Japan sector stars navigate through volatility

Managers find returns in notoriously turbulent Japan sector, with Nathan Gibbs' Schroders Japan Alpha Plus fund outperforming in rising and falling markets

The IMA Japan sector has historically been one of the most volatile, and the last year has been no exception. According to Morningstar, Clerical Medical’s Japanese Focus is the top performer over one year to 28 June, up 23.3%, compared to a sector average increase of 11.4%. The worst performer over the same timeframe is Chris Taylor’s Neptune Japan Opportunities fund, down 17.5%. While currency movements are a factor, the sector returns lag behind the other IMA major market sectors. Over 
the same time period, the Europe excluding UK, Europe including UK, and US sectors have gained 19...