The BlackRock Gold & General fund maintains its position as the most popular ISA fund holding for the third year in a row. Its appearance indicates that customers are looking to cash in on the success of gold as it continues to hit record prices.
BlackRock Gold & General has returned 31 per cent to investors over the last three years, while Aberdeen Emerging Markets has returned 66 per cent over the same period.
Performance of funds over 3-yrs
Source: Financial Express Analytics
As well as Aberdeen Emerging Markets, other popular funds among ISA and SIPP holders include Asia Pacific, China, Russia and India.
A TD Waterhouse spokesman said emerging markets give the potential for strong growth with their burgeoning young populations and increasing global spending power.
"Emerging markets were popular this year in both our ISA and SIPP products as our investors look for long-term growth in their portfolios," said Darren Hepworth, who is trading and customer services director at TD Waterhouse.
"Gold remains in the top spot in both tables, and for a third year in a row amongst our ISA customers. Our investors appear to be seeking some solidity in light of the continued Eurozone sovereign debt crisis and concerns over possible future inflation."
Hepworth says that the data coincides with an independent survey of investor confidence that suggested a quarter of UK investors expected the Asian stock market to be top performer in 2011, while 20 per cent thought it would be gold and precious metals.
He added: "The findings from the TD Waterhouse Investor Confidence Index confirm trading trends among our customers, with over a quarter of respondents most likely to invest their tailored SIPP in international equities and 30 per cent of investors having bought or sold shares in a company listed outside the UK in the last 12 months."
As well as gold and emerging markets funds, JP Morgan Natural Resources and Fidelity Special Situations remain popular as investors look to diversify their portfolios across a range of sectors with an emphasis on long-term returns.