BNY Mellon Asset Management has launched the first fund to be managed by Insight Investment Management since it bought the firm from Lloyds Banking Group in 2009.

The BNY Mellon Absolute Return Equity Fund aims to deliver positive absolute returns over a 12-month period investing in both long and short positions in companies across Europe.

Abdallah Nauphal, chief executive officer and chief investment officer, at Insight Investment, said, 'With significant imbalances remaining in the global economy, we believe that markets will remain volatile for some time.

'In this environment an active approach to managing a portfolio's market exposure will prove crucial in harnessing strong absolute returns for clients.'

According to BNY Mellon, the fund - which will be benchmarked against the one month-sterling LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate - will aim to identify and profit from pricing anomalies.

The investment process has been developed by Insight's specialist equity teams Absolute Insight UK Equity Market Neutral Strategy, which has run since 2005.

Andy Cawker, head of specialist equities at Insight Investment and co-manager of the BNY Mellon Absolute Return Equity Fund, added, 'Following a prolonged period of heightened market volatility, many investors are recognizing the value of specialist investment strategies which have the potential to participate in rising markets and can also deliver positive returns when markets fall.

'By blending our pair-trade stock selection skills with dynamic hedging informed by our broader understanding of market conditions, we aim to give investors smoother long-term returns, without sharp fluctuations in the value of their investments.'

Minimum investment in the fund is £5,000, which has a 1.5 per cent annual management fee and a 15 per cent performance fee.