Friday February 8, 11:06 AM
IMA publishes quarterly investment statistics
By Barney McCarthy
The Investment Management Associations (IMA (Milan: IMA.MI - news) ) latest figures show that the current level of total investment funds under management is now £468bn.
The Q4 2007 figures also reveal £34.3bn of funds under management in
funds of funds and tracker funds under management currently stand at £27.1bn. Ethical funds under management have shown a slight increase to £5.9bn.
Richard Saunders, chief executive of the IMA, said: The published performance figures continue to show the benefits of investing for the long term, with the average investment in a UK All Companies fund returning 80% over the last 10 years, despite the downturn in the markets at the turn of the century, and despite recent volatility.
Last year saw net inflows of nearly £3.5billion into funds of funds including net retail sales of £1.6bn. Although retail sales were down on the previous two years, they continue to remain popular with retail investors.
Richard Wilson, marketing director at New Star Asset Management, said: The latest IMA figures confirm a growing appetite for funds of funds - particularly over the last six months. As markets became more difficult it seems that investors increasingly turned to multi-managers to make their fund selection decisions.
Since the start of the credit crunch last summer and during the ensuing stock market volatility, the flexibility of a global remit and the ability to change the blend of funds rapidly within our most popular funds of funds, such as the New Star Active, Balanced and Tactical Portfolios, has been a real advantage. We believe an active fund management approach is key to maximising the benefits of funds of funds.
In markets that are as volatile as they currently are, less nimble funds that are constrained by geography, sector or fund manager style are like jugglers performing with one hand tied behind their backs.
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