SLI sees 128% uplift in retail sales

Standard Life Investments has seen appetite for retail products soar in 2010 with a 128% increase in net inflows in the first half of the year compared to the same period in 2009.

Investors put a net £713m into its fund range from January to June this year, while the group saw just £312m in the first six months of last year.

Global Absolute Return Strategies (GARS) was the most favoured vehicle, with net sales of £571m. This has boosted Standard Life's share of sales in the Absolute Return sector from 8.5% to 25.5% in 2010.

GARS was followed by Global Index Linked Bond, UK Smaller Companies, UK Equity High Alpha and Select Property in terms of Standard Life's top sellers, reflecting retail buyers' change of appetite for slightly riskier products.

Last year's favoured portfolios were UK Equity High Income, GARS, AAA Income, Global Index Linked and Corporate Bond.