Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust Plc Share News (ASL)

LONDON (Alliance News) - Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust PLC Friday said it outperformed its benchmark in the third quarter.

Aberforth Smaller Companies, which invests in small UK quoted companies, said its net asset value fell 0.4% in the three months ended September 30, while its benchmark, the Numis Smaller Companies Index (Excluding Investment Companies), fell by 2.9%. In the first nine months of the year, the company's NAV rose by 0.7% while the benchmark fell by 3.5%. The figures are reported as total returns.

The FTSE 250 trust's NAV was 1,177.35p at the end of September. Its shares were Friday quoted up 1.8% at 1,063.82p.

Aberforth Partners LLP manages the trust. It also serves as manager to Aberforth Geared Income Trust PLC, a member of the FTSE All-Share index that reported first-quarter results on Friday.

In a statement, Aberforth Geared Income Trust said its total assets (total return) decreased by 1.6% and its ordinary share net asset value (total return) decreased by 2.9%. The ordinary share price (total return) decreased by 3.1%.

Its ordinary share NAV was 188.14 pence per share at the end of September, while that of its zero dividend preference shares was 133.48p.

The trust's ordinary shares were Friday quoted flat at 159.12p.

By Samuel Agini; samagini@alliancenews.com; @samuelagini

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