Stopford sees focal shift as driver of bond fund success

Investec manager points to change of focus as performance catalyst since taking reins of the group's Strategic Bond fund in 2006.

John Stopford, co-head of fixed income at Investec Asset Management, has delivered 26.4% for investors in the past three years, compared to the average Strategic Bond fund return of 20.8%. Here, he talks about how he changed the focus of his £320m Strategic Bond fund after becoming manager in 2006, his views on the UK bond market, the ongoing European sovereign debt crisis, and where best to find value in emerging markets. How have you managed the Strategic Bond fund since you took over in 2006, and what have you done differently to improve performance? The fund used to be a fairly stan...