Fund Managers

Investors and fund managers must play their part in ensuring that ESG funds deliver on their promise – but only government action will ensure this happens, say conference panellists.

Stakeholders are placing increasing importance on gender equality on corporate boards, but institutionalised problems continue to limit career advancement for women in Asia Pacific, experts say.

Hong Kong's Exchange Fund posted a third-quarter investment loss after five quarters of gains; the Monetary Authority of Singapore said it would raise the slope of its currency policy band up from its current 0%; the Korea Investment Corporation surpasses $20 billion in AUM for the first time; RB Family Office to buy 12 four-storey conservation shophouses in Singapore; and more.

Inflation, fluctuating interest rates, Covid-19 shutdowns, and sporadic reopenings have led to bouts of volatility in the market, with tech stocks bearing the brunt of the selling over the last month.

Aware Super appoints deputy CIO and head of governance; AustralianSuper promotes chief risk officer to replace Paul Schroder; Raffles Family Office adds two new roles to independent advisory board; Amundi appoints South Asia CEO; Barclays names China chief executive; Zico hires head of advisory in Singapore; Capital Group names head of HK client group; and more

Nearly 50% of institutional investors and family offices in Asia Pacific intend to increase the number of external managers for their thematic investments in equities over the next 12 months.

Corruption risks and the lack of opportunities are not helping Asian investors overcome their doubts about the value of ESG metrics

DWS is not the only firm misrepresenting on ESG, Desiree Fixler said; Sunsuper turns opportunist on China high-yield property; Funding gap persists in Asia Pacific even as funds pour in; Barings to open Singapore office in November

Norges Bank Investment Management added four prominent traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) firms to its exclusion list but has also been increasing its emerging market exposure.

Even with political upheaval and regulatory clampdowns, investors believe there are still more opportunities in China.

GIC buys 40% stake in Oxford Science Park for $218 million; Hong Kong to scrap MPF's offsetting arrangement; Malaysia's EPF and Kwap increase stakes in Bursa Malaysia; Japan's endowment fund reveals only one fund manager has been hired; Thailand and China agree to look into cross-border initiatives between capital markets; and more

The recent power outages have cast another shadow on the already cloudy Chinese market amid slowing growth and policy uncertainties.

With increasing demand from professional and institutional investors for ESG-friendly crypto products, a number of purely blockchain-focused venture capitalist funds and hedge funds have emerged in the markets.

Following China’s cryptocurrency ban, experts believe that Singapore is poised to take on a more prominent role in Asia’s digital assets space. Meanwhile, Hong Kong remains attractive for institutional investors.

Only 14% of the global asset owners surveyed in a new Invesco report have reduced their China exposure.

Clarity and a better understanding of data can help ESG assessment as fears of greenwashing continue to rise in China and globally.

GPIF will not invest in Chinese sovereign bonds and exclude them from benchmarks; Temasek and HSBC partner up for debt financing platform for sustainable infrastructure projects; KIC advised to consider European rental housing projects with local firms; PNB funds to give out $150 million payout; APG and PPF buy stake in New Zealand timber producer; and more.

Investors have turned bearish on Evergrande and, in some cases, Chinese high-yield. But many believe Beijing will support an organised restructuring of the firm to prevent its complete collapse.

CPIC CIO Benjamin Deng resigns; Korea Teachers Pension CIO term extended for another year; EPF hires chief HR officer; Morgan Stanley chief executive for Asia to retire; State Street makes four senior appointments for SPDR ETFs team in Asia Pacific; Fidelity makes Alice Li assistant portfolio manager for China Focus fund; AMP Capital appoints real estate CIO; and more.

Asset owners have been targeting US retail property assets, and some institutional investors have complained about being edged out of office deals by domestic players.