Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust, a FTSE 250 equity investment firm, saw its net asset value (NAV) rise by 23.5 per cent in the three months ended March 31st. Comparatively, the company's benchmark, the RBS Hoare Govett Smaller Companies Index (excluding investment companies), gained 18.1%. The company's share price at the same date was 644.50p, a discount of 15.1% to the NAV. The share price is currently 618.00p, down 39p compared to the same date a year ago, 16p over the past month and 24p during the last week. NR