Do it yourself investing
Top performing funds and sectors
Explore the top and bottom ten Investment Association (IA) funds and sectors over the past month.
About our fund commentary
Our research team publish regular updates based on the latest performance data to help you make informed investment decisions. Read the latest commentary to gain a better understanding of market conditions.
Article
Funds and sectors Q1 2025 update
Top performing funds
Gold was the standout performer for another quarter. The precious metal has surged this year and gold mining equities have ridden the trend.
Bottom performing funds
US and global funds with a large US component therefore struggled over the period alongside the specialist technology vehicles
Top performing sectors
European equities were in demand as a shift in international relations and increased defence spending is poised to boost demand for domestic businesses.
Bottom performing sectors
US markets put in a subdued performance as weakness in large technology stocks continued. The broad S&P 500 index fell into correction territory, a fall of 10% or more.
What are Investment Association (IA) funds?
There are several thousand funds on sale in the UK. The Investment Association divides these into about 45 sectors, broad groupings that help investors and advisers compare funds of similar types before looking in detail at individual funds.
Figures are shown on a % total return basis, bid to bid price with net income reinvested; Source: FE Analytics, data for October 2024: 30/09/2024 to 31/10/2024. Onshore and retail open-ended funds only.
Please note: the value of investments can fall as well as rise. Investors may get back less than invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future returns.
Why Online Investing could be ideal for you
Our Online Investing service allows you to take control of your investments. With our support and guidance we can help you choose from a wide range of investments.
Preferred List
Our curated list of preferred investments covers funds and investment trusts and represents some of our research team’s best ideas. Filter by investment type or sector and look at options for responsible investing. Ideal for investing new money.
Search for an investment
Choose from a wide range of investments - funds, stocks & shares, investments trusts and ETFs.
First-time investors
Figuring out how to start investing might seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. Our helpful guides and videos seek to answer your questions to help you on your way to building wealth.