CHAIRMAN S STATEMENT Markets have been dominated by the response to the pandemic through both fiscal stimulus and very loose monetary conditions. In general, these policies have been very positive for risk assets like equities. More recently, as the end of the crisis has become more visible, the expectation of a surge in economic activity has unsettled bond markets and been to the benefit of more cyclical markets and sectors, where earnings momentum is likely to be strong. The portfolio positioning reflects these shifting sands, while recognising that government policies still provide a tailwind. Managed Growth The objective of the Managed Growth share class is long term capital growth. In the six month period, the portfolio outperformed its benchmark and delivered a total return on net assets of 15.5%, compared with the portfolio s benchmark which returned 9.9%. The share price total return was 20.4%. The long-term performance of the Managed Gro
CHAIRMAN S STATEMENT While the global economy continued to be disrupted during the first half of the Company s financial year by the COVID-19 pandemic, the unprecedented fiscal and monetary support provided by governments and central banks helped to underpin global equity markets. As markets looked ahead to successful vaccine campaigns stock prices were generally firm; in the half year to 31st December 2020 the MSCI World All Countries Index (in sterling terms) - the Company s benchmark - rose by 12.1%. Against this background I am pleased to report that, as a result of astute stock picking by the Investment Managers, the Company s total return on net assets over this period was +15.4% and the total return to shareholders including dividends reinvested was +17.1%.
(the Company ) Legal Entity Identifier : 549300OHW8R1C2WBYK02 Results The year to 30th September 2020 was a volatile one for global equity markets and a negative one for investors in India, as indicated by our benchmark index, the MSCI India Index (in sterling terms), which returned -4.2%. Unfortunately, the Company performed poorly, both in absolute and relative terms, with a total return on net assets of -16.2% over the year. The share price fell sharply, from 744.0p to 571.5p, and the discount widened out from 9.3% at the beginning of the year to 16.8% at the year end, resulting in a total return to shareholders of -23.2%.