Aviva Investors Strategic Bond
Chris Higham has managed this £250.2m fund since its inception in September 2008.
The fund’s investment objective is to provide a high total return from a diversified portfolio of global debt securities by investing in global fixed-interest securities, including investment non-grade.
The portfolio can also invest in transferable securities, money-market instruments, units in collective investment schemes, deposits and derivatives and forward transactions in order to achieve its aim.
The factsheet also stipulates that at least 80 per cent of assets will either be in sterling or in currency hedged back to sterling.
When compared to the IMA Sterling Strategic Bond sector, this fund has outperformed the sector average over one, three and five-year periods. In the five years to October 15, the manager achieved a total return of 42.89 per cent for investors, against the IMA sector average of 37.42 per cent.
Currently, 40 per cent of the portfolio is exposed to international bonds, with 39.7 per cent allocated to UK bonds and 13.3 per cent in UK gilts.
What the judges say
A standard, all-weather strategic bond fund that has performed very well.
Club members
Artemis High Income
AXA Framlington Managed Income
Old Mutual Monthly Income Bond
Royal London Sterling Extra Yield Bond
In numbers
£250.2m
Fund size
71.46%
Five-year actual return
1.13%
Ongoing charges
