What's Hot? What's Not? [Fund Edition]

The tables below show the best and worst performing funds over the last month. The key facts are:

Looking first at “What’s Hot”

• It is obviously encouraging that the Absolute Return sector features in “What’s Hot” (as much of the sector struggled badly on the downside in 2008/9)
• The Cazenove fund is noteworthy as it is trending up again (despite weakness in equities and bonds generally)
• More surprisingly, UK smaller companies are holding up well versus the wider market, with Schroder UK Smaller being the star, barely dented
• The motley property selection (of the bricks and mortar variety) are quietly, and unexcitingly, ploughing their furrow

Turning to “What’s Not”

• Brazil is in the headlines and propping up this table
• In fact Brazil peaked back in late 2010…
• …and the new break lower feels like an opportunity (at least for monthly savers/investors)
• The fall in gold and gold mining shares is unrelenting
• We still believe there is another 25% downside in the gold price…
• …but will gold mining shares stabilize earlier, perhaps on M&A?
• These gold funds remain outstanding choices for monthly savers
• The Indian stock market has been hit in the wake of the Fed announcement on tapering
• The latter triggered selling by foreigners (as in emerging markets generally), and a weaker currency…
• …so a double-whammy for funds like Jupiter India (and an opportunity for longer term investors to accumulate)

And finally:

• HERE is Trigger's Tip of the Month (the office pooch).

Best (What's HOT)

Worst (What's NOT?)

FURTHER READING

• What's Hot? What's Not? Half Year Special
• The commodity funds to start buying
• How far could markets fall?
• Trigger's Tip July 2013