The New Star Asia Portfolio fell 12.9%* over the third quarter of 2008, having been more resilient than the IMA Asia Pacific excluding Japan sector, which lost 16.6%*. A main contributor to the positive relative performance was Prusik Asia, which gained 0.2%. Prusik Asia's relatively high cash levels protected it against the sharp falls in the Asian equity markets.This holding outperformed the index by 5 percentage points since its introduction into the portfolio as the inflationary concerns that had negatively affected the Indian stock market began to recede. A holding in Hiscox Far Eastern Financial was opened and the position in Ton Poh Emerging Thailand was sold.