Following on from a miserable October, most Irish pension managed funds enjoyed a return to positive positive territory in November, with an average gain of 0.8% over the month. Aberdeen Standard Investments turned in the best performance this month with a gain of 1.3%, while Merrion Investment Managers delivered the worst, with a return of -0.2%.

Managed pension funds have gained just 0.9% on average so far this year. Returns for the year to date ranged from 3.9% (Davy Asset Management) to -2.7% (Merrion Investment Managers). Over the past twelve months the average fund return was 1.4%. Davy Asset Management top the table over the past year with a return of 4.8%, while Merrion Investment Managers produced the lowest return at -2.8%.

The average managed fund return has been a lacklustre 3.3% per annum over the past three years. The five-year average return is a more respectable 7.8% per annum. Irish group pension managed fund returns over the past ten years have been a strong 9.6% per annum on average.