F&C US Smaller Companies outperforms in strong first quarter

F&C US Smaller Companies investment trust has posted net asset value per share gains of 16.4% for the first three months of 2010.

This comes against a backdrop of strong returns from the benchmark Russell 2000 index (sterling adjusted), which was up 15.5% over the period. A narrowing in the trust's discount to net asset value saw the share price rise 22.8% over the period.

The investment trust, managed by Robert Siddles at F&C Asset Management in London, focuses on small and mid-sized US companies. Performance during the first quarter was helped by a number ofstocks including CapitalSource, Airgas (which was the subject of a hostile bid from Air Products) and Career Education but hindered by disappointing results at FLIR Systems and CRA International.

In the last quarter Siddles has been adding to existing themes such as agriculture, electricity infrastructure and broadband with new purchases of Intrepid Potash, Quanta Services and Viasat. Three companies were sold in the first quarter - Airgas, CommScope and ACCO Brands. All had performed strongly relative to the market.

Commenting on the outlook for stocks in the US, Siddles said: "Signs that the US economy is recovering are now apparent. The Fed has indicated that it intends to keep interest rates low for an extended period, which should be good for equities; however, when interest rates actually rise the market may suffer setbacks."