HOW TO MEASURE THE PERFORMANCE OF UNIT TRUST FUND

In measuring a Fund's performance, an investor should understand the basic definitions of Fund returns.

Total Returns

The change in a Fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV) over time, assuming that income distribution are reinvested and that there are no purchases or redemptions made during the period.

Average Annual Total Return

The Total Return for the period divided by the number of years under review.

Distribution Yield (for fixed-price Funds)

The income distribution divided by the Fund’s price, which is fixed at RM1.00 per unit.

Performance Benchmark

Although the past performance of a fund is not indicative of its future performance, it is useful to compare the fund’s performance to its benchmark and other funds with similar investment objectives. The use of an appropriate benchmark that fits a Fund’s investment objectives or asset classes can be extremely useful. This is because different asset classes perform differently following changing market conditions.

For instance, an equity fund which primarily invests in Malaysian equities would be appropriately benchmarked against the Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) or any Bursa Malaysia indices, while a balanced fund would be appropriately benchmarked against a composition of asset classes, for example, 50:50 between KLCI and 3-month Kuala Lumpur Interbank Offered Rate. When selecting a Fund, an investor should be looking for a fund which have consistently outperformed its benchmark or competitors.