Polar CapitalJul 12 2018

Polar Capital warns about equity markets

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Polar Capital warns about equity markets

The chief executive of Polar Capital has warned equity investors face a “more challenging” time as his firm reporting a 13 per cent increase in assets under management to £13.6bn for the three months to the end of June 2018.

Gavin Rochussen, chief executive of Polar Capital, said: “While we are aware that a more challenging environment for equities will arise at some point given the advanced stage of the long recovery cycle post the financial crisis, we remain confident that our active fundamental fund strategies will continue to deliver above average returns for our clients."

Assets under management at the end of March 2018 had been £12bn.

The £1.6bn of asset growth came from £694m of net inflows, and £927m coming from investment performance and movements in the market.

The £927m that came from market returns would be vulnerable to any downward lurch in markets. 

The Polar Capital UK Value Opportunities fund, run by the former Miton duo of George Godber and Georgina Hamilton, has risen to £790m in size, since launch 18 months ago.

It has returned 10 per cent over the past year to 11 July, compared with six per cent for the average fund in its sector.

david.thorpe@ft.com