How to use investment trusts to invest in specific countries and themes

Using specialist investment trusts can extend your horizons to the parts of the investment world that general funds do not reach.

Japan Toppix index stock board ©
The language and culture of Japan can pose a problem for global teams © Getty
(Image credit: Japan Toppix index stock board ©)

In theory, a good global fund should be able to find the best opportunities for investment wherever and in whatever sector they are. In turn, owning a selection of global funds should reduce the risk of relying on a single management team and style.

In practice, few investors can resist the temptation to supplement a core of good quality global funds with specialist holdings. At worst, this can lead to a rag-tag portfolio of once-fashionable but now-struggling country and esoteric niche funds.

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Max King
Investment Writer

Max has an Economics degree from the University of Cambridge and is a chartered accountant. He worked at Investec Asset Management for 12 years, managing multi-asset funds investing in internally and externally managed funds, including investment trusts. This included a fund of investment trusts which grew to £120m+. Max has managed ten investment trusts (winning many awards) and sat on the boards of three trusts – two directorships are still active.

After 39 years in financial services, including 30 as a professional fund manager, Max took semi-retirement in 2017. Max has been a MoneyWeek columnist since 2016 writing about investment funds and more generally on markets online, plus occasional opinion pieces. He also writes for the Investment Trust Handbook each year and has contributed to The Daily Telegraph and other publications. See here for details of current investments held by Max.