Amundi boosts MinVar range with global equity launch

Amundi Asset Management has launched the first global equity fund of its minimum variance range.

The Amundi Funds Equity Global Minimum Variance fund will invest two thirds of its assets in stocks included in the MSCI World index and seeks to outperform this benchmark over a five-year horizon.

It will be managed by Melchior Dechelette, who currently runs the French giant's Amundi Funds Equity Europe Minimum Variance fund.

The goal of the minimum variance approach, part of the firm's NextGen strategies, is to offer a solution to investors seeking to limit the overall absolute, rather than relative risk in their equity portfolio.

The manager and his team select quality stocks from their universe and using quantitative tools, rate each stock according to volatility and correlation in order to minimise the volatility of the portfolio.

Commenting on the launch, Dechelette said: 'Amundi’s Minimum Variance management technique now has a successful three-year track record within a European equity universe.

'Using the same investment approach, this new fund offers investors a highly diversified exposure to global equity markets with the aim of capturing the potential upside while controlling risk.'

Over the last three years, the Amundi Funds Equity Europe Minimum Variance fund has returned 36.5% while the MSCI Europe TR has risen 26.5%.