Joel Le Saux, manager of the Japan opportunities fund at SYZ Asset Management, argues the Japanese equity rally won’t last.

Joel Le Saux, manager of the Japan opportunities fund at SYZ Asset Management, argues the Japanese equity rally won’t last.
Data protection regulations, particularly in Europe, are expected to provide a boost to IT security company earnings, according to Yves Kramer, London-based senior investment manager for thematic equities at Pictet Asset Management.
JP Morgan handily beat all rivals in gathering new assets in its Hong Kong-domiciled bond and mixed asset funds, as investors retreated from pure equity products, Morningstar data shows.
Alternatives, particularly infrastructure investments, are expected to see continued demand from professional investors, according to industry sources speaking at the recent Association of Luxembourg Fund Industry (ALFI) roadshow.
China’s regulator has proposed converting equity in Chinese firms into shares listed on the Hong Kong bourse in order to raise management incentive in some state-owned firms and improve earnings, said Nicholas Yeo, head of equities for China and Hong Kong at Aberdeen Standard Investments.
Earnings growth and reforms bode well for China A-shares, which are poised to outperform the major Asian equity markets this year, according to Raymond Chan, Allianz Global Investors’ chief investment officer for Asia-Pacific equities.
The Hang Seng index set an historical record high this year, and investment strategists at DBS Private Bank expect it to run further due to increasing use of cross-border programmes by Chinese investors.
In a year of extremely low volatility, gold and precious metals funds stand out as the most volatile, FE data shows.
The tightening of regulations, particularly in online gaming and digital payments, is the top risk when investing in China’s technology companies, according to Eric Mok, senior executive director at Franklin Templeton Investments.
Among higher-yielding investment choices, Asian local currency bonds have generated fairly consistent returns over the past years, said Kheng Siang Ng, Asia-Pacific head of fixed income at State Street Global Advisors (SSGA).
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