- UK funds enjoy a quarter at the top of the performance table
- ‘Safe’ bonds drop sharply
- Energy funds, resource funds and REITs bounce back
Laith Khalaf, financial analyst at AJ Bell, comments:
“The first quarter of the year saw a resurgence of some areas of the market which have been badly beaten up by the pandemic, as investors look forward to life beyond COVID. Funds investing in commodities and even UK shopping centres posted a decent quarter of performance, though the REITs Drum and Hammerson are still significantly down on their pre-pandemic levels.
“Funds investing in the US continued to do well, with the S&P 500 now having broken through the 4,000 mark for the first time. UK equity funds also enjoyed a rare glimpse of the top of the performance tables, thanks in part to the cyclical make-up of the UK stock market, and the reassessment of the prospects for these economically sensitive stocks that has taken place since the arrival of effective vaccines.
“Many retail investors are still fleeing the UK stock market however, with £1.7 billion withdrawn from UK equity funds in January and February, according to Investment Association data. These investors could find themselves missing out on a resurgent UK stock market, if the global economy performs as expected this year, as the banks and commodity stocks that play such a big part in the FTSE 100 should do well in an expansionary economic environment.
“At the other end of the performance table, fixed income funds had a dismal quarter, as markets ditched safe haven assets in anticipation of brighter economic climes. Of particular concern to UK investors is the big drop in gilt funds, as these are prized by investors seeking a safe haven for their money, and a 7.4% fall in three months doesn’t precisely fit that billing. If risk appetite continues to increase with the global vaccine roll out, and markets start looking forward to potential interest rate rises, recent falls could be the thin end of the wedge for UK government bonds. These assets do still provide some diversification, and they will hold up well if the pandemic or the economy takes a turn for the worse. But based on the high prices and low yields currently on offer in the market, the long term prospects for gilt funds don’t look good.”
Best performing Investment Association fund sectors Q1 2021
| Sector | Q1 performance % |
| Sector : IA UK Smaller Companies | 9.0 |
| Sector : IA North American Smaller Companies | 6.9 |
| Sector : IA UK Equity Income | 6.8 |
| Sector : IA UK All Companies | 5.8 |
| Sector : IA North America | 5.0 |
| Sector : IA Global EM Bonds Hard Currency | -4.3 |
| Sector : IA Global EM Bonds Blended | -4.6 |
| Sector : IA UK Index Linked Gilts | -6.7 |
| Sector : IA UK Gilts | -7.4 |
| Sector : IA Global EM Bonds Local Currency | -8.1 |
Source: FE Total return 31/12/2020 to 31/03/2021
Best performing funds Q1 2021
| Q1 Performance % | |
| Schroder ISF Global Energy | 25.2 |
| M&G Japan Smaller Companies | 22.9 |
| VT De Lisle America | 22.7 |
| Guinness – Global Energy | 20.5 |
| Premier Miton UK Smaller Companies | 20.4 |
| Aberforth UK Small Companies | 19.8 |
| VT Cape Wrath Focus | 19.3 |
| TM RWC UK Equity Income | 17.1 |
| Barings Global Agriculture | 17.1 |
| Legg Mason IF ClearBridge US Equity | 17.0 |
Source: FE Total return 31/12/2020 to 31/03/2021, sterling denominated funds only
Best performing investment trusts Q1 2021
| Q1 performance % | |
| All Active Asset Capital Limited | 184.9 |
| Agronomics Limited | 135.8 |
| Drum – Income Plus Reit | 73.6 |
| Drum – Drum Plc | 44.3 |
| Tirupati Graphite PLC | 43.9 |
| Tiger Royalties And Investments PLC | 42.9 |
| Hammerson PLC | 40.8 |
| Seneca Growth Capital VCT PLC | 39.6 |
| New City Investment Managers – Geiger Counter | 38.3 |
| Miton UK MicroCap Trust PLC | 37.1 |
Source: FE Total return 31/12/2020 to 31/03/2021
