Total funds under management at Investec Wealth & Investment increased 5.6 per cent during the six months to 30 September, 2012 - up from £34.8 billion (about $55.2 billion) at end-March to a total of £36.7 billion.

And UK funds under management rose even faster, up 7.3 per cent from $21 billion to £22.5 million over the same period. Meanwhile, South African funds under management climbed 12.5 per cent to end September at £13.4 billion, compared to £12 billion in the previous six months.  

Operating profit at the firm's wealth and investment business rose 4.9 per cent year-on-year, up from £21.8 million at end-September last year to £22.9 million at 30 September 2012. Investec Wealth & Investment described its overall business outlook as "short term prospects supported by synergies from integration".

Meanwhile, Investec's group assets under management rose slightly to reach $62.4 billion, up 1.3 per cent from the £61.5 billion figure recorded in the previous year. The firm said its asset management strategy remains unchanged, while - despite positive momentum - flat markets combined with uncertainty will put pressure on inflows in the future.

In other recent developments at Investec Wealth & Investment, in October Bryan Burrough was appointed to its London-based charities division as a senior investment director. The firm has about 1,000 charities clients, amounting to £1.6 billion in assets under management. Its charities team is now nine-strong.