JP Morgan Asset Management has launched a global equity absolute return fund for former Schroders head of European equities Gary Clarke.

Clarke - who joined JP Morgan in 2010 - will take the reins as lead manager of the UCITS III JPM Global Equity Absolute Alpha Fund.

According to JP Morgan, the new fund was launched to satisfy rising demand for products that can be benchmarked against cash.

The fund will aim to provide an absolute return by beating LIBOR over rolling 12 month periods. It will target an absolute return of cash plus 3-5 per cent, through long and short positions in global equities and equity-linked securities.

The new launch will be managed by the same global equities team behind the JPM Natural Resources and the JPM Global Consumer Trends funds.

Jasper Berens, head of UK intermediary sales at JP Morgan Asset Management, said, a number of investors wished to compare performance with cash returns.

He said, 'We know that investor demand for outcome orientated funds is strong and that as a strategy, in the right hands, it can and does deliver.'

Berens added, 'As equity markets remain volatile many investors are looking for steady returns with a reduced level of volatility.

'The average volatility of the absolute return sector of the last five years has proven to be low compared to many other sectors and the objectives of this fund, in particular, are strong.'

The fund has an annual management charge of 1.25 per cent and fixed expenses of 0.18 per cent per year, it will also charge an additional 10 per cent performance fee. Minimum lump sum investment in the fund is £1,000.