FundCalibre’s most viewed funds of 2019
As the year draws to a close, FundCalibre has revealed the top 20 most viewed funds and trusts on its website, with Baillie Gifford Global Discovery proving the most popular in 2019*.
The fund, which is run by Douglas Brodie and consists of what he believes to be the most innovative and fast-growing smaller companies in the world, drew the highest number of page views on the fund research website.
AXA Framlington Global Technology, run by Jeremy Gleeson, was in second spot. 2019 has been another good year for the technology sector: it has outperformed the wider global stock market by 17%** over the past 12 months.
In third place was City of London Investment Trust. Managed by Job Curtis for almost 30 years, the trust celebrated its 53rd year for raising dividends in 2019.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Global, Global Equity Income and UK Equity Income funds and trusts dominated the list this year, as investors sought to diversify their portfolios in the face of continued Brexit and political uncertainty at home, and many others were also searching for income in a low-interest world.
Three themes of 2019
1. Going global
12 out of the top 20 most viewed funds and trusts are invested outside of the UK. 10 were global in nature, while Europe and Japan also made an appearance.
2. Income investments
12 out of the top 20 funds were those investing in income-producing assets. The top ten was dominated by Global Equity Income funds, while UK Equity Income and Bond funds made a stronger appearance in the top 20.
3. Emerging markets remain out of favour
Every single fund or trust in the top 20 was either entirely, or predominantly, invested in developed markets. This suggests that emerging markets are still very much out of favour.
FundCalibre’s most viewed funds and trusts in 2019
*Source: FundCalibre Analytics, 1 January 2019 to 21 December 2019
**Source: FE Analytics, FTSE All World index vs FTSE All World Technology index total returns in sterling, 1 January 2019 to 23 December 2019
This article is provided for information only. The views of the author and any people quoted are their own and do not constitute financial advice. The content is not intended to be a personal recommendation to buy or sell any fund or trust, or to adopt a particular investment strategy. However, the knowledge that professional analysts have analysed a fund or trust in depth before assigning them a rating can be a valuable additional filter for anyone looking to make their own decisions.Past performance is not a reliable guide to future returns. Market and exchange-rate movements may cause the value of investments to go down as well as up. Yields will fluctuate and so income from investments is variable and not guaranteed. You may not get back the amount originally invested. Tax treatment depends of your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. If you are unsure about the suitability of any investment you should seek professional advice.Whilst FundCalibre provides product information, guidance and fund research we cannot know which of these products or funds, if any, are suitable for your particular circumstances and must leave that judgement to you. Before you make any investment decision, make sure you’re comfortable and fully understand the risks. Further information can be found on Elite Rated funds by simply clicking on the name highlighted in the article.
