In January 2026, Barings Korea saw a 25% increase, following a 74% gain in 2025, making it the top-performing fund. BlackRock Gold and General, with a fund size of over £2 billion, was the largest fund among the top 10 performers. Eight out of 10 top performers are from the equity precious metals Morningstar Category.

Gold equity funds were the best-performing category in 2025 and continued strong in January 2026. Barings Korea had its best start since 1998, with a 25% gain. The Morningstar Korea Index is up 115% over one year in US dollars, reflecting the strong performance of Korean equities.

Analysts predict growth for the Korean economy due to the semiconductor “supercycle,” driven by South Korea’s role in the global tech supply chain. Companies like Samsung play a crucial part in supplying advanced components for smartphones, data centers, AI infrastructure, and consumer electronics.

Among the top-performing UK funds in January 2026, Barings Korea Trust rose by 25.42%, following a significant gain in 2025. YFS Charteris Gold and Precious Metals Fund and Orion Resource Equities Fund also showed impressive growth. JPMorgan Korea Equity Fund and SVS Baker Steel Gold and Precious Metals Fund were notable performers as well.

Read more at Morningstar: The Best-Performing Funds in January 2026