Active managers need to up their game but remain vital in some markets, delegates heard from Japan Post Bank and others at AsianInvestor’s Institutional Investment Forum in Tokyo.
Japan’s GPIF recently began paying active managers based on excess returns and cut the fees of underperformers. We asked four experts whether other asset owners will follow suit.
More EM fixed income investors are turning to passive approaches as they appreciate the cost-effective and diversified nature of passively managed vehicles such as ETFs, says Matthew J. Arnold of SSGA.
Yet there are indications that demand among private individuals for exchange-traded funds and other index strategies could gain momentum – but that will take time.
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.
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 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.
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.
Studies show that when comparing the long-term returns of listed and unlisted real estate vehicles based on the same underlying assets, the listed sector is an effective proxy for direct property investment. However, listed real estate (LRE) has the benefit of higher transparency, diversification, unmatched liquidity and a lower hurdle to global access compared to direct property.