Bermuda Investment Advisory Services Ltd. (BIAS) has reported that three of its mutual funds, issued by Cayman-based affiliate BIAS Global Portfolios SPC, were each rated four stars — out of possible five — by Morningstar Inc.

Morningstar is a leading provider of independent mutual fund analysis and ratings. The company reports on more than 29,000 stocks and funds and both Barron's and Forbes rank Morningstar.com among the top investment sites.

In order to be ranked by Morningstar a fund must have a track record of at least three years. Less than one third of those reviewed receive a rating of four stars or higher.

The three BIAS funds were launched in December 2006 and consist of the low risk BIAS Global Short Duration Income Fund (for income and stability), the moderate risk BIAS Global Balanced Fund (for growth and income), and the BIAS Global Equities Fund (for growth at a reasonable price). The four-star rating awarded to the three funds indicates that each ranked in the top third of its category.

BIAS's chief investment officer Robert Pires, CFA, attributed the high marks to the firm's disciplined approach in geographic and industry sector allocation, as well as in the selection of individual stocks and bonds. The company's ability to protect investor capital during market setbacks was also a key factor, he said.

"We are very pleased with the strong rating from Morningstar, especially given the extreme level of market volatility we've experienced over the past couple of years," he said.

Over the past 12-month period, as of January 31, 2010, the BIAS Global Short Duration Income Fund rose 4.16 percent, the BIAS Global Balanced Fund rose 22.6 percent, and the BIAS Global Equities Fund rose 34.54 percent.

BIAS Global Portfolios SPC's funds require a minimum investment of $25,000 and are geared towards captive insurance companies, trust companies, corporate entities, and high-net-worth individuals.

The funds are also well-suited to young professionals who are committed to building wealth over time through participation in the BIAS Wealthbuilder programme, which facilitates automatic contributions by clients on a monthly or quarterly basis, according to the investment specialists.

For more information, visit the company's websites at www.bias.bm or www.biasglobalportfolios.com