Asian stocks rose in October, with investors remaining focused on rising inflationary pressures and the US Federal Reserve’s tapering plans. The markets’ key concern is China’s economic performance and its impact on the energy and commodity complexes.
Has economic data really changed so much as to suggest an inflection point on inflation and the growth outlook was near? To some degree perhaps, at least in the eyes of the market, but not enough in the end for central banks to meaningfully change their guidance.
We expect Indonesian bonds to outperform, as demand is supported by positive supply technicals. Meanwhile, we see bonds of low-yielding countries like Singapore, South Korea and Thailand prone to bear flattening, driven mainly by UST movement.
October was a tough month for the New Zealand bond market with yields rising in anticipation of further increases in cash rates and in response to global markets bracing for the possibility of central banks reducing stimulus by tapering bond purchases.
The optimist says prices are cheap. The pessimist says prices are expensive. The central banker says inflation is transitory. We remain in the aftermath of a month where the worldview on the future of monetary policy has dramatically changed.
The New Zealand stock market has been flat in the calendar year to date, with companies working to adapt to a number of risk factors. This puts it in stark contrast with markets in the rest of the developed world, which have seen gains ranging from 10% to 25%.
Japan’s rapidly advancing medical technology is viewed as a way to address the healthcare sector’s inefficiencies while at the same time offering potential value opportunities.
We explain how the recent lower house election win gives Japan’s new prime minister a free hand to pursue policies aimed to help the economy recover from COVID-19. We also analyse why a weaker yen no longer provides as much of a boost to equities.
Following a rigorous due diligence process, the Nikko AM Japan Value Fund has received an RSMR Rating. The Fund is now one of only 150 RSMR Rated funds, selected from an Investment Association universe of 4,500. You can read the full RSMR Fund Profile HERE. Under RSMR’s binary system, a fund is either rated or it is not and they take a qualitative approach to fund rating. While past performance and risk measures play a role in fund rating, their research team rely on face-to-face meetings with fund managers and management teams across the globe to establish how they will continue to develop performance. RSMR also undertake thoughtful and detailed analysis of social, governmental and market factors to build a picture of the fund over the coming years.
Learn more about the Nikko AM Japan Value Fund HERE.
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