The pandemic has sharpened investors’ focus on ESG adoption, but for Khazanah and other asset owners in Asia, scaling up sustainability-themed investments has its challenges.
Some asset owners in the region are reducing riskier assets, while more investors around the world are planning to increase their allocations to government bonds.
The sovereign wealth fund's sale of a Malaysian hospital to another of its portfolio companies marks the latest in an ongoing set of healthcare asset divestments.
The Malaysian sovereign wealth fund has closed its London office and is reducing its Turkish presence – yet it is keen to increase its foreign exposure as part of a portfolio overhaul.
IMF gains RQFII approval; India's unit-linked insurance plans set for revamp; GPIF seeks alts strategy consultants; NPS bullish on foreign equities; Poba seeks JVs for real estate investing, and more.
Aussie supers set to face big changes; Korea's KIC makes first property divestment in London; Korea's Poba seeks three private debt managers; CPPIB stays the course on China investments, and more.
Capital Group names new Japan president; Robeco replaces Singapore chief; Hillhouse Capital hires ex-Blackstone MD; Vontobel expands EM debt team; HSBC Global AM names Apac ETF sales head; Manulife creates new digital business role; Stanchart names CIO for wealth management; TMF appoints fund services exec in Shanghai; and more.
Experts say the country's debut sovereign wealth fund needs full investing independence to attract international assets, but this appears unlikely according to current plans.
The Korean public pension fund has split its global public market division and will hire 38 personnel across divisions as it looks to drastically increase overseas investments by 2025.
HSBC Global AM appoints new Asia fixed income chiefs; PAG names Japan PE co-heads; EquitiesFirst names Beijing office head; Noah Holdings CIO resigns; Pictet replaces Singapore chief; HKEX names interim CEO; Tahnoon Pasha departs Spencer Stuart and Asia; Newton IM poaches Aviva Investors' CEO.
The number of lenders reducing their Asian exposure is seen to be growing fast amid the coronavirus crisis, leaving asset managers keen to fill the financing gap.
In a recent webinar, AsianInvestor spoke to top experts on emerging market (EM) corporate debt to get a better sense of the opportunities, risks and rewards that investors should be familiar with. To continue the conversation, we followed up with panelists to further explore some key issues.
The past year has seen something of a growth spurt for green bonds, with the market heading toward the $1 trillion milestone, according to data from the Climate Bonds Initiative and Bloomberg. It has also seen the emergence of social bonds, used for social investments with aims such as expanding access to healthcare and education. As well as significant government bond launches, there has been increased issuance from the corporate sector and from a wider range of businesses and industries.
Taiwan’s state pension fund has pledged to regulate external managers more strictly after the bribery scandal, but the additional red tape could turn away some fund houses.
While sustainable investment themes and practices are making steady in-roads across the region, the pace would increase with greater asset choice and standardised data, finds the latest AsianInvestor / S&P Dow Jones Indices ESG poll.