Private bank investment in iShares smart beta products increased by five times since the beginning of 2017, according to Ben Garland, Blackrock’s Hong Kong-based head of factor investing for Asia-Pacific.
Category: Asset Class in Focus
DWS: Asian investors support local equity markets
Despite trade tensions, DWS remains overweight China equities and is eyeing India because domestic investors are pouring capital into their local markets, said Sean Taylor, the firm’s chief investment officer for Apac and head of emerging market equities.
WMs prefer active funds for China exposure
In China’s inefficient equity market, active management is preferred to passive investing, according to wealth management sources.
Dollar strength hits EM positions, says UBS Wealth
The strengthening US dollar has resulted in tactical changes to client portfolios, according to Mark Haefele, Zurich-based group managing director and global chief investment officer.
Trade conflict aimed at China’s industrial project, says Robeco
US trade actions against China are actually targeting China’s 2025 project, a government initiative intended to move the mainland up the tech value chain, according to Victoria Mio, the firm’s chief investment officer for China.
SSGA stays overweight US large caps
The US large cap equity market gets the firm’s biggest overweight, while exposure to Europe, Japan and emerging markets is reduced, according to Kevin Anderson, Hong Kong-based head of investments for Asia-Pacific.
Citi PB goes overweight on A-shares
This year China A-shares are Citi Private Bank’s biggest call globally, according to Roger Bacon, head of investments for Asia-Pacific, while fixed income in client portfolios is getting intense focus.
A look at China equity funds in volatile markets
Equity fund managers who perform best among peers during specific China market volatility are not among the best when global markets plunge.
CoCos: A bet on banks’ financial health
Contingent convertible (coco) bonds carry conversion risk but promise high yield with low volatility and diversification, according to Lloyd Harris, London-based fixed income fund manager at Old Mutual Global Investors.
Looking for alpha in Japan’s small caps
Some of Japan’s under-researched small- and mid-cap companies may be hidden gems that the broader investment world knows little about, according to Sophia Li, portfolio manager at First State Stewart Asia.
