Friends Provident International launches 5 new mirror funds

Friends Provident International (FPI) announces today the launch of a further 5 new mirror funds which means investors can now choose from over 200 quality fund links.

The new funds centre on higher-risk emerging market and thematic funds and are intended for the more risk-tolerant investors who are looking to provide further diversification across their portfolios.

These additional funds invest in themes of the future such as renewable energy, infrastructure, natural resources, agriculture and commodities.

The 5 mirror funds are as follows:

DWS Invest Africa this is FPI's first venture on to this continent where markets are being driven by strong macro factors, which are likely to persist. The trend to political and economic stability, improved business confidence and a willingness to invest makes this an exciting investment proposition for those who want to buy into the nascent pan-African development cycle.

Sarasin EmergingSar - New Frontiers, FPI has bolstered its emerging market offering with the addition of this fund, which invests predominantly in countries that are at an early stage of development even by the standards of emerging markets.

DWS Invest Global Infrastructure concentrates on companies that stand to benefit from infrastructure spending, the fund invests in 4 key themes:

Transport: including roads, airports, seaports, rail; energy: particularly through companies which specialise in gas and electricity transmission, distribution and generation; water: irrigation, portable water, waste treatment; and communications.

Castlestone Aliquot Agriculture offers investors an actively managed and diversified exposure to agriculture, water, alternative energy and livestock futures contracts and is a theme that is set to demonstrate continued interest given global demographic trends.

Castlestone Aliquot Commodity offers a diversified exposure to commodities futures contracts including energy, precious metals, livestock, industrial metals, alternative energy, water and agriculture. This fund can act as a hedge in a multi-asset portfolio as well as providing defence against a wide range of economic and political uncertainties.

Commenting on the launch, Jim Henning, funds marketing and research manager at Friends Provident International said: "These new fund additions offer relatively low correlation to conventional equity investment whilst offering attractive long term potential for the future. Combined with the recent launch of our on-line portfolio planning tool, Dynamic Portfolio Planner International, we remain committed to offering advisers sufficient fund choices and support to weather the unprecedented market turbulence."