Independent employee benefits consultants Becketts Consultants has released its survey of Irish group managed pension funds over various periods to March 31st, 2001.

Investment for the year just ended was poor, with a median figure of -9.1 per cent for the 17 investment managers surveyed.

All returns for the 12 months just ended were negative, with Bank of Ireland Asset Management having the best performance at -0.2 per cent. Propping up the table is Baillie Gifford with a return of -17.2 per cent.

Despite its recent troubles, Equitable Life returned the best performance for the opening quarter of 2001, at -1.8 per cent.

Montgomery Oppenheim again achieved the number one spot over three years, five years and seven years. Over the 10-year period, the best performance was the 15.9 per cent per annum returned by Eagle Star.