This study examines the performance of fixed income and equity unit trust funds from 2006 to 2012. A total of 31 fixed income and 57 equity funds are evaluated by using the Treynor ratio, Sharpe ratio and Jensen alpha. Results indicate that fixed income funds outperform the market and the Maybank 12-month fixed deposit rate. Their total risk is higher than the fixed deposit rate but lower than the market whereas the systematic risk is lower than both benchmarks. All equity funds outperform the market although their total risk and systematic risk are lower than the latter. Growth funds have a higher total risk than the market and they have outperformed the market. However, only a few value funds could outperform the market. Jensen alpha shows only a few fixed income and equity funds have a significant positive alpha implying that some of the fund managers are either good in market timing or in selecting unit trust funds. There is a significant difference in the performance of equity and fixed income funds and between growth and value funds versus fixed income funds. Results of this study could help investors and fund managers to make informed decisions to improve portfolio performance.

No abstract

No abstract

This study measured the efficiency of fixed income unit trust funds and equity unit trust funds for the period of January 2004 to December 2014. A total of 36 fixed income funds and 109 equity funds were evaluated using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) technique with three inputs (expense ratio, portfolio turnover ratio, and fund management stated fee) and one output variable (return). The econometric technique was used to measure the portfolio efficiency score as well as to compare the efficiency of fixed income funds and equity funds. The results indicated that the average efficiency score for equity unit trust funds was higher than fixed income unit trust funds. Nevertheless, when the samples were categorized into panel data, the average efficiency score for fixed income funds increased throughout ten years. Meanwhile the average score for equity funds was consistent over the years. It shows that time is invariant for equity funds. However, this means that the performance efficiency for both types of funds was considered excellent and efficient. The results indicate that the mean efficiency achieved in unit trust industry is almost 100% of its potential output.

No abstract