The 10 best and worst performing funds since Lehmans

On the third anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers and subsequent credit crisis, Investment Week looks at the best and worst performing funds and sectors over the last three years.

Unsurprisingly, some of the strongest funds since 2008 have been those investing in gold. With the precious metal hitting record highs continuously this year, investors buying into gold equities have outperformed, and four prominent gold funds top the whole list.

Perhaps more surprising is the appearance of three UK smaller companies funds, two of which are managed by Close's Deryck Noble-Nesbitt. A China fund, a UK growth fund, and a property fund also made the winners list.

Below are the top ten performers over three years.

10 BEST PERFORMING FUNDS SINCE THE LEHMAN COLLAPSE

Financials funds dominated the underperformers over the period, with the sector hit hardest by the credit crisis. It has continued to sell off often recently as  volatility increased, with banks in particular hammered in August. Property portfolios and an eco fund were also among the laggers.

10 WORST PERFORMING FUNDS SINCE THE LEHMAN COLLAPSE 

 Data over three years to 11/09/11 Source: FE

At the sector level, Asia offered some solace to investors, with Asia ex Japan, China and Japanese smaller companies funds all delivering decent returns over the period. Technology funds also proved resilient, returning 36% to investors.

FIVE BEST PERFORMING SECTORS SINCE THE LEHMAN COLLAPSE

Among the worst performing sectors were Europe including and excluding UK, with the region suffering amid the ongoing sovereign debt crisis. Property funds and money market funds also failed to deliver over the period.

FIVE WORST PERFORMING SECTORS SINCE THE LEHMAN COLLAPSE

Data over three years to 11/09/11 Source: FE