Birch delivering glittering performance

Principally investing in gold minng shares, Merrill's Gold & General fund boasts metal specialists and geologists on its portfolio team

Graham Birch has demonstrated a Midas touch at the helm of the £910m Merrill Lynch Gold & General unit trust since he took over in November 1999. The fund invests principally in gold mining shares, researching all areas of production. Up to 25% may be held in other precious metals and diamonds, but this portion is usually significantly under this limit. Portfolio construction is primarily bottom up, with stock selection incorporating the team's top-down view of world commodity markets. The three senior members of the team, Birch, Evy Hambro and Richard Davis, are all gold and metals spec...