What are the 20 most-researched investment trusts?

Investors in investment trusts were focusing their attention on sectors with a global reach in 2014, according to figures from the Association of Investment Companies (AIC).

The AIC looked at the 20 most frequently viewed company profile pages on its website over the past year, and found that seven were global trusts.

The global sector saw its average discount narrow from 7.2 to 5% over the course of 2014, so it seems that investor curiosity is being translated into purchases.

"It's to be expected that companies from the global sector, which includes some of the largest and best-known investment companies, were most popular on the AIC site," comments Annabel Brodie-Smith, communications director at the AIC.

Familiar names

Income has clearly also been a driving force for investors, with two global equity income trusts and six UK equity income trusts on the list, as well as both Asia Pacific income-focused trusts - Henderson Far East Income and Aberdeen Asian Income - featuring there.

Scottish Mortgage, a Money Observer Rated Fund and key driver of two of our best-performing Model Portfolios, was the single most widely viewed trust on the AIC website.

It has also been the most-bought investment trust on Interactive Investor for the past 11 months, and has returned 24.4% over the 12 months to 28 January.

Murray International, ranked second in the global equity income sector over a year and another Rated Fund, was the second most popular among AIC site users. It has produced a 16.5% return and boasts a meaty 4.3% yield.

It is followed by a clutch of UK equity income trusts, led by City of London and including Rated Funds Finsbury Growth & Income and Temple Bar, as well as Edinburgh Investment Trust. All four rank among the most bought by Interactive Investor users in December.

The list also includes two BlackRock commodities trusts - World Mining and Commodities Income. European Assets, from the European smaller companies sector, also makes an appearance.

The skewed nature of the list highlights the absence of other areas such as emerging markets, Japan and UK smaller companies, which have evidently not been firing investor interest to the same extent in 2014.

This article is for information and discussion purposes only and does not form a recommendation to invest or otherwise. The value of an investment may fall. The investments referred to in this article may not be suitable for all investors, and if in doubt, an investor should seek advice from a qualified investment adviser.