Barings Multi-Asset Portfolios win clients' favour during the economic downturn

by Yixiang Zeng

Barings Multi-Asset Portfolios strategies meet the investment needs of private clients during the recession by beating its target over five years.

Recent figures show their Private Client and Charity multi-asset targeted return portfolios have hit a 10.6 annualised total return within the last five years up to 30th September 2009. The achievement beats the target of PRI +4.5%, which has returned 7.5% over the same time period.

Barings has one of the industry's longest running track records regarding multi-asset investing, offering diversification with a targeted return for over six years. The multi-asset portfolio strategies include the institutional Baring Dynamic Asset Allocation fund. In addition, the portfolio includes segregated mandates for Barings' Private Clients and Charities.

“The success of this investment style is the result of dynamic asset allocation coupled with skilful stock-picking by the Multi-Asset team,” said Quintin Ings-Chambers, director, Private Clients at Barings, “Our multi-asset approach aims to deliver equity-like returns with less risk than holding an equity-only portfolio.”

According to Percival Stanion, head of asset allocation at Barings, he commented that their asset allocation strategy has proved successful over the past few months with a high weighting in UK and European equities.

They have benefited from the European equity rally, and they are also apprehensive about Europe's prospects for growth while the currency is so strong. He then concludes that excellent portfolios performance are also due to the surge in gold prices.