Asia’s private banking AUM reached US$4 trillion Aggressive growth reshapes the pecking order Asia’s private banking assets under management (AUM) surged to an unprecedented peak in 2025. Growing at an average of 23%, the latest rankings highlight powerful momentum and a new baseline for competition. A familiar name has entered the table, while another has made a historic leap into […]

The post AUM Tables Asia 2025 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored advertorial from PineBridge Investments. By Omar Slim and Andy Suen, Co-heads of Asia Fixed Income Key Takeaways Asia’s economy surprised to the upside in 2025. Despite tariff pressures and global uncertainty, the region demonstrated resilience that few anticipated. Exporters accelerated shipments ahead of tariff deadlines, exemptions in the second half of the year eased the impact, […]

The post 2026 Asia fixed income outlook: Tested again. Resilient again.  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UK asset manager Man Group sees opportunities in European companies with global growth prospects and Japan’s auto sector as private wealth clients look for diversification opportunities beyond the US market. “We had a great range of meetings across private banks and family offices […] A lot of those investors are coming to us to find non-US ideas and Europe is […]

The post Global plays for private banks? US$172bn manager backs Japan and Europe appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Markets are becoming increasingly desensitised to US President Donald Trump’s shifting tariff narratives, according to Asia-based asset managers, who advise clients to stay nimble as uncertainty surrounding US trade policy deepens. The uncertainty began on Monday when Trump extended the “Tariffs Day” deadline to 1 August 2025, warning key trading partners like Japan and South Korea of tariffs between 25% to […]

The post Markets desensitised to Trump’s latest “political theatre” – Asian fund managers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The post Wealth Continuum AUM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private bank clients in Asia are increasingly turning to US small cap equities as they seek to diversify their portfolios away from the ‘Magnificent Seven’ that have driven gains in the world’s biggest stock market in recent years. That is according to Vincent Nichols, investment specialist, US and thematic equity at BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNP Paribas AM), who pointed […]

The post Not so Magnificent Seven: Private banks turn to small caps amid volatility appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Matthews Asia’s head of Asia Pacific has left the firm, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Beonca Yip is no longer with the Asia-focused asset manager, according to people close to the matter and confirmed by a spokesperson. Yip joined the firm as head of Asia Pacific in May 2023, and had been overseeing the firm’s business in the region and […]

The post Matthews Asia APAC head departs after less than two years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Citi Private Bank has unveiled a new leadership structure for Asia-based global market managers (GMMs), according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker.  Following the organisational changes within Citi Private Bank earlier this year, the lender has further streamlined its structure in Japan, Asia North & Australia (JANA) and Asia South, which is now under the helm of […]

The post Citi Private Bank reveals new structure for market managers in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from M&G Investments. Amy Cho – the doyenne of asset management in Asia – is charting a bold new course for the UK manager’s regional expansion. “We’re serious, we’re sincere and we’re here for the long haul,” she says. She also has a glint in her eye. Here’s why. Fifteen months after taking the helm, […]

The post M&G Investments: Pioneering Growth in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The release of the DeepSeek chatbot has sent shockwaves through the AI landscape, with the threat posed by the China-developed artificial intelligence app knocking hundreds of billions of dollars from the market value of the Magnificent Seven stocks. Within days of its release, DeepSeek overtook OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the most downloaded free iOS app in the US. Shares in Nvidia, […]

The post Worried by DeepSeek? How to broaden your US horizons beyond Mag 7 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With President-elect Donald Trump taking office on 20 January, private wealth investors in Asia are cautiously considering how the impact of the new administration will be felt in the region. Asset managers in Asia pointed particularly to the regions and asset classes most sensitive to changes in US policy direction as the areas investors need to pay the most attention […]

The post Buckle up! What private banks should expect from Trump 2.0 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

T. Rowe Price has made two senior hires to strengthen its distribution team in Asia, according to a company announcement on Monday. Juliette Lim has been appointed as head of insurance solutions, Asia ex-Japan, with a strategic focus on deepening partnerships with insurance companies in Asia, specifically to address growing client demand for the firm’s fixed income investment strategies and […]

The post T. Rowe Price hires duo for Asia distribution team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Eastspring Investments, the asset management arm of insurance giant Prudential, has appointed a chief economist. As Prudential’s first chief economist, Ray Farris will provide macroeconomic views and research in alignment with an evolving global economic and geopolitical landscape, according to a company announcement on Monday. Based in Singapore, he will report to Eastspring Investments’ CIO, Vis Nayar, who joined the […]

The post Eastspring Investments hires ex-Credit Suisse veteran as chief economist appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Elections and central bank actions have dominated global markets over the past year, and we expect unusually high monetary policy risk to remain a key driver in 2025. That said, the impact on Asia’s credit markets will likely be less marked, especially for US dollar-denominated Asian bonds. In China, we continue to believe policymakers will not be releasing any stimulus […]

The post 2025 Asia fixed income outlook: A key global diversifier stays strong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The snake is the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac, known for its intelligence, elegance and mysterious nature. In 2025, the year of the snake will be in the element wood, representing a combination of wisdom, intuition and growth. As we approach the end of 2024, many unknowns lurk on the horizon for asset and wealth managers in Asia in […]

The post Top predictions in the Year of the Wood Snake appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Eastspring Investments.  Eastspring Investments’ CIO Vis Nayar shares how investors should position their portfolios in the year ahead. While positive global growth is anticipated during the first half of 2025, rising uncertainty is expected in the latter half due to the introduction of new policies in the US or potential stimulus measures from […]

The post 2025 Market Outlook – Asia and Emerging Markets: Opportunities amid shifting tides appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from HSBC Asset Management.  The Asia credit market has seen solid performance year-to-date and is generally outperforming other major bond markets. The US rate-cutting cycle, as well as Asia’s supportive macroeconomic backdrop, should sustain Asia credit’s momentum. While there has been a downward move in global bond yields year-to-date, Asia credit’s yields remain compelling. […]

The post Asia credit – a resurgence rooted in resilience and relative value appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Within Asia, private banks are focusing more on multi-asset allocation for clients, not just for diversification purposes, but also to build portfolios that can be tested over the longer term. Private banks and family offices are also leveraging more external resources, according to US$11.5 trillion in AUM firm BlackRock. “In some markets such as Australia, we’ve seen a continuous decline […]

The post Are mutual funds in decline? If so, BlackRock may have a solution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from LGIM.  Matthew Rees, head of global bond strategies and Ben Bennett, head of investment strategy Asia, discuss questions from bond investors, policymakers and companies across Asia. How does US monetary policy impact Asian bond and currency markets? What would make us more positive on Chinese assets? Is the Indian bull market still alive, […]

The post Answering key questions from Asian bond investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from LGIM.  In this second part of a three-part series, Matthew Rees, Head of Global Bond Strategies, joins Ben Bennett, Head of Investment Strategy Asia, to discuss the big themes set to disrupt markets in the coming years. Several factors point to structurally higher inflation and bond yields, but this could be offset by […]

The post Key long-term themes for bond markets and their impact on today’s portfolios appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US asset manager Nuveen, which manages US$1.2 trillion in client assets, is pushing into Asia with its flagship real estate strategy, identifying the rising demand for alts and familiarity with real estate within Asia as strong tailwinds. “From the US, the international expansion has been very successful over the last five years. Historically, wealth clients in the US, represent a […]

The post Nuveen bets on flagship strategy to meet rising alts demand in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from LGIM.  With credit spreads near historic lows but total yields remaining attractive for many investors, the bond market is increasingly becoming one for stock pickers searching out areas that could still generate attractive returns. Our head of global bond strategies, Matthew Rees, and our head of investment strategy in Asia, Ben Bennett, discuss […]

The post Opportunities for fixed income investors across tight credit spreads and high yields appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With Asia’s wealth markets being among the fastest-growing in the world, a number of institutionally-focused asset managers are pivoting towards this potentially lucrative clientele. But doing so is easier said than done. In recent interviews with Asian Private Banker, London-headquartered Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM) and Chicago-based Northern Trust – among the biggest asset managers in Europe and the […]

The post Institutional giants set sights on US$2.8tn Asian private wealth market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese government efforts to stimulate its economy have brought much-needed capital flooding back into the country’s capital markets, pushing stocks to their highest level in about a year. While asset and wealth managers are now fielding client questions on their updated China views, not everyone is convinced. Among them is Jupiter Asset Management (Jupiter), which has reduced its China exposure […]

The post Not convinced by China rally? Try Australia or India: Jupiter AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Volatile Chinese markets have unsurprisingly been a tough sell for private banks in 2024, but a Temasek-backed private markets manager has come up with an intriguing solution. SeaTown, founded in Singapore in 2009, sees the “China plus 1” strategy adopted by many companies to diversify their supply chains into ASEAN, as an important thematic investment opportunity for private wealth clients […]

The post Temasek-backed manager: ‘China plus 1’ the solution to Asia volatility appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

M&G Investments (M&G) has expanded its Asia distribution team with the hiring of new regional heads, Asian Private Banker can confirm. M&G Investments has named Kristy Wong as the new head of intermediary distribution for Greater China and Alfred Foo as head of intermediary distribution for Southeast Asia, according to an internal memo seen by APB. The US$395 billion asset […]

The post M&G expands Asia intermediary distribution team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Fidelity International has named a new managing director to lead its Asia Pacific ex-Japan business as its incumbent head has decided to leave the firm, Fidelity International said on Thursday. Effective 28 October 2024 and making his return to the firm, Damien Mooney has been appointed as managing director, Asia Pacific ex-Japan, responsible for the continued growth of the regional […]

The post Fidelity International APAC head to depart appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

EQT is bringing a Nordic twist to private equity in Asia. The EUR246 billion in AUM alternatives firm is taking a long-term view and aiming to be the most reputable shareholder of portfolio companies rather than just the most profitable, the firm’s chief commercial officer told Asian Private Banker. EQT has invested significantly in its private wealth business in Asia […]

The post Hej Asia! EQT targets private wealth channel with Nordic twist on PE appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The post How the US presidential election could affect Asian bonds appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Taiwan is set to become the world’s hot spot for new millionaires, according to a new report from UBS, fuelled by a boom in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. “While we expect organic growth in wealth to account for some of this stark increase in USD millionaires, mainly thanks to Taiwan’s microchip industry that is set to reap the rewards of […]

The post Taiwan to be world hot spot for new millionaires – UBS report appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

High yield (HY) bonds’ outperformance versus US investment grade could be set to continue throughout the rest of 2024, according to fund managers, who point to resilient corporate fundamentals and manageable default rates. “A slower growth environment is one in which credit markets have historically performed well relative to equity markets,” Karan Talwar, a client portfolio manager in Barings’ public […]

The post Can high yield bonds keep up their outperformance in 2H2024? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s U/HNWIs business owners are increasingly seeking non-bank financing amid a decline in capital raised and deals via Hong Kong’s IPO market, and a prolonged high interest rate environment, according to the regional head of EquitiesFirst. “The last few years have been very strong for us. One of the reasons for that could be that as equity and debt capital […]

The post UHNWs seek alternative fundraising as IPO market ‘seizes up’ appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Having recently hit an Asia AUM milestone of US$3 billion, US asset manager Brown Advisory is looking to expand its business in the region with new hires in Singapore and expanded product offerings. The Baltimore-headquartered firm first set down roots in Asia five years ago, when Walter Beckett, head of APAC at Brown Advisory, relocated to Singapore as the firm’s […]

The post Brown Advisory to expand in Singapore after hitting US$3bn Asia AUM milestone appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

First Sentier Investors has announced two senior appointments for its Asia distribution team, according to a news release on Thursday. The Sydney-headquartered asset manager has named Christy Goh as the head of intermediary business, Asia, and Marcus Ong as the head of institutional business, Asia. Both appointments are effective immediately. Goh has also been appointed as CEO for Singapore. Goh […]

The post First Sentier Investors reshuffles Asia distribution team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While Fosun Group is better known for its ownership of trophy European assets like resort group Club Med and fashion brand Sergio Rossi, the Shanghai-based conglomerate is boosting its presence in the wealth space with a strategy that ranges from U/HNW immigration, to insurance and B2B fintech. Fosun Wealth, a wholly-owned wealth management subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed Fosun International, has […]

The post From Club Med to fintech: China’s Fosun ramps up wealth push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US-headquartered Hamilton Lane is beefing up its alternatives offerings and talent hiring to better serve the growing needs of U/HNW and family office clients in the region. “Our Asian discretionary AUM has doubled in the past four years to US$20.9 billion, demonstrating the strong growth that we have had in Asia,” according to Kerrine Koh, head of Southeast Asia, Hamilton […]

The post US alts giant doubles Asian discretionary assets in four years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

For Federated Hermes, its first step into Asian markets with the opening of its Singapore office years ago could not have been better timed. Amid tightening liquidity and market volatility, the US$758 billion in AUM asset manager was ideally-placed, given more than half of those assets came from money market funds. While US-headquartered Federated Hermes has continued to see increasing […]

The post Asian private wealth still flocking to money markets: US$758bn asset manager appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While many private bank CIOs have flagged the potential of surging Japanese equities over the last couple of years, there is perhaps one lesser-known opportunity they have not yet pounced on. That is according to one well-known hedge fund, which zeroed in on Hello Kitty as the next big thing when it comes to tapping in to the Japan rally, […]

The post Is Hello Kitty the best way to tap Japan rally? This hedge fund thinks so appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Affluent parents in Asia are spending heavily on international education for their children, even at great cost to their retirement plans, a recent HSBC report has found. At the extreme end, the cost of international education can use up to 66% of parents’ retirement savings in markets like India and Indonesia, according to the HSBC Global Quality of Life Report […]

The post Affluent parents sacrificing retirement funds to pay for international education appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Willis Towers Watson (WTW) Investments, a global investment solutions provider traditionally focused on institutional clients, is looking to expand its private wealth footprint in Asia with the launch of its latest PE fund. The firm told Asian Private Banker it is open to partnerships in the region to grow its non-institutional clients. “We still continue to work with many corporate […]

The post WTW Investments eyes partnerships to expand Asian private wealth offerings appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Singapore-based multi-family office (MFO) Farro Capital has hired two bankers to join its private markets and Dubai teams, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Rebekah Woo has joined as managing director and head of private markets and funds, Farro Capital, the firm said in an internal memo seen by APB. Robin Titus has joined as director of Farro Capital Dubai. Previously […]

The post Farro Capital makes two senior hires for private markets, Dubai units appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) has reshuffled its Asia leadership team and is now seeking new CEOs for both Hong Kong and Taiwan. Masayuki Kaneko, the current CEO of HSBC Asset Management (Japan), will take on additional responsibilities on top of his CEO role and be appointed head of institutional sales, North Asia, with effect from 10 May, the asset […]

The post HSBC AM reshuffles Asia management team, seeks new CEOs for Hong Kong and Taiwan appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 Guy Henriques, president, Europe and Asia client group of the US$2.5 trillion in AUM Capital Group, told Asian Private Banker on a recent visit to Hong Kong that the “Asia is actually bigger for us than Europe”. In terms of the strength of the asset manager’s private banking distribution in this region, he commented the “long-term result is the […]

The post “Less relationships, bigger partnerships”: Capital Group top exec on future of wealth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

M&G Investments is eyeing the mass affluent segment and looking to develop more private banking partnerships this year, Amy Cho, the firm’s new APAC head, told APB. In addition, unlike some of its peers which are trimming headcount to streamline costs, the US$400 billion firm is still expanding headcount. Cho picked the role up five months ago and relocated from […]

The post US$400bn fund manager eyes mass affluent segment, says new APAC head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In recent years, PIMCO has seen strong inflows through its wealth channel and is likely to strengthen its distribution team in the region. “PIMCO has long been recognised for its strength in the institutional business. But the fact is, our global wealth management (GWM) business – which includes the private bank, retail bank, online platforms and single-family office segments – […]

The post PIMCO’s growing wealth channel now accounts for half of all APAC revenues appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wellington Management is launching a new credit strategy with Standard Chartered Private Bank, expanding the US$1.2 trillion US asset manager’s Asia wealth footprint. The exclusive partnership with Standard Chartered Private Bank will allow the private bank’s clients in Singapore and Hong Kong to access Wellington Management’s Credit Total Return strategy. The strategy invests in a global portfolio of US dollar-denominated […]

The post Wellington Management launches exclusive credit strategy to Standard Chartered PB clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

HSBC Global Private Banking (GPB) was close to being the largest private bank in Asia until the two Swiss giants, UBS and Credit Suisse, merged last year. Following HSBC’s recent inaugural Global Investment Summit (GIS) in Hong Kong, Annabel Spring, global CEO for GPB and Wealth, shared the bank’s secret weapons in aspiring to be Asia’s leading private bank. “We […]

The post It’s not all about AUM: Annabel Spring on HSBC’s aspiration to be Asia’s leading private bank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

abrdn, the UK asset manager with almost GBP 500 billion in AUM, has launched an emerging markets (EM) income strategy for investors in Hong Kong and Singapore. The EM strategy is available to accredited and institutional investors in Singapore, and professional investors in Hong Kong. It will mirror the strategy of a UK-domiciled vehicle that was launched in 2012 and […]

The post abrdn launches EM income strategy for Hong Kong, Singapore investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Many Asian private clients are still entrenched deep in the safety of high money markets and cash positions. With high deposit rates unsustainable, the advice from Janus Henderson Investors’ Singapore CEO is clear: one can still “date” cash, but never marry. This is according to Andrew Hendry, who is also the London-based asset manager’s head of Asia distributions. This week, […]

The post One can date cash, but never marry: Janus Henderson Investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Marco Pagliara was approached to become the German lender’s emerging market head for private banking last year, he would have been forgiven for having second thoughts. His appointment to the Singapore-based role came after Jin Yee Young, a recent high-profile hire from Credit Suisse as Asia CEO for Deutsche Bank Private Bank, unexpectedly made the switch to UBS Global […]

The post US$200tn opportunity? Deutsche Bank PB’s Pagliara makes emerging markets play appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week, Straight Talk invites René Buehlmann, global CEO of investments at abrdn, to explain the British asset manager’s 2024 business outlook and products pipeline. To Buehlmann, for new markets such as onshore China and the Middle East, it is not always a must to be the first. Instead of being everywhere at once, the firm is now coming up […]

The post Straight Talk: We don’t have to be first – abrdn’s René Buehlmann appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Franklin Templeton Investments acquired Legg Mason in the Summer of 2020, making it one of the world’s largest asset managers with a combined AUM of US$1.4 trillion across 20 investment brands, it soon ran into difficulties distributing alternatives in the US via wealth channels. However, Adam Spector, head of global distribution for Franklin Templeton, told Asian Private Banker that […]

The post Franklin Templeton doesn’t plan on making the same mistake in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Against the backdrop of a flourishing family office space in Asia Pacific, Ming Yan, a managing director at US$560 billion global investment firm Cambridge Associates, told Asian Private Banker how the firm plans to better capture and service this growing client base following her recent relocation from the US to Singapore. “Cambridge Associates has been around for 50 years since its […]

The post Why I left the US for Singapore: OCIO of US$560bn global investor appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What are wealthy families in Asia most concerned with right now? According to one recent report, political stability has become a major concern, with significant interest in real assets. This is according to Julius Baer’s 2023 Family Barometer report, which surveyed over 1,500 experts globally who work with wealthy clients, including relationship managers and wealth advisors. The report found that […]

The post Asian families favour real estate to hedge black swan events: Julius Baer report appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Milltrust International (Milltrust), an independent asset manager co-headquartered in London and Singapore, recently launched sustainability-focused multi-family office East West Private Wealth (EWPW). Simon Hopkins, the firm’s founder, explained to APB how Milltrust has been developing its new private wealth offering as an addition to its core institutional services. Established in 2010, US$450 million Milltrust currently manages about ten strategies across […]

The post Boutique IAM eyes sustainability and EM-focused UHNWIs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Gary Dugan left London in 2009 in the wake of the global financial crisis, he did so with a strong belief in the potential of emerging markets. While some investors have turned sour on China or believe the largest opportunities exist in US disruptive tech and artificial intelligence, Dugan, who continues to serve the growing needs of wealthy families […]

The post “Money will come back”: Why calls for Asia ex-China are short-sighted appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With investors betting on whether 2024 will be a year for fixed income or equities, Caroline Randall, management committee member and portfolio manager at US$2.3 trillion AUM Capital Group, believes defensive stocks have a good outlook amid the possibility of a “bumpy landing” in the US. “As you can imagine, I get asked a lot about what is my view […]

The post Idle cash needs to be “uncomfortably early” or be late: Capital Group appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Senior investment heads from UBS Global Wealth Management (UBS GWM), Julius Baer and Pictet Wealth Management (Pictet WM) outlined their products and strategies for 4Q23 during Asian Private Banker‘s 10th Funds Selection Nexus (FSN) in Singapore this week. Multi-asset strategies and alternatives will be a key focus as the next growth area amid valuation adjustments across different regions, according to […]

The post What’s new on the shelf? Leading PBs outline their product focus for Q4 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore (BOS) expects the number of its UHNW clients who set up trust structures in the city-state to more than double this year. In the first six months of 2023, the number of such trust structures that were established through the bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, BOS Trustee, exceeded the whole of 2022, BOS said on Wednesday. The bank did […]

The post Trust in us: Bank of Singapore eyes wealth planning boom in 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BNP Paribas Asset Management (BNP Paribas AM), having recently introduced private market funds targeted at intermediaries, particularly private banks, is now looking to expand its intermediaries team. This is according to Günter Tschiderer, head of private banking sales Asia Pacific and intermediary sales Greater China, who told Asian Private Banker that the team is actively looking at hiring two to […]

The post BNP Paribas AM eyes intermediaries team expansion with private markets push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

HNW individuals in Hong Kong and Singapore overwhelmingly prefer dealing with RMs who come from the same cultural and linguistic heritage as themselves, a new report has found, suggesting these advisors have the upper hand over their foreign counterparts when prospecting new clients. In addition, Asia’s younger generation is more financially savvy than ever before, being more likely to seek […]

The post Why Hong Kong and Singapore RMs have the upper hand on international rivals appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks should not fret too much about the latest defaults in the Chinese property market, with opportunities still existing in other parts of the Asian high yield credit market. This is according to Andy Suen, co-head of Asia ex-Japan, fixed income, at PineBridge Investments, who believes that Asian fixed income is benefitting from a favourable economic backdrop versus developed […]

The post CIO Insight – Opportunities in HY despite latest China defaults: PineBridge appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Real estate investor and developer Hines, which has about US$100 billion in AUM, is looking at increasing its investment offerings in Asia to capture growth in the region’s private wealth market. This is according to the US-headquartered firm’s Asia CIO, Chiang Ling Ng. “Hines was not hit materially by COVID restrictions. We’ve continued to be able to hire and build […]

The post Alts Agenda – US$100bn real estate group to expand Asia wealth offerings appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

High valuations among US tech stocks are reminiscent of the 1990s dot-com bubble, warned Peter Branner, CIO at abrdn, who told Asian Private Banker that investors need to take extra caution when evaluating individual companies. “Most asset classes had done really poorly during 2022. It was probably the worst investment year for a long time. For this year, what you […]

The post CIO Insight – Is the US facing another dot-com meltdown? abrdn urges caution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

BNY Mellon Investment Management (BNY Mellon IM), the US asset manager with US$1.9 trillion in AUM, has made three senior appointments to its Asia distribution team as it looks to bolster its offerings in the region. Clarence Chan was named CEO for Singapore on Tuesday, adding to his existing role as head of client solutions for APAC ex-Japan. He will […]

The post BNY Mellon IM reshuffles Asia leadership and distribution team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

During his recent trip to Hong Kong, Hari Balkrishna, portfolio manager of the Global Impact Equity Strategy at T. Rowe Price, explained his view on corporate governance for Asian companies and how impact investing plays a role in global allocation. “It’s really important to recognise that when companies deliver positive environmental or social impact, they typically tend to be companies […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Why impact investing goes further than ESG: T. Rowe Price appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Fidelity International (Fidelity) is aiming to introduce additional alternatives offerings in Asia, as the region sees growing interest from both institutional investors and U/HNWIs. However, challenges still remain, including Asia’s diversified geographies, distribution to non-institutional investors and a deposit rate of up to 6%. “We’re walking into a cycle now that’s probably a bit more challenging [for investing], generally, whether […]

The post How to succeed in Asia’s rising but challenging alts environment: Fidelity appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Schroders, the British asset manager with about GBP 737.5 billion (US$949.3 billion) in AUM,  has announced a string of promotions in its global client group, including its head of wealth for Asia Pacific. Chris Durack, head of Asia Pacific, and Karine Szenberg, head of Europe and global head of product & marketing, have been promoted to co-heads of its client […]

The post Schroders reshuffles global client group leadership appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

During his ongoing tour of Asia, Mark Mobius, founding partner of Mobius Capital Partners, shared his favourite markets and sectors with Asian Private Banker. “We started in Florida, and then we flew to Hong Kong, I spent some time in Hong Kong, then to the Philippines, Taiwan. And now here, Japan, the next stop will be Korea. Of all these […]

The post Mark Mobius: Don’t take the advice of other people, do your own research appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With rising wealth in Asia, private banks are presented with a strategic choice: focus on providing bespoke services to fewer ultra-high-net worth (UHNW) clients, or attempt to capture the mass affluent and early-stage HNW clients as their wealth increases. Asian Private Banker spoke to three banks – Citi Private Bank, Morgan Stanley and BNP Paribas – as they elucidated their […]

The post Private banks on mass affluent rush: Citi, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas have their say appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has made three senior appointments to its investment services team in Asia, the Swiss pure play said on Monday. Andy Lee has taken on the role as head of investment services, North Asia, in Hong Kong. He will be responsible for driving investment service offerings in North Asia while leading a team of around 20 people. He will report […]

The post UBP makes three senior hires for Asia investment services team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Online wealth platform Endowus is partnering with wealthtech Allfunds to bring investors access to investment products on Allfunds’ platform. This latest partnership, announced on Tuesday, will enable Endowus to curate and onboard investment funds from a large universe of fund houses available on the Allfunds platform, bypassing the need to negotiate individual distribution agreements with each fund manager. Targeting mass […]

The post Endowus expands fund offering with Allfunds partnership appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS expects to complete its takeover of Credit Suisse as early as 12 June 2023, according to an announcement from the bank on Monday. Upon completion, Credit Suisse shares and American Depositary Shares (ADS) will be delisted from the SIX Swiss Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange. Credit Suisse shareholders will receive one UBS share for every 22.48 outstanding […]

The post UBS expects to finalise Credit Suisse merger by next week appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Smart money is heading to global equity strategies. But are U/HNWIs, with their recent preference for cash and fixed income, ready to jump in? “We’ve seen some institutional investors and DPM or model portfolio investors adding to equity allocations, while private wealth on the advisory side is not yet following en masse. They are still favouring a balanced portfolio with […]

The post Are U/HNWIs ready to follow smart money into equity? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

If geopolitical tensions, rising interest rates and a US debt crisis were not enough for investors to deal with already, they have one more thing to weigh on their nerves: confusing economic data. That is according to Daniel Murray, deputy CIO and head of research at EFG Bank. “As we transition from one stage of the economic cycle to the […]

The post CIO Insight – Cautious investors have a new problem to worry about appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Credit Suisse is looking for fresh front-office talent across markets including China and Singapore, even as the Swiss bank’s takeover by rival UBS raises questions over the future of parts of its workforce. Analysis by Asian Private Banker found multiple job postings online for senior front office positions in the region at the embattled Swiss bank. Among the more prominent […]

The post It’s not too late to be a Credit Suisse banker in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Federated Hermes is transferring its international client group head from Europe to Singapore to lead its distribution network in Asia Pacific. Jim Roland will be the head of distribution for Asia Pacific and will report to Paul Uhlman, president of Federated Securities Corp, who oversees global distribution at the firm. Last November, the firm expanded its wholesale distribution team in […]

The post Federated Hermes reshuffles distribution leadership in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Time deposits may be luring private wealth with rising rates, however, private bankers at Asian Private Banker’s DPM Leaders Conversation 2023 believe such positions lack longevity. In this environment, executives at UBS Global Wealth Management (UBS GWM), BNP Paribas Wealth Management (BNPP WM), Bank Julius Baer and Pictet Wealth Management (Pictet WM), outline their preferred non-cash solutions for DPM clients at […]

The post How to convince clients to get out of cash and into DPM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investment portfolios with higher customisation are expected to attract increasing attention from private banking clients with market uncertainties pressurising returns. Lazard Asset Management (Lazard) aims to compete in this space by building bespoke solutions starting with client beliefs. Lazard’s Dynamic Portfolio Solutions (DPS), launched in 2018, uses data science to understand the vast array of possibilities available in the marketplace […]

The post Investing based on beliefs: A trillion dollar opportunity for asset managers? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Although PGIM has traditionally focused on institutional investors, having inked a distribution deal with Bank of Singapore last year, the asset manager is now seeking to bring its institutional-level management to family offices and high-net-worth clients in Asia. “We have 32 UCITS funds across diversified asset classes available for Asian clients, with a very healthy alternatives book that combines both […]

The post Institutional giant PGIM targeting FOs, HNWs in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With semi-liquid strategies seeing increasing demand from private bank clients, the debate over their place in an investor’s portfolio has been raging. However, for Eddie Cheng of Allspring Global Investments (Allspring GI), it is better to avoid these strategies in favour of a balance of liquid and illiquid strategies. “People don’t actually want to have their money locked up for […]

The post Are clients turning sour on semi-liquids? This investor thinks they should appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After a disastrous 2022 for fixed income as the Federal Reserve hiked interest rates, 2023 is shaping up to be a much better year with the asset class offering its highest yield in decades. Against that backdrop, Asian wealth clients are increasingly looking again at traditional fixed income mandates, according to Pilar Gomez-Bravo, co-CIO for fixed income, at MFS Investment […]

The post CIO Insight – Asia’s wealthy eye “major pivot” to traditional fixed income appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

PGIM Real Estate sees property investment opportunities in digitalisation, rental properties, senior living amid the surge in Asia’s aging population, Benett Theseira, managing director and head of Asia Pacific at PGIM Real Estate, told Asian Private Banker. While PGIM Real Estate traditionally focuses on institutional investors, since October last year, the PGIM Real Estate Asia core strategy has been available to […]

The post Alts Agenda – PGIM Real Estate: Three real estate themes to cash in on appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

CIO Insight is a fortnightly column from Asian Private Banker that features the latest views and commentaries from the top investment strategists and portfolio managers at the region’s leading private banks and assets managers that serve them. If you are interested in taking part, please email daniel.s@asianprivatebanker.com  In this edition: China’s real business will be back: Fidelity; turn neutral on […]

The post CIO Insight – How should private bank clients play the China re-opening? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Last year saw hedge funds turn in their worst performance since 2018, according to industry data provider Hedge Fund Research, as they were dragged down by those strategies focused on equities with portfolio managers struggling to place bets amid market turmoil. Hedge funds on average lost 4.25% in 2022, according to the HFRI 500 Fund Weighted Composite Index, which tracks […]

The post Will hedge funds shine in 2023? Private banks think so appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite only showing flat growth and recording poor performance in 2022, Asia’s funds industry still is providing plenty of opportunities for asset managers this year. “Clearly, there are opportunities available for both investors and asset managers regardless of the market situation in the months ahead,” Ken Yap, managing director, Asia at Cerulli Associates, a market intelligence provider for the financial […]

The post Asia’s fund industry to show resilience after 2022’s dim performance appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Entering 2023, global diversification still sits at the centre of the investment focus, especially for  discretionary portfolio management (DPM), according to speakers at the Asia Financial Forum on Thursday (January 12). “If you look back specifically to 2022, just by looking at  performance, [a] multi strategy and globally diversified portfolio would have done better than a single country or single […]

The post Diversification will drive absolute return: Nan Fung Trinity, HSBC GPB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The growing investment needs from U/HNWIs in Asia, especially from China, have pushed private banks towards building a integrated and customised wealth management platform for each individuals as one size doesn’t fit all, speakers told in a panel discussion on “Inclusive Asset & Wealth Management Landscape” during Asia Financial Forum. Angel Ng, managing director, head of Asia at Citi Global […]

The post Wealthy Chinese eager to add new assets but need more education: BoC, UBS GWM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investment teams at Western Asset Management, Pictet Wealth Management, Barings and T. Rowe Price tell Asian Private Banker about their top picks for a defensive fixed-income portfolio for 2023. “2022 has seen an unprecedented bear market for fixed-income investments and extraordinary financial turbulence. However, emerging from the storm, for the first time in decades, valuation for fixed income is attractive,” […]

The post Will 2023 be the year of fixed income? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, believes the world’s second-biggest economy will see a meaningful growth recovery in 2H2023 following the end of its long-running zero-COVID policy. However, the US investment bank is also forecasting that GDP growth in 4Q2022 and 1H2023 will be fragile amid a chaotic re-opening of the economy and rising COVID-19 infections. Morgan Stanley […]

The post Morgan Stanley: Why we’re bullish on China in 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Dear reader. Welcome to the first edition of ‘Alts Agenda’, a new monthly column from Asian Private Banker about the critical trends related to what is undoubtedly the hottest asset class among the region’s wealth managers and their fund selectors. Also, stay tuned for our upcoming, inaugural ‘Alternatives in Focus’ event, to be held in Hong Kong and Singapore, on […]

The post Alts Agenda – J.P. Morgan PB’s semi-liquids are the tonic for market volatility appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When it comes to launching new products for private banks in Asia-Pacific, for Ninety One it is far more important to get things right rather than be the quickest. That philosophy applies to how the South Africa-based asset manager, which had AUM of GBP143.9 billion (US$175.7 billion) as of May, approaches products focused on ESG and multi-asset. “Many other firms […]

The post For this US$175bn asset manager, it’s better to be thoughtful than quick appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

J.P. Morgan Private Bank (JPM PB) announced a new head of investments & engagement for Asia. Ulysses Lau, who succeeds Diana Robinson in the role, will lead the investment solutions and specialist teams in Asia and focus on developing and implementing new strategies and tactics to expand their market share, according to the announcement on on Thursday. Having been appointed […]

The post J.P. Morgan PB names new Asia investment team head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Attractive valuations are making Asian bond markets such as Indonesia more appealing to investors, according to one US asset manager with US$400 billion in AUM, as private clients in the region increasingly look for alternatives to China’s under-pressure high-yield space. The recommendation from Desmond Soon, head of investment management, Asia (ex-Japan) at Western Asset Management (Western AM), comes as bond […]

The post Beyond Chinese high yield: How this US$400bn firm invests in Asian credit appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: Stay out of the US and Europe: Nikko Asset Management; US equities face further corrections: VP Bank; more adjustment is on the way: DWS Stay out of the US and Europe: Nikko Asset Management Nikko Asset Management (Nikko AM) has experience when it comes to navigating volatility. Despite the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the fund manager […]

The post CIO Weekly – Why this US$200bn fund manager thinks it is time to be risk averse appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

JP Morgan Asset Management’s Managing Director, Chief Market Strategist, Asia Tai Hui recently joined Asian Private Banker for an exclusive interview. 近期，我们邀请到了摩根资产管理 (J.P. Morgan Asset Management) 亚洲首席市场策略师许长泰先生做客《亚洲私人银行家》专访。 Hui discussed a range of topics covering the impact of Fed rate hikes on Asia-Pacific markets, preferred markets and sectors for Asia stocks, whether China A-shares are still worth investing in, and prospects […]

The post J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s Tai Hui on the rebooting of China and Southeast Asian Markets (Mandarin interview) appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong-based fintech platform Altive aims to remove the hurdles to the alternative investment market by connecting with institutional asset managers that distribute alternative solutions to HNWIs and single family offices (FOs). On its third anniversary, the firm told Asian Private Banker what was behind its rapid AUM growth. “It has been a fruitful three years since our establishment: AUM […]

The post Alternative asset manager Altive eyes US$600 million in AUM after just three years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: BNP Paribas WM recommends tilt towards Southeast Asia; EU is tackling power crunch: Julius Baer; UBS suggests hedging CNY exposure BNP Paribas WM recommends tilt towards Southeast Asia, since US recession has not been priced in With the higher-than-expected August US CPI number, BNP Paribas Wealth Management considers a 75-bp rate hike in the September US Fed FOMC […]

The post CIO Weekly – US recession scenario has not been fully priced in yet: Grace Tam of BNP Paribas WM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Credit Suisse expects a cloudy outlook for Asia’s tech sector in the next few quarters, in view of its underperformance in 1H22, but highlights bright investment prospects across the semiconductor, PCs, hardware and smartphones industries. The MSCI Asia IT Index recorded a 14% decrease YTD, reversing the outperformance during the previous three years. The underperformance runs across the board — […]

The post Gloomy outlook for Asia tech sector until 2H23: Credit Suisse appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Wearing a PhD hat as a college professor while being the CIO of the Modular Blockchain Fund gives Daniel Liebau a unique vantage point to explain to Asian Private Banker what the risks and challenges are of blockchain technology and where the investment potential lies for U/HNWIs. The Modular Blockchain Fund offers a long-only investment opportunity in liquid cryptocurrencies. Interestingly, […]

The post ESG crypto or Asia? This asset manager runs both appeared first on Asian Private Banker.