Figures published by the trade body showed investment trusts in the Sector Specialist: Biotechnology & Healthcare space were up an average of 26% over the 12 months to the end of November.
The sector is also home to the best performing individual trust of the last year – Biotech Growth. The trust, which is managed by Richard Klemm and Geoffrey Hsu of healthcare-dedicated investment firm OrbiMed Capital, is up 52% over the last 12 months.
In addition, the AIC reported that the UK Smaller Companies and North American Smaller Companies sectors were the second and third best performing sectors after rising 24% and 21% respectively.
Europe was the fourth best performing sector, up 20%, while the Private Equity sector was the fifth best, up 18%.In terms of individual trusts, Aberdeen Asian Smaller Companies, Jupiter European Opportunities, Aberdeen New Thai and Standard Life European Private Equity have strong 12-month figures.
AIC communications director Annabel Brodie-Smith said: "Despite the tough economic environment in 2012, there has been strong performance in a wide variety of investment companies and sectors, illustrating why a balanced portfolio is important.
"Top-performing sectors range from the defensive Biotechnology & Healthcare, to the growth orientated smaller company sectors. With all the eurozone worries so widely reported, it’s interesting to see that Europe is one of the top performing sectors."
