Fund returns down for quarter, up for year

The median fund in the Russell/Mellon U.S. Master Trust Universe posted a 3.22% return in the third quarter, compared with 11.2% in the second quarter. For the year ended Sept. 30, the median fund gained 18.19%, compared with -7.18% for the same period last year. The average asset allocation in the universe is 42% U.S. equity, 26% U.S. fixed income, 18% non-U.S. equity, 2% non-U.S. fixed income, 4% alternative investments, 3% real estate, 2% cash and 3% other investments. The universe represents 534 funds with an average asset size of $2.6 billion and combined assets of $1.4 trillion.