JP Morgan Asset Management (JPMAM) has received regulatory approval to launch its Singapore equity fund under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP).

The EQDP was announced in mid-2025 to boost Singapore’s domestic stock market, where S$5bn ($3.82bn) is slated to be allocated to select asset managers that invest in the market.

JPMAM’s newly created JPMorgan Singapore & Asia Equity Income fund will have a 50% allocation to Singapore equities and a 50% allocation to Asia ex-Japan equities, managed by Singapore-based equity portfolio managers Pauline Ng and Changqi On, supported by the firm’s Asean and Asian income teams.

The fund will have an income approach, investing in income-oriented stocks with an options overlay, supported by a dedicated derivative group headed by Stuart O’Neill. It will also invest in growth themes such as the recovery and growth of China and India, as well as Asia Pacific tech companies.

“Singapore’s equity market is home to high-yielding stocks across market caps and sectors, and we are excited to bring a differentiated solution that leverages these opportunities,” said Pauline Ng (main picture), head of Asean equity team, emerging markets & Asia Pacific equities at JPMAM.

“Asia’s equity market, notably including Singapore, offers a favourable environment for income investing. Around the wider region this includes options overwriting: typically, higher implied volatility translates to higher option premiums, which we seek to deliver by selling call options on local market indices.”

Ayaz Ebrahim, CEO of Singapore and Southeast Asia at JPMAM, said: “As the first global manager appointed by the MAS under the landmark EQDP initiative, we are proud to introduce our globally successful equity high income strategy to help Singapore investors unlock more income opportunities and support the revitalisation of the local equity market.”

“We look forward to working alongside the MAS, industry peers and investors to deepen market liquidity, broaden investor participation, and contribute to the continued advancement of Singapore’s asset management landscape.”