Skagen Focus manager highlights unique stocks to help turn around performance

Filip Weintraub, manager of the recently launched Skagen Focus fund, has blamed the sell-off in global markets over the past few months for the portfolio's tough start.

The £56m fund is down 12.6% since launch in May to 26 October, compared to a 6.2% drop in its MSCI All Country World benchmark, according to the group's own figures. However, Weintraub (pictured) has blamed the fund's underperformance since opening on market turmoil, triggered by fears over an economic slowdown in China. "The factors that have led to the fund's performance since inception have been primarily related to market turmoil rather than company specifics," he said. "As fears of a Chinese slowdown spread, commodities were impacted on a global basis." The manager runs a c...