Fad or future ' year of the focusfund?

Both Jupiter and its nemesis New Star have recently launched highly aggressive funds. But are these funds a strong investment prospect or merely a marketing fad to boost ailing mutual fund sales? Each year the fund industry produces a new fashionable product ' generally funds designed to take advantage of specific market conditions and sentiments of that time. In 1998 and 1999, it was technology that dominated the headlines, with triple-figure returns and stellar performances from names such as Framlington NetNet. Now the technology sector has been ravaged by poor performance, funds ar...