Understanding TrustNet data

DebtSniper

Hi all,

I am trying to get my head around investmest data.

My employer is currently in the process of changing pension fund providers and one of the possible replacements is Friends Provident. So I have decided to look at some of their funds as an exercise to try to understand the kind of info that sites such as TrustNet provide to enable mere mortals like myself to make informed decisions as to where to invest their hard-earned.

I am struggling!

Take a random example, the FP Pacific Basin Pn. How do I interpret the info supplied for this fund by TrustNet at http://www.trustnet.com/pen/funds/?fund=484 ?

I think I can understand the graphs and tables. The fund has grown 82% over 5 years, while its sector as a whole has grown by only 58.6%. Did I get that right?

But there's a lot on the page that I don't understand, and the site's help pages seem to omit (unless I am just looking in the wrong place). For starters, what is the Crown rating?

Also,there appear to be two versions of the fund - Pacific Basin Pn Cap and Pacific Basin Pn Acc. Is that right? What is the difference (apart from the price)?

The Bid and Offer prices are listed in GBX, eg. GBX 138.50. What is that? And what is the Change(Offer) figure?

And don't get me started on the Ratios page! :eek: I have tried reading the TrustNet notes on that, but I'll need to re-read it a few times until it sinks in.

dunstonh

The fund has grown 82% over 5 years, while its sector as a whole has grown by only 58.6%. Did I get that right?

Yes.

For starters, what is the Crown rating?

Something you should take no notice of. Ratings/rankings etc are often out of date and not enough funds are reviewed to the depth required to really make most ratings any use.

Also,there appear to be two versions of the fund - Pacific Basin Pn Cap and Pacific Basin Pn Acc. Is that right? What is the difference (apart from the price)?

There are more versions of that fund and it depends on the type of contract used as to which version applies. You would expect the default Pn version to apply as its mono charged (single price with no bid/offer spread). Cap/Acc applies to older contracts or legacy contracts which are still running.