Fund manager focus

Elaine Morgan's three-fold investment approach combined with focus on international stocks over domestic cyclicals leads Aegon UK Smaller Companies into the top quartile.

Anthony Cross and co-manager Julian Fosh, running the £53m Liontrust Special Situations fund, have returned more than three times the IMA UK All Companies sector average over the past three years.

Clive Beagles has steered the JOHCM UK Equity Income fund to outperformance over one, three and five years.

Adam Cordery manages the Schroders Corporate bond and Monthly High Income Bond funds. Here he explains how appetite for high yield is growing and why now is a good time to be backing financials.

Multi-asset specialist David Jane is prioritising superior returns over low fees with Darwin Investment Managers, set to launch in the summer

The JO Hambro Continental European fund has outperformed the Europe ex UK sector average nine out of the 10 years it has been in existence.

Walker Crips fund managers Jan Luthman and Stephen Bailey's long-established macrothematic investment philosophy has led the group's £156m Equity Income fund to long-term top quartile performance.

The first month of 2011 has already seen developments for AXA's multi-manager firm Architas, with Caspar Rock becoming chief investment officer in January.

FUND MANAGER FOCUS

Since taking over the helm of Standard Life Investments' UK Equity Unconstrained fund in April 2008, Ed Legget has raised eyebrows in the UK All Companies sector.