Magazine issues»Winter 2012

Fortune cookiesThe quasi-monopoly of Chinese banks is starting to crumble as foreign banks and independent financial advisers are seeking approval to sell mutual funds to the public. Stefanie Eschenbacher takes a closer look at the country’s clogged fund distribution channels following the once-in-a-decade leadership change.

Chen DingVarious cross-border schemes provide Chinese asset managers and their Hong Kong subsidiaries with opportunities. Stefanie Eschenbacher talks to Chen Ding of CSOP Asset Management about Hong Kong’s Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, renminbi qualified foreign institutional investor products and Ucits.

IndicesChina’s second renminbi qualified foreign institutional investor programme involving exchange traded funds is growing – quotas are being increased and more asset managers are lining up to participate. Stefanie Eschenbacher investigates.

Wall2A new Malaysia-based Islamic finance body – the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance – has recently proposed to develop a global code of ethics and a professional development programme for scholars to address a lack of standardisation in the industry. Shahrin Shaikh Mohd of Hwang Investment Management discusses the implications.

The lack of standardisation has created a situation where one sharia adviser can claim its fund is ‘holier’ than others, say the participants of the Funds Global Asia roundtable held in Kuala Lumpur. They also discuss the challenges of reaching a critical mass and marketing to non-Muslim investors.Chaired by Stefanie Eschenbacher.

The decisions sharia boards make can be powerful. Murat Ünal of Funds at Work tells Stefanie Eschenbacher that there is a need for a more transparent and objective system.

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Industry comments

Investing in tomorrow’s world

investmentAt times like these, HSBC Asset Management easily pivots towards emerging markets.

The spotlight on growth markets and the need to be nimble and dynamic is ever-sharper, given the difficulty in predicting monetary policy in the world’s major nations.

Sponsored feature: Navigating the complexities of FX execution and currency risk

A comprehensive, cost-effective, and transparent currency overlay hedging solution is crucial to mitigate FX exposure risks in the complex landscapes of Japan and China's FX markets, explains Hans Jacob Feder, PhD, global head of FX services at MUFG Investor Services.

Opinion

Transitioning to an era of scarcity

The world is transitioning from an era of commodity abundance to one of undersupply. Ben Ross and Tyler Rosenlicht of Cohen & Steers believe this shift may result in significant returns for commodities and resource producers over the next decade.

Asia credit: An outsized winner in the region’s energy transition?

Ross Dilkes, fixed income portfolio manager at Wellington Management, examines the opportunities and risks for bond investors presented by the region’s decarbonisation agenda.

A quiet revolution in Japan’s corporate governance

revolution, Japan, corporate governance, Shareholders, corporate, governance, standards, improvement, Tetsuro Takase, SuMi TrustShareholders in Japan no longer accept below-par corporate governance standards. Changes are taking place, but there are still areas for improvement, says Tetsuro Takase at SuMi Trust.

Why rising demand for healthcare is creating investment opportunities in China

rising demand, healthcare, investment, opportunities, China, Robert St Clair, Investment Strategy, Fullerton Fund ManagementRobert St Clair, head of investment strategy at Fullerton Fund Management, explores the reasons investors should be paying attention to the rising demand for healthcare in China.

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