Investment - Articles - FTSE 100 hits all time high, breaking 7000 for first time

 Top performance from Asia Pacific

 Sectors focused on the Asia Pacific region account for 30% (six of the twenty) highest performing investment companies. The top performing investment company between 31st December 1999 and 28th February 2015 was Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies, from the Asia Pacific – Excluding Japan sector, up an impressive 1191% over the 15 years and 2 months since the last FTSE 100 record high. Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies, from the same sector, was the next highest performer, up 1079%. Aberdeen New Thai, from the Country Specialists: Asia Pacific sector was the fourth highest performer, up 955%.

  

 Geography matters

 Geographically focused sectors account for 75% of the 20 highest performing investment companies in this period. In the UK, Fidelity Special Values, from the UK All Companies sector, was up 537%, and Perpetual Income & Growth (UK Equity Income) was up 503%. Outside of the Asia Pacific, European Assets (European Smaller Companies) was up 463%. JPMorgan Russian Securities (Country Specialists: Europe) was up 700%, but has seen difficult conditions recently.

  

 Specialist sectors

 The 1999 FTSE 100 all-time high was preceded by the dotcom bubble, but other specialist sectors have featured between 31st December 1999 and 28th February 2015. The Sector Specialist: Biotechnology & Healthcare sector features twice in the top twenty highest performing investment companies during this period, with Worldwide Healthcare up 800% and Biotech Growth up 607%. TR Property, from the Property Securities sector, was the third highest performer overall, up 1001%.

  

 Annabel Brodie-Smith, Communications Director, AIC, said:

 “Over the last fifteen years, we’ve seen bull markets, bear markets and a serious recession. Despite all this, investment companies have ridden out the highs and lows of the stock market and delivered impressive returns over this fifteen year period.”

  

 Share price total return on £100 lump sum