“[Climate change] is the greatest con job perpetrated on the world,” was the blunt assessment given by US President Donald Trump in September 2025 to the United Nations General Assembly. Trump went on to describe climate predictions as being “made by stupid people that have cost their country’s fortunes and given those same countries no chance for success,” representing a […]

The post Is sustainability still in play? Asia’s US$5tn asset owners say yes appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

If there’s one area that warrants more attention right now, it’s robotics. This sector, Daegal Tsang tells Asian Private Banker, is likely to see continued and perhaps even accelerated growth in the near future to meet ever-increasing demand. While many may be quick to claim that the AI tech rally plateaued long ago, Tsang believes that much of the modern […]

The post Pictet sees robotics as the next frontier for Asian investors appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Asset Management (Pictet AM) has launched its second qualified domestic limited partnership (QDLP) product for qualified investors in China. The fund is a global investment grade (IG) credit strategy which focuses on investing in corporate bonds issued by companies with strong financial and sustainability credentials, predominantly in the US and Europe, including but not limited to ESG-labelled bonds, the […]

The post Pictet AM launches global IG credit fund for onshore Chinese U/HNWIs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Asset Management (Pictet AM) believes China is signalling its intention to enhance cross-border fund distribution channels. Combined with rising Chinese demand for global exposure and an underperforming domestic market, the Swiss firm is betting on continued growth in this area. Pictet AM has already built out cross-border distribution channels through the plethora of government schemes, including Qualified Domestic Institutional […]

The post Pictet AM betting on regulatory tailwinds to enhance mainland China distribution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Asset Management (Pictet AM) has hired an industry veteran from T. Rowe Price to lead its Korea sales team, the firm said on Friday. Based in Hong Kong, Da Seul Lee has been appointed as team lead for Korea sales. He will report to Junjie Watkins, chief executive officer for Asia ex-Japan at Pictet AM, according to a company […]

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This is a sponsored article from Pictet Asset Management. Megatrends are powerful social, demographic, environmental and technological forces of change reshaping our world and the future. They are also one of the success factors behind Pictet AM, one of the world’s largest thematic equities managers. A generation ago, the phrase ‘carbon footprint’ would have meant little to most of us. […]

The post Megatrends: From secular growth drivers to sustainable investment themes appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Amid an evolving macro landscape in the region, Pictet Asset Management believes its Asia special situations fund avoids falling into the trap of chasing beta in China. The fund, Pictet Total Return (TR) Lotus, is a special situations strategy that seeks to capture a distinctive opportunity in Asia, including short to medium-term corporate catalysts, longer-term secular trends such as China’s […]

The post “You can’t cheat in this market”: Why Pictet AM doesn’t chase beta in China appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s sustainable future, together with opportunities arising from China’s re-opening, are the most significant trends among both onshore and offshore investors, according to Du Yi, senior investment manager, thematic equities, at Pictet Asset Management. Du explained why Pictet chose China A-shares for its first-ever single-market ESG fund. Du noted that the team is seeing potential in renewable energy, such as […]

The post ESG 2.0: Investing in China’s sustainable future: Pictet AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Asset Management (Pictet AM) is adding a China ESG strategy to its products shelf, marking the asset manager’s first-ever regional bias thematic strategy. As many investors look to tap China’s re-opening, the new China fund is part of the asset manager’s group-level strategy, and not just for the short-term, according to Freeman Tsang, head of intermediaries, Asia ex-Japan at […]

The post Long-term strategy underpins Pictet’s China ESG fund appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Following a tumultuous 2022, asset managers leaned toward sustainable credit solutions as well as total returns and Japan for this year as they pitched their products to industry participants at Asian Private Banker‘s sixth APB Intensive event. More than 60 fund selection executives from over 30 private bank and wealth management institutions tuned in to watch the quick-fire, eight-minute pitches […]

The post Intensive 6.0 – The future of sustainability is debt, not equity appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Rising geopolitical tensions and a rapid trajectory of interest rate hikes weighed on markets in 2022 – and ESG assets were no exception. Despite solid fundamentals in some cases, concerns over an economic slowdown severely hit the valuations of clean energy companies. However, Pictet Asset Management (Pictet AM) believes that the reasons for investing in the clean energy transition theme […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Energy transition the investment theme for 2023 and beyond: Pictet appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Since most of the emerging diseases in humans originate from animals in our food chain, Pictet Asset Management is focusing on animal health technologies that are able to identify and prevent the emergence and spread of illnesses such as Coronavirus or influenza amongst animals — before they can spread to other animals or to humans. Senior investment manager Mayssa Al […]

The post ESG 2.0 – Pictet AM finds sweet spots in virus prevention tech appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US-based independent asset manager (IAM) Allspring Global Investments (Allspring), has established a presence in Japan. The US$476 billion AUM asset manager has set up Allspring Global Investments (Japan) Ltd and opened an office in Tokyo, appointing Akira Hosoda as Japan representative and country head, according to a Tuesday press release. Hosoda is an industry veteran, having worked in the investment […]

The post US$467B IAM opens shop in Japan and names country head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Takuhide Hagino joined Pictet in 2000, the firm’s asset management business in Japan had US$1 billion in AUM. Today, the Swiss group manages over US$27 billion, thanks to its multi-asset allocation and Swiss portfolio construction capabilities. “From 1981 to 2004, Pictet Japan was in deficit for almost 23 years,” Hagino, president and CEO of Pictet Asset Management (PAM) Japan, […]

The post Pictet AM on track in Japan: CEO Takuhide Hagino appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Over the past two years, Bank of China (HK) Private Banking (PB) has expanded its alternatives journey by distributing solutions from Lazard Asset Management, Ping An and Man Group to U/HNWIs clients. “Since private market investment is still dominated by institutional investors, it makes sense to educate U/HNWIs about alternatives — how to diversify in terms of markets and asset […]

The post Premium Pickers: Morphing Asian clients’ home bias into a global mindset appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As clients in Asia are reverting to a risk-off mode following a tumultuous 1H22, Swiss pure-play Pictet is recommending two strategies to hedge against inflation. One of the strategies goes straight to commodities, whose soaring prices have fuelled inflation, Evelyn Yeo told Asia Private Banker. The head of Investments in Asia at Pictet Wealth Management Asia explained that it has […]

The post Fight inflation with real estate and commodity strategies: Evelyn Yeo of Pictet WM Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Following weeks of speculation, the Federal Reserve this week unveiled its largest single rate hike in almost three decades. The 75bps rise on Wednesday, the US central bank’s biggest increase since 1994, comes as the Fed attempts to tamp down stubbornly high inflation that has been worsened by a crunch in global energy and food markets. The Federal Funds rate […]

The post Fed hikes rates by most since 1994: Private banks and asset managers react appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investing in timber is not about chopping down trees and changing the land use, explains Gillian Diesen, client portfolio manager, thematic equities, Pictet Asset Management. She won’t touch natural forests that are ecologically unique, and invests only in forests that have been sustainably managed for centuries — and should continue to do so because wood is an important resource. When […]

The post ESG 2.0 – “Timber value chain is quite unique”: Gillian Diesen of Pictet AM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: Stick with equities in the face of slower China growth: Saxo Markets Hong Kong; Revised earnings will hurt US stock market in 2Q22: Pictet AM; No end in sight for monetary tightening in Singapore: Goldman Sachs Stick with equities in the face of slower China growth: Saxo Markets Hong Kong While China’s 2022 growth looks set to decelerate, […]

The post CIO Weekly – Why China onshore equities offer better diversification: Redmond Wong of Saxo Markets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

For the first time ever, Pictet Group has appointed two equity partners from its Asia ex-Japan businesses, highlighting the importance of the region for the company, Asian Private Banker has learned. The Swiss pure play has brought its number of equity partners to 50, after adding Alex Ng, CEO Hong Kong branch and head of North Asia of Pictet Wealth […]

The post Pictet picks two equity partners from Asia wealth and asset businesses appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Is gender diversity a mere box-ticking exercise? What can be done to bridge the salary gap? Is discrimination or bias still a thing? What was your experience like? What will you tell the next generation of females leaders? These are some of the questions we asked female leaders in private banking and asset management for this International Women’s Day. HSBC […]

The post “It’s about breaking our own stereotypes”: Women in the ‘C-suite’ tell it as it is appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investments focused on China’s transition to clean energy sources will likely keep performing long-term despite recent volatility, according to private banks and asset managers, as the Ukraine-Russia crisis has highlighted the urgency in the shift away from fossil fuels. Alternative energy assets in China are currently enjoying a purple patch, with the country’s CSI New Energy index soaring 49% over […]

The post Private banks spy buying opportunity after volatility hits China new energy assets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Fund managers say Asian local debt, including Chinese government bonds, have an increasingly investable opportunity to enhance investment portfolios. What’s more, ESG-labelled bonds are likely to increase in emerging markets led by China. Even though global liquidity tightening could dampen prospects for Asia fixed income asset prices, Lian Chia-Liang, head of emerging markets debt at Western Asset Management, highlighted a […]

The post Fund giants pick sweet spots in Asian bond market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: We are not entering a bear market: Audrey Goh of StanChart WM; Rotate into alternative strategies as a hedge against volatility: UBP; Expect China equities to recoup losses in Year of the Tiger: Pictet Asset Management We are not entering a bear market: Audrey Goh of StanChart WM The recent equities correction has caught many investors by surprise, […]

The post CIO Weekly – Choppy start to 2022 doesn’t mean we are entering a bear market: Audrey Goh of StanChart WM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Asset Management believes now is the right time to ride on the wave of greater awareness around environmental issues to bring Chinese investors ESG strategies through a qualified domestic limited partner (QDLP) programme. “This could be our opportunity as thematic investing is our strongest competitive point,” explained Junjie Watkins to Asian Private Banker. “The timing is appropriate because such […]

The post Pictet AM explores offering private clients in China environmental strategies: Junjie Watkins, Asia ex-Japan CEO appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: Maybank Singapore: Investors unable to withstand China volatility should trim exposure; Fidelity International: Sentiment has taken a bigger knock than fundamentals; PIMCO: Do not expect systemic risk across China’s real estate sector; Pictet Asset Management: Advising clients to increase cash, add volatility hedges. Maybank Singapore: Investors unable to withstand China volatility should trim exposure Despite shares steadying on […]

The post CIO Weekly: Can’t stomach China’s volatility? Cut your losses — Alice Tan of Maybank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Group has brought in a head of human resources Asia (ex-Japan) from the firm’s founding family, Asian Private Banker has learned. According to an internal announcement seen by Asian Private Banker, Grégoire Pictet will assume the newly-created role from 15 November 2021, pending regulatory approval. Based in Hong Kong, he will join the Group Asia Executive Committee and manage […]

The post Pictet appoints family member as HR chief for Asia business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Although for the past ten years, returns on emerging Asia stocks and bonds have lagged global indices in USD terms, Pictet Asset Management believes that the next five years will see an altogether different outcome. “Returns will be commensurate with the region’s dynamism, which means Asian assets are currently underrepresented in global portfolios,” Luca Paolini, chief strategist at Pictet Asset […]

The post Pictet AM bullish about emerging Asia assets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Building up defences by booking profits and adding hedges against volatility would stand investors in good stead as uncertain times loom ahead, according to Pictet Wealth Management. “After a strong showing in the equity market, there are grounds for caution, including the massive amount of retail money streaming into the stock markets and stoking a range of irrational market fads […]

The post Use the calm before the storm in markets to mend the sails of your portfolio: Pictet Wealth Management appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Freeman Tsang rejoined Pictet Asset Management as head of intermediaries for Asia ex-Japan in 2020. His recent appointment comes at a time when the asset management community is looking towards two important growth levers: the Greater Bay Area (GBA) project and ESG and sustainable investing. Little surprise, then, that Tsang tells Asian Private Banker the firm is laser-focused on both opportunities. […]

The post Innovation “only worthwhile when it generates new sources of alpha”: Pictet Asset Management’s Freeman Tsang appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After a steep hike in inflows that significantly bulked up their share in the global fund universe, thematic strategies still have more room to grow for investors in Asia, according to Morningstar. The region’s maturing ESG awareness will bolster investor interest and lead to more product launches with themes related to sustainability, it added. Morningstar’s latest research on global thematic […]

The post Momentum in thematic funds to sustain for Asia investors — with more ESG flavours appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Gillian Diesen, Client Portfolio Manager at Pictet Asset Management This is a sponsored advertorial from Pictet Asset Management What links the Disney+ and Hulu streaming platform businesses of The Walt Disney Company with US animal companion services provider IDEXX Laboratories and Chinese after-school-tutoring company XFN.CN? Answer: they are all consumer service stocks that qualify for inclusion in Pictet Asset Management’s […]

The post The Human Factor: Investing for Social Good and Financial Gain appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Pictet Asset Management has announced the opening today of a wholly foreign-owned enterprise (WFOE) in Shanghai, marking a first step towards growing in onshore China. Upon registration with the Asset Management Association of China (AMAC), the Shanghai branch will be able to raise funds from domestic Chinese investors to invest in Pictet AM’s offshore strategies through the Qualified Domestic Limited […]

The post Pictet AM expands China onshore presence appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Pictet Asset Management. In the mid-1990s, I was handed the responsibility of managing the global equity segment of a pension fund. Before then I had only run single-country portfolios, so it was an exciting opportunity. Among the stocks I inherited was a new technology hardware manufacturer whose sales were rising rapidly. However, I couldn’t […]

The post Back to the future appeared first on Asian Private Banker.