The ten best performing funds of Q1

Global equity markets across the board have posted a strong start to the year, but there have been some clear winners in a quarter which saw many markets rise to multi-year or record highs.

Top of the pile without any doubt has been Japanese equity markets. The runaway leader over the first quarter, the widely-followed Nikkei 225 notched up a 19% return over the first three months of 2013, although it remains well off record highs. Moves late last year by the Bank of Japan to halt the appreciation of the yen have paid off, and looser monetary policy has helped support Japanese equity markets. Consequently, a large number of Japanese equity funds feature among the most successful performers in the first quarter of 2013. Top of the pile is the Legg Mason Japan Equity...