Consistent earner

Jupiter's Astral fund selects managers that have the ability to make money regardless of market direction

Jupiter's Astral fund of long/short equity hedge funds has produced gains each calendar year since its 1999 launch, although returns of around 3% in the past two years are well below the 20% and more returned in 1999 and 2000.

Out of 48 months, it has fallen in 13, returning investors 3.54% in 2002 and 3.3% in 2001, somewhat dwarfed by 26.47% in 2000 and 21.54% in 1999.

However, investors looking at performance figures from before mid-2000 should note that the portfolio, created in January 1996