The slide in sterling against other major currencies has significantly added to the attractions of overseas yield-generating funds, says F&C.

F&C Managed Portfolio Trust, launched last year to invest in closed-ended investment companies, has been building positions in Asian and other non-UK income funds, in the search for attractive yield opportunities.

In the hunt for dividends, the Trust has recently taken a new stake in Henderson Far East Income. F&C Managed Portfolio Trust, while not a split-capital trust, has two pools of assets, one for income and one for growth.

A unique feature of the trust is that net income generated from holdings in the growth portfolio is transferred to the income portfolio in exchange for a capital contribution of an equivalent amount, providing a cost and tax-efficient means of reinvesting income for growth investors, and enhanced yield for income seekers.

Unlike many income-focused trusts, the fund's underlying portfolio is predominantly invested in equities, with more than a third in overseas stocks.

Asian equity exposure now accounts for 12 per cent of the income portfolio, against 46 per cent in the UK.

The portfolio has a forecast yield of 7.75 per cent for the year to 31 May and its overseas holdings are one key to maintaining this in an environment where UK dividends are under pressure as the economy stalls.

Peter Hewitt, the trust's manager, says, ‘The opportunity base for income investors in overseas investment trusts has widened considerably, you can now get quite a few overseas trusts with a decent income.

‘In the Far East (excluding Japan) sector, as companies have become more interested in paying dividends, there are three quite chunky trusts to choose from. I now have positions in all three of these trusts.’

The purchase of Henderson Far East Income adds to established holdings in Aberdeen Asian Income and Schroder Oriental Income.