Market Review
For three successive months Gilt prices followed the same pattern, a sell-off early on followed by a rally that retraced most lost ground. Eurozone troubles have enticed investors into safe havens such as UK gilts. Countering this, improved investor risk appetite has exerted downward pressure on prices.
Fund Performance
The Fund outperformed its benchmark during the quarter, primarily because of our positions in corporate bonds and inflation-linked bonds, which were ahead of nominal Gilts throughout the period. Performance was also helped by our short overall duration position, with yields generally on the rise.
Fund Positioning
The Fund maintained a small short duration position throughout the review period. The protfolio was overweight relative to benchmark in index-linked Gilts throughout the review period, and in index-linked corporate bonds until the last day of the quarter, when the position was halved.
Graeme Caughey
31 March 2012