Interactive Investor

May's 10 most-bought trusts

3rd June 2016 13:22

Kyle Caldwell from interactive investor

Scottish Mortgage continues its impressive streak as the most popular investment trust with users on the Interactive Investor platform.

The trust, which is managed by James Anderson and is one of our sister magazine Money Observer's Rated Funds, has been the most-bought trust each month bar one since February 2014. The only time it was knocked off top spot was in April 2015, during Woodford Patient Capital's record-breaking £800 million launch.

Witan, the multi-asset trust, took second place in May, while Woodford Patient Capital was the third most popular. The top three positions were unchanged from April, but there was plenty of movement in the rest of the top 10.

Finsbury Growth & Income, managed by Nick Train, climbed three positions to take fourth place. Train holds a concentrated portfolio of around 30 stocks.

He favours businesses that have big brands. Unilever, which makes Dove soap and Hellman's mayonnaise, is the biggest position in the portfolio, a 9.8% weighting.

In fifth place, slipping one position, is City of London. The trust is favoured by income investors, thanks to long track record of increasing its dividend. In March the trust achieved the feat of raising its dividends every year for the past 50 years.

BlackRock World Mining, which fell 10% in May, dropped one position to sixth. It is worth pointing out, however, that year-to-date the trust's share price has risen 30%, benefiting from that fact that gold has returned to favour in 2016.

Biotech Growth trust, another specialist fund that tends to give investors a wild ride, took seventh place, gaining one place. The trust's share price rose 5.4% over the month of May, but over the past year has declined 23%.

Jupiter European Opportunities, Bankers and RIT Capital Partners complete the top 10. The latter has approached Alliance Trust over a possible merger of the two trusts. RIT Capital Partners has until 27 June to make a formal offer.

May's 10 most-bought trusts
RankTrustAIC sectorChange since AprilTotal return 1m to 1 June (%)Total return 3yr to 1 June (%)
1Scottish Mortgage*Global-2.155.7
2Witan*Global-2.129.6
3Woodford Patient CapitalUK all companies-0.9-
4Finsbury Growth & Income*UK equity income3235.1
5City of London*UK equity income-11.119
6BlackRock World Mining*Commodities and natural resources-1-10-44.3
7Biotech Growth*Biotechnology & healthcare15.453
8Jupiter European Opportunities*Europe1025.9
9Bankers*Global-3-0.515.2
10RIT Capital Partners*Flexible investment--3.636.3
*denotes Money Observer Rated Fund

  

This article was originally published by our sister magazine Money Observer here.

 

 

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.