Strong start to 2007 for Gartmore China Opportunities Fund

The combination of an excellent performance track record, an enlarged team and continued fund inflows means that the Gartmore China Opportunities Fund has started 2007 in a very strong position.

“The second half of last year was a very positive time for us and for our investors,” says Charlie Awdry, the Fund’s manager. “Over the last six months the Fund returned 26%, with a total gain of 46% for the full year. This puts the Fund in the top decile of its peer group over both these periods, as well as over two, three, five and ten years. As a result of such strong performance and inflows of new money, the Fund’s size has now reached over £324 million, extending our lead as the largest UK-authorised fund with a greater China investment mandate.

“Gartmore’s emerging markets team has also benefited from the addition of two new members recently. Sebastian Barry-Taylor has joined us as a consumer analyst from JP Morgan and most recently Richard Clode came on board as a technology analyst from Herald Investment Trust. As well as their contribution to the Gartmore China Opportunities Fund, their input to the wider emerging markets team will be very valuable.

“In terms of the outlook for China this year, we expect to see more of the same in 2007. We anticipate continued strong overall growth in the economy, with the authorities closely monitoring the rate, quality and sustainability of that growth. What they’re trying to do is to promote broader industrial development and I think this will be supportive for equities. In particular, we expect to see further outperformance from consumer-related stocks which have already delivered some good returns for us.”