Indonesia

Ian Silk joins KPMG as special advisor on ESG issues; Chinese government to conduct probe on insurers and their investments after discovering compliance issues; Ray Dalio's Bridgewater Associates raises $1.25 billion for its third investment fund in China; Korea's NPS posts 8% return for first three quarters of the year; Binance confirms talks with sovereign wealth funds; and more.

Southeast Asia's newest SWF plans to be agile and invest in asset classes beyond infrastructure, including areas such as consumer and technology.

Investors are bringing an ESG focus to opportunities, while being aware that this does not mean an automatic boost to returns.

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.

The new regulation is likely to spur local listings and, consequently, institutional investor interest in equities, experts say.

The asset allocation of Indonesian pension funds showed a flight to safety last year, but did fear outweigh the numbers? Some experts argue, in the light of local equities, for staying the course.

Intrust Super chief executive to step down after merger; Aware acquires site for essential worker affordable housing; China bans cryptocurrency-related business activities; Hong Kong insure FWD filed for US listing of ADRs; Nippon Life acquires wealth life insurance from MassMutual; NPS to hire five investment managers to diversify portfolio; Malaysia to review Spacs framework; EPF reports $8 billion investment income; and more

Generally, however, Asian pension funds’ allocations to alternative assets demonstrated only a modest increase of 0.6% from 2019 to 2020.

Yin Haining and Markus Egloff join KKR as managing directors for its client partner group; QIC CIO to retire, promotes Allison Hill; Fidelity China President resigns; AIA Singapore appoints chief distribution officer; PE fund appoints VP of ESG and risk; Haitong International hires global head of asset management from Goldman Sachs; and more

HSBC Asset Management names Michael Cross as global fixed income CIO; Jessica Jones has been appointed PGIM Asia head; Eastspring welcomes former HSBC Apac CIO; BlackRock names Apac index investments head; Haitong International launches family office business; Jupiter hires from AllianzGI; State Street names Apac collateral lead; and more.

Covid and digitalisation will have an impact on investments in Asean markets, although in the long run, the outlook is generally positive for the region, Eastspring experts said.

Asset owners across Asia Pacific weathered some difficult market conditions in 2020. While most emerged from the year successfully, some notable exceptions suffered asset drops.

Hesta reports record 23% return for sustainable growth option; Aware Super reaches $110 billion in AUM; People's Bank of China to continue supporting ESG bonds; US-based Generate raises $2 billion from international pension funds; Korea's CWMAA looking to hire for foreign infra mandate; Temasek enters $103m JV with nanotech firm; and more.

The Australian's Asic launches ESG fund review for greenwashing; Cbus hires from Apra; Hesta hires from AMP Life; Dai-ichi Life Insurance invests $50 million in climate infra fund; Korea's GEPS awards $105 million overseas infra mandates; Teachers' Pension calls for bids; QIA increases Credit Suisse stake; and more.

Hesta hires Hostplus ESG head; Prudential head of HNW solutions joins Transamerica Life Bermuda; Chubb appoints Philippines country president; QIC chief executive to retire in 2022; Amundi adds ESG investment specialist; Aviva Investors expanded EM debt team with three hires; HSBC private banking regional head retires; and more

AsianInvestor reveals the reasons why we picked the first half of this year's most impressive local fund managers, across the region's leading investment markets.

Indonesia Hajj Fund Management Agency (BPKH) says that pandemic woes hit direct investment in 2020, but the fund remains firm in its commitment to using it as a tool to drive ESG change

GIC leads funding round for Indian insurer; Taiwan's BLF sees returns rebound; Korea's NPS adds two British investment firms as managers; HKMA to increase allocation to ESG stocks and bonds; US pension fund agency approves $300m to Blackstone Asia PE fund; UN PRI's chief executive steps down; and more

Harvest Global Investments' Asia equities head leaves; Schroders losing multi-asset deputy head to rival; Northern Trust names head of Apac; Singapore's Central Provident Fund names new chair; Amundi appoints Hong Kong CEO; MAS renews Ravi Menon as managing director; NZ Super makes general manager promotion; and more.

GIC to open new Sydney office; Japan's life insurers to ramp up allocations to foreign bonds; Samsung Life acquires stake in Savills IM; Indonesia's new sovereign wealth fund to invest in infrastructure; CPP Investments forms JV for mall in Kolkata; Goldman Sachs Asset Management to set up Chinese wealth management firm with ICBC; and more.