now loading...
Wealth Asia Connect Middle East Treasury & Capital Markets Europe ESG Forum TechTalk
Wealth Management
Who are the most Astute Investors in Asia?
Liquidity risks and cyber-security concerns remain even as appetite for emerging market assets grows and Asia's credit metrics improve. China is a bright spot in Asia as it further liberalizes its bond market. Against this backdrop, Asset Benchmark Research announces the most Astute Investors in local currency bonds for 2017.
Monica Uttam 27 Jul 2017

Investors are rediscovering their risk appetite for emerging market assets as sentiment improves on the back of a positive global economic outlook. Meanwhile, China continues to open its bond markets to foreign investors, while Asia's credit metrics improve. Challenges remain, however. Investors see risks of tightening liquidity in 2017. Cyber-security is also a major concern this year. It is in this market environment that Asset Benchmark Research (ABR) announces the most Astute Investors in local currency bonds for 2017.

2017 marked a 13% year-on-year increase in the number of nominations for Astute Investors from top-rated individuals including analysts, economists and strategists, salespeople and traders in Asian local currency bonds.

In Hong Kong, newcomers hail from the subsidiaries of onshore fund houses, reflecting the growing importance of investments coming from China. Peter Lee and Rodney Lam, both fund managers at China Life Franklin Asset Management (CLAMC), rank within the top ten, with the former taking first place. CLAMC is a joint venture between China Life Asset Management, Franklin Templeton Investments and China Life Insurance (Overseas).

Other mainland institutions appearing in the Hong Kong rankings for the first time include Bosera Asset Management and China Merchants Securities Investment Management. Founded in 1998, Bosera is among the first and largest fund houses in China. Its Hong Kong subsidiary was launched in 2010. CMS Investment Management manages China Merchants Securities’ investments.

In India and Indonesia, Abhiranjan Gupta, chief investment officer of HDFC ERGO General Insurance, and Mardiana Wirasmi Marnoto, senior fund manager at Danareksa Investment Management, are both new entrants to the top ten. Ng Pei Chen, senior portfolio manager at AIA, ranks fifth in Malaysia, and Ryan Salud, head of the trust portfolio management department at Land Bank of the Philippines, ranks fourth in the Philippines, both also appearing for the first time.

Investment managers Chiang Lin at China Life Insurance and Greenland Chen at Taishin International Bank are newcomers to the top ten in Taiwan. Zhou Sheng-Wei, a trader at China Zheshang Bank, takes the top spot for China. In Singapore and Thailand, industry stalwarts appear among the top ten with new names cropping up in the highly commended category.

The Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark Review covers 11 markets including China (onshore and offshore), Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. It has been conducted annually since 2000. It provides a wealth of data on the product needs of investors and the market penetration of the banks that are active in local currency bonds. It also provides detailed analysis on the investors’ buying behaviour when selecting their counterparties, giving unprecedented access into the minds of investors.

To view the rankings of the most Astute Investors in Asian local currency bonds by country, please click here.

To view the rankings of the top five investment houses in Asian local currency bonds by country, please click here.

To find out more about Asset Benchmark Research and our Asian Local Currency Bond Benchmark Review, please click here.

Additional reporting by Jacky Fung.

Conversation
Surasak Ritthongpitak
Surasak Ritthongpitak
director of the market supervision department
Securities and Exchange Commission Thailand
- JOINED THE EVENT -
Asset Servicing Leadership Series
How digital assets are transforming Asia's investment landscape
View Highlights
Conversation
Edwin Gutierrez
Edwin Gutierrez
head of emerging market sovereign debt
abrdn
- JOINED THE EVENT -
18th Asia Bond Markets Summit - Europe Edition
Taking advantage of the great bond re-set
View Highlights