Investors were lured back to emerging market equity funds last year, after the collapse of many developing markets at the end of 2008, pouring in record amounts of money.

Emerging market equity fund inflows surged to more than $80bn (￡50bn, €56bn) in 2009, with Brazil, Russia, China and India, (the Bric countries) netting about three-quarters of investment, according to EPFR, the global fund data group. Many asset managers believe the lure will be equally compelling this year as the economies of developing countries are expected to grow further and investors hope to gain from potential growth.

A recent survey of fund managers by Bank of America Merrill Lynch showed an upbeat profit outlook for emerging markets for 2010, with 45 per cent overweight in the class.