Martin Currie Portfolio underweight UK and US

Martin Currie Portfolio's performance is being diluted by its 10% holding in the group's private equity trust Capital Return. Since Portfolio was launched in March 1999 following the reconstruction of Scottish Eastern, the trust has outperformed its benchmark the FTSE All-Share. To 31 March 2000 the trust has risen by 17.15% in NAV terms compared to a rise in the benchmark of 11.93%. However, by excluding the trust's holding in Capital Return its performance is even better, rising by 20.76%. Capital Return is invested in the unlisted portfolio which was formerly part of Scottish Eastern. ...