & Growth4

The best performing fund over the past month was the £85m Argonaut Absolute Return fund, which returned 6 per cent in November.

This is run by Barry Norris, the founder of Argonaut who formerly ran funds at Baillie Gifford and Neptune.

The next best performer was Legg Mason Japan Equity.

david.thorpe@ft.com