FSA believes singling out the top performers based on independent, data-driven criteria can provide a fund house with a valuable distinction among its peers. However, the process has to be clear, transparent and objective. FSA uses historical and forward-looking screens — both quantitative and qualitative methods of selecting the winners.
FSA FUND AWARDS
FSA’s Fund Awards are based on data from FE Fundinfo, which filters the universe of funds in Hong Kong (1,292 eligible funds) and Singapore (2,932 eligible funds) for alpha, volatility and consistency across 14 categories. FE then creates two shortlists – one for Hong Kong and a separate one for Singapore.
In Hong Kong, funds have to be registered for retail sale to be eligible. In Singapore, funds with “accredited investor” status are eligible. Eligible funds include only actively managed funds (ETFs, passive/stracking funds are excluded) and should have at least three years track record.
The methodology for the shortlists is 100% quantitative, providing an apples-to-apples comparison.
Next, the shortlists are given to independent panels of well-known professionals from Asia’s fund selector community. Hong Kong and Singapore have separate judging panels to reflect the difference in offerings.
One question was provided to guide them, and it was forward-looking:
Given this list, which fund within each asset class do you think will perform best over the next 12 months?
The judges’ selections will determine the winners (Platinum and Gold).
Later this week, FSA will begin publishing the shortlists, one for Hong Kong and one for Singapore, and winners will be revealed in February.
FSA HOUSE AWARDS
In addition to the Fund Awards, we are delighted to announce that six new House Awards have been added – with separate awards for Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand.
The House Awards will include six categories: Excellence in Innovation, Excellence in Service, Excellence in ESG, Best Equity House, Best Fixed Income House and Best Multi-Asset House.
The House Awards will be based on pitch submissions from the asset management community, in which fund managers will have to convince FSA editorial judges of their credentials in one or more of the chosen categories.
There is no charge to pitch for the House Awards.
The submission document can be accessed here and should be submitted to Francis Acosta, editor of Fund Selector Asia, at francis.acosta@lastwordmedia.com.
The deadline of submissions will be on 20 January 2021.
To learn more about FSA’s Fund and House Awards methodology, click here.
