Investors can’t get enough of Neil Woodford and Mark Barnett’s respective funds, as the pair dominate the top spots on what’s piquing investor interest this month, research from FE Trustnet has found.

Data from the UK’s leading investment data provider tracked the funds most attracting attention since the start of the month.

Focus continues to be very much on income funds - echoing the top trend of this year – fuelled partly by the ‘pension freedom’ reforms.

The much hyped about Woodford Equity Income Fund grabbed the top spot with some 1.42% (21,892 pageviews) of all of pageviews (out of 1.54m) on FE Trustnet factsheets. The fund has been the top funds search query month-on-month this year, while also dominating headlines on a weekly if not daily basis.

Woodford’s fund, marking its first anniversary this month, has returned around 19% since it launched last June, FE Trustnet data shows. The sector benchmark, IA UK Equity Income, has returned around 8.8% over the period.

Mark Barnett’s Invesco Perpetual High Income Fund was the next most popular factsheet on FE Trustnet- with 0.75%% (14,280) of pageviews. Over the past 12 months, the fund has outperformed its benchmark by just 3.3%, returning 12.15% versus the IA UK Equity Income’s 8.8%.

The third most popular fund search query was AXA Framlington Biotech, capturing 0.63% (9,713) of pageviews. This fund has returned over 67% over the past year and beats its IA Specialist benchmark by some 65% in the past twelve months to lead the sector.

In fourth place was Newton Asian Income Fund with 0.33% (5,043) of pageviews. Over the past year, the fund has underperformed its benchmark by some 9%. The fund has returned roughly 3%, while Asia Pacific Ex Japan has returned over 12% in the same period.

The newton Asia Income fund hit headlines in recent weeks following the high-profile exit from the fund’s founder Jason Pidcock.

The Marlborough Multi Cap Income Fund also attracted attention with 0.31% (4,854) of pageviews. The fund has sat in the top 15 in its sector.

 The top 5 funds drawing attention in May (01/0/5015-31/05/15):

• CF Woodford Equity Income Fund – 1.42% (21.892)

• Invesco Perpetual High Income fund – 0.75% (14.280)

• AXA Framlington Biotech Fund – 0.63% (9,713)

• Newton Asian Income Fund – 0.33% (5,043)

• Marlborough Multi Cap Income – 0.31% (4,854)

All data from FE Trustnet.

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