The IC Top 100 Funds list of actively managed funds and investment trusts has posted some great performance over the past year.
In the year to the end of June 2015 the average total return of funds in the selection was 8.9 per cent compared to just 2.6 per cent from the FTSE All-Share over the same period. Over the past six months, the funds have posted average total returns of 4.5 per cent, compared with 3 per cent from the FTSE All-Share.
This indicates that picking the right active managers can really add value. The list is not a set of funds that we think will perform well over the year but a selection of what we think of best options in all asset classes. Note that for investment trusts we have compared share price performance rather than net asset value performance. The average ongoing charge for the selection is 1.04 per cent.
Star performers for the year to end June included Biotech Growth Trust (BIOG) which posted a massive 62 per cent return, closely followed by WorldWide Healthcare (WWH) which has broader exposure to healthcare, including biotech companies.
Over the same period the worst performer was BlackRock World Mining Trust (BRWM), which dropped 36 per cent. The IC Personal Finance Podcast of 10 July will feature a special interview with fund manager Evy Hambro, who explains his losses for the trust.
The other two commodities funds in the selection, Investec Global Gold (GB00B1XFGM25) and City Natural Resources High Yield (CYN) also posted big losses.
Over the six-month period to the end of June the three Japanese funds in the selection fared particularly well. However, two Asian equity funds detracted from performance over the same period.
We will be reviewing the Top 100 Funds list over the summer and publishing a full update in the 4 September 2015 issue of Investors Chronicle.
PERFORMANCE OF INVESTORS CHRONICLE'S TOP 100 FUNDS
YEAR TO END JUNE 2015
| Fund | ISIN/TIDM | Total return % | Ongoing charge |
| BEST PERFORMERS | |||
| Biotech Growth Trust | BIOG | 62.8 | 1.22 |
| WorldWide Healthcare | WWH | 50.6 | 1.01 |
| Lindsell Train Investment Trust | LTI | 46.7 | 1.14 |
| Catco Reinsurance Opportunities | CAT | 33.9 | 1.83 |
| Henderson Smaller Companies IT | HSL | 29.4 | 0.46 |
| WORST PERFORMERS | |||
| BlackRock World Mining Trust | BRWM | -36.2 | 1.4 |
| Investec Global Gold I Acc | GB00B1XFGM25 | -24.7 | 0.87 |
| City Natural Resources High Yield Trust | CYN | -24.3 | 1.7 |
| BlackRock Emerging Europe | BEEP | -20.8 | 1.33 |
| Middlefield Canadian Income | MCT | -17.8 | 0.85 |
| AVERAGE | 8.9 |
SIX MONTHS TO END JUNE 2015
| Fund | ISIN/TIDM | Total return % | Ongoing charge |
| BEST PERFORMERS | |||
| Lindsell Train Investment Trust | LTI | 33.4 | 1.14 |
| BlackRock Smaller Companies Trust | BRSC | 22 | 0.71 |
| Baillie Gifford Shin Nippon | BGS | 21.3 | 1.17 |
| Baillie Gifford Japan Trust | BGFD | 20.1 | 0.89 |
| GLG Japan CoreAlpha Fund I Acc | GB00B0119C67 | 19.6 | 1.11** |
| WORST PERFORMERS | |||
| Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies IT | AAS | -10.3 | 1.46 |
| Middlefield Canadian Income | MCT | -9.2 | 0.85 |
| Investec Global Gold I Acc | GB00B1XFGM25 | -8 | 0.87 |
| Newton Asian Income Fund W Acc | GB00B8KT3V48 | -5.7 | 0.82 |
| CQS New City High Yield Fund | NCYF | -5.5 | 1.29 |
| AVERAGE | 4.5 |
Source: Morningstar. Shows share price performance for investment trusts.**Sourced from Charles Stanley Direct.
