Winners rationale

Buoyed by the strong global economic growth, mild inflation rates, and robust corporate earnings growth, global equities delivered a record year of performance in 2017.

The strong performance whetted the appetites of private banking clients, who then considerably upped their exposure to the asset class over the year – prompting questions among banks about whether a correction may be due in 2018, and a broader rethink on what strategies on the asset class may be more sustainable for the long run. At Robeco, bankers and their clients, may find an answer.

The Dutch house believes success in investing is reliant on spotting long-term trends that will turn into future returns for clients. Overall, it has found that equities that are on trend will outperform as a group – generating alpha and diversification benefits for clients.

Robeco defines a trend as a profound change of the prevailing secular or, more specifically, economic status quo, which challenges incumbent companies and business ecosystems to stay in control of their market positions.

At the same time, it believes trends provide opportunities, for new and upcoming companies and business ecosystems, to establish new markets or conquer existing markets.

With US$5 billion in AUM as of the end of March, Robeco’s trends investing team and the set of strategies that it offers may be the most comprehensive of its kind.

From a consumer fund launched in 1998, to an industrial trends fund and, last year, the industry’s first actively managed fintech fund, Robeco’s trends investing team are guiding clients’ investments through some of the most significant secular changes in the world, all the while offering a well-diversified and long-term approach.

Robeco is Asian Private Banker’s Best Fund Provider – Global Equity for the year.