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Please note that tax, investment, pension and ISA rules can change and the information and any views contained in this article may now be inaccurate.
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. A number of funds 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 generally continued to do well, with the S&P 500 now having broken through the 4,000 mark for the first time. Most 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Many retail investors are still fleeing the UK stock market however, with £1.7 billion withdrawn from UK equity funds in January and February, according to Investment Association data.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 should 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 % |
|---|---|
| IA UK Smaller Companies | 9 |
| IA North American Smaller Companies | 6.9 |
| IA UK Equity Income | 6.8 |
| IA UK All Companies | 5.8 |
| IA North America | 5 |
| IA Global EM Bonds Hard Currency | (4.3) |
| IA Global EM Bonds Blended | (4.6) |
| IA UK Index Linked Gilts | (6.7) |
| IA UK Gilts | (7.4) |
| 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 |
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
These articles are for information purposes only and are not a personal recommendation or advice.
Written by:
Laith Khalaf
Laith Khalaf started his career in 2001, after studying philosophy at Cambridge University. He’s worked in a variety of roles across pensions and investments, covering both the DIY and the advised sides of the business. In 2007, he began to focus on research and analysis, and has since become a leading industry commentator, as well as a regular contributor to the financial pages of the national press. He’s a frequent guest on TV and radio, and for several years provided daily business bulletins on LBC.