H1 investment company review: leaders and laggards revealed as fundraising hits £4bn

Performance till 4 July

Analysts at Numis have revealed the best and worst performers among equity and alternative investment companies as measured by their total return until 4 July, while the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) calculates £4bn was raised in secondary fundraising.

The list of worst performing equity trusts is topped, unsurprisingly by JP Morgan Russia. It is joined by numerous Baillie Gifford funds, with the firm's US Growth, Scottish Mortgage and European Growth trusts making up second, third and fourth worst respectively. Elsewhere in the list were other growth trusts, technology focused funds and some UK small cap companies. The best performing equity trusts include those with exposure to energy and commodities along with Latin American funds. Some value trusts including North American Income, Merchants and Temple Bar were also included i...