Returns tumble on back of 2001 global downturn

Technology and smaller companies worst affected as stock markets take a battering

All but one of the 21 Autif equity fund sectors saw negative returns in 2001 on the back of bearish global stock markets. According to figures from Lipper, the biggest fall was seen by the Technology & Telecoms sector which fell 39.37%, offer to bid, while the European Smaller Companies sector came down 30.93% and Japan some 26.71%. The best performing of the 21 Autif equity sectors was the single fund Index Bear sector, populated by the Govett US Bear fund which saw gains of 19.67%. Of the more populous sectors, the best performer was the 10 fund-strong Latin America sector, which s...