Parks predicts stronger 2006 for Invesco Asian Equity fund

Despite poor returns last year, the Invesco Asian Equity fund is better positioned to cope with volatile times ahead, according to Stuart Parks, the fund's manager since 1998. He says: "Last year the portfolio was hit by poor returns because of stock selection in the consumer discretionary sector and an underweight position in the outperforming energy sector as oil and gas prices rose strongly. The fund also had a cash weighting in a rising market, which negatively impacted overall performance." However, Parks anticipates a stronger 2006, after positioning the fund more defensively on t...