Easter Gallery Series: Which Funds Have Been The Best 'nest Eggs' For UK Investors?

1. Candriam Equities Biotechnology

Run by Rudi van den Eynde since its inception, this biotechnology fund is the best-performing vehicle of the past ten years, with returns of 693% since March 2008. Launched in 2000, it has $728m in assets under management and focuses on investing in innovative US biotechnology companies.

2. Legg Mason IF Japan Equity

Managed by veteran investor Hideo Shiozumi, the £986m fund has returned 660% over the last ten years. Launched in 1996, the fund focuses on achieving capital growth through investment in Japanese equities. However, it is historically more volatile than its peers.

3. Polar Capital Global Technology

Focusing on technology sectors such as hardware, semi-conductors, software and internet companies, this fund has returned 529% over the past ten years. Run by Ben Rogoff and Nick Evans, the $2bn fund was launched in 2001.

4. AXA Framlington Biotech

Another technology-focused fund launched in 2001, this £490m fund is managed by Linden Thomson and has returned 506% over the past ten years. Primarily investing in US biotech and pharmaceutical companies, top holdings include firms such as Gilead Sciences and Amgen.

5. AXA Framlington Global Technology

Managed by Jeremy Gleeson, the fund was launched at the height of the dotcom boom in May 1999. It weathered the proceeding crash and has returned 428% over the past ten years. Holdings range from established players such as Visa and Cisco Systems to newer companies such as China's Tencent.

6. GAM Multistock Health Innovation Equity

This $220m healthcare fund, which was launched in 2008, aims to achieve long-term capital growth by investing globally in all types of healthcare companies including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare services & supplies. Over the past ten years, it has returned 485%.

7. Fidelity UK Smaller Companies

Run by Alex Wright and Jonathan Winton, this £402m fund has returned 470% over the past ten years. It was launched in February 2011, having been merged with the Fidelity Institutional Funds UK Smaller Companies fund, which was launched in 2008. Top sectors include industrials, consumer discretionary and financial stocks.

8. Baillie Gifford Japanese Smaller Companies

The oldest fund on the list, this £676m fund was launched in 1983 and has returned 455% over the past ten years. It is co-managed by Praveen Kumar (pictured) and Felicia Hjertman and has its largest sector weightings to technology and consumer discretionary stocks. 

9. Old Mutual UK Smaller Companies Focus

The third smaller companies vehicle featured on the list, this £368m fund has returned 428% since March 2008. Launched in 2002, it is currently run by Nick Williamson (pictured), but was previously run by Dan Nickols from 2009 until 2016. Top holdings include challenger bank OneSavings Bank and online estate agent Purplebricks.

10. Pictet Digital

The final fund, launched in 1997, also focuses on technology stocks with a mandate to achieve capital growth via investing in global digital technology stocks. The $3bn vehicle is managed by Sylvie Sejournet and Nolan Hoffmeyer, who both sit within Pictet's thematic equity team. It has returned 411% over the past ten years.

Source: FE. Data to 19 March 2018