IMA figures show net inflows drop to levels last seen at height of crisis, with just five trusts launched this year compared to 15 in 2010.
The Investment Management Association (IMA)'s head of tax Stephen Lynam is retiring after more than 30 years in the industry.
Fund inflows in September were at their lowest level since the credit crunch hit markets in October 2008, while quarterly figures were down two thirds on last year.
The IMA is consulting on scrapping current labels for the Managed sectors in favour of more simplified A, B, C, D categorisation.
Fund inflows in September were at their lowest level since the credit crunch hit markets in October 2008, while quarterly figures were down two thirds on last year.
Three absolute return funds were among a raft of launches seen last week despite the IMA reporting the highest outflows on record from the sector in August.
Hugh Hendry's ‘miserable' outlook for the world economy has driven his CF Eclectica Absolute Macro fund to return 4.76% during the last two months of market upheaval.
Retail investors moved back into equities but exited absolute return funds in August as markets endured their worst month since 2009.
The European Commission has proposed a tax on financial transactions to help fund the cost of the eurozone rescue package which could see investors in UCITS fund being hit with a triple blow.
Risk aversion continues to rule as gold funds top charts in short and long term.