Schroders add unit classes to funds

Schroders is launching sterling-hedged unit classes on four European and Japanese funds in response to fears over currency volatility.

Schroders add unit classes to funds
1 minute

The affected funds are the Schroder European Alpha Fund and the Schroder European Fund, worth a respective £805.5m and £325m and the Schroder Tokyo (£820.5m) and Schroder Japan Alpha Plus (£50.5m) funds.

The unit classes are scheduled for launch before the end of the quarter.

Yen valuation has been declining since the Bank of Japan adopted a more aggressive monetary policy to escape deflation, while the euro has been strengthening following lows in early 2012.

Recent talk of currency wars and competitive devaluation has sparked fears among investors that their portfolios will be hit by volatility in the currency markets.

Robin Stoakley, Schroders managing director of UK intermediary, said: “We have launched these new unit classes to give investors a wider variety of choice in the market. The intention of Schroders’ hedged unit classes is to remove the currency effects of investing overseas so that investors experience only the performance of the underlying portfolio. This means investors can access some of our most popular funds while mitigating currency volatility."
 

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