Absolute return funds start to come of age

Confusion has surrounded absolute returns, with different managers applying the label to different products but the AR fund has begun to find its retail niche

This week's Investment Week Conjecture debate looks at absolute return funds and their changing role in clients' portfolios, given recent market volatility. The panel consists of David Millar, investment director, multi-asset investing at Standard Life Investments, Nick Osborne, co-manager of the BlackRock UK Absolute Alpha fund and Kate Hollis, director of fund research and head of fixed income for Standard & Poor's. What is the difference between absolute return and total and target return funds. Kate Hollis: What people mean by absolute, target and total return I do not know. Wha...