Guardian Acuity Equity Fund outperforms ASI three years in a row

Monday, 19 January 2015 00:12 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Guardian Acuity Equity Fund has appreciated 37.89% for the year 2014, beating the ASI which rose by 23.44% during the same period, by a margin of 61.65%. The fund, which has been in operation since February 2012, has appreciated by 67.4% during that period, whereas the All Share Index in the same period increased by 33.28%. The more sensitive S&P SL 20 stock index, which is a gauge of the most liquid stocks of the Colombo Stock Exchange, gained 38.35% during the same three years. The investment scheme, which is an open ended one, continues to attract investors both institutional and retail who are impressed with the sustained performance of the fund.

The Guardian Equity Fund is managed by Guardian Acuity Asset Management Ltd. (GAAM), which is a joint venture between Acuity Partners Ltd. and Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust PLC. Ceylon Guardian Investment Trust PLC manages over Rs. 33 billion in assets and is a listed subsidiary of the diversified conglomerate Carson Cumberbatch PLC. Acuity Partners Ltd. is the joint venture investment bank promoted by banking giants Hatton National Bank PLC and DFCC Bank PLC. Guardian Fund Management CEO Ruvini Fernando said: “Investors in the funds have benefited from our ability to identify stocks that have strong potential to outperform the broader market even in times of volatility. We have a qualified and experienced in-house research arm, and, we also benefit from the research provided to us by some of the best stockbrokers. Further, we have a wide reach and long experience in managing money for our clients, which enable us to identify emerging trends and beat the curve.” “Investors who are willing to stay in invested in the long run are the ones who have truly benefited from these high returns,” said Sumith Perera, the Fund Manager in charge of the unit trust. “Our equity fund is ideal for busy professionals and entrepreneurs who don’t have the time to monitor the stock market on an hourly basis. While they watch their business which is their expertise, we manage their money which is our expertise. When selecting a fund we also advise investors to check consistency of track record of the manager and experience in the industry, and not get too carried away by a short term burst of good performance.” GAAM General Manager Mohandas Thangarajah added: “The performance of the fund is proof that the scientific approach to investment beats all other methods. We have kept the entry point at Rs 1,000 and the management fees low to attract the masses to the market. It is usually the small investor who gets burned by bad advice, bad timing and inability to diversify; In the GAAM Equity Fund we have provided a solution to all those problems. The fact that our assets under management has grown by over 259% in 2014 is evidence of our consistent performance.” GAAM also manages Guardian Acuity Fixed Income Fund which has returned 8.51% tax free return in 2014, and a 34.01% return since 2012. The Income Fund invests in short term money market products thereby reducing risks associated with wide swings in the interest rate market and mark-to-market losses. It is the preferred investment vehicle for those who seek steady growth in the long run.