Three major Asean countries — Vietnam, Indonesia and the Philippines — are leading in developing renewable energy sources and giving investors new opportunities.
Constrained by tight regulation, the life insurer has been unable to invest in offshore assets. Its CIO hopes a new rule later this year will allow it to start doing so.
The Dutch pension giant is looking to invest more in the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and India, with a particular focus on infrastructure, renewable energy and natural resources.
The Philippine insurer has also raised its cash holdings amid fears of a lingering impact from Covid on the local economy and stock market, says chief investment officer Arleen Guevara.
The state-run Social Security System's CEO believes there is too much political interference in the Philippines pension fund industry, which is adversely affecting its funding and viability.
With family offices and other local investors getting more involved in impact investing, capital deployment should continue accelerating. But structural problems persist across the region
Legislative bottlenecks are delaying the establishment of the development fund. Outstanding issues include the amount to be invested and whether it will use an offshore asset manager.
The scandal at Malaysia's 1MDB did not help the reputation of sovereign wealth funds. With two further Asian SWFs in the works, the political risks that it highlighted are set to resurface.
Fund managers are pushing for Rodrigo Duterte's new government to set up a defined contribution scheme, but others are not convinced about such a move.
The $10 billion Social Security System has been planning to award portfolios to external fund houses for the first time, but must wait for a new chief to be named before it can proceed.
The 40-year veteran of emerging markets supports Rodrigo Duterte and remains overweight on the Philippines, despite the controversies courted by the tough-talking president.