Weekly Asia News (Friday)

AMP Capital is to relaunch one of Australia's largest unlisted retail direct property funds. Previously under the management of AXA Australia, AMP Capital will implement a new strategy for the Wholesale Australian Property Fund which has assets worth AUD760 million. »

Enhanced Investment Products Limited (EIP), a Hong Kong based asset management firm, has confirmed the launch of seven new ETF products, authorised by the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission at the beginning of January 2012. Under the brand name XIE Shares, these ETFs will be an extension of EIP’s cost-effective index product offerings, and will launch on Thursday, 16 February 2012 and Tuesday, 21 February 2012. »

CAIS, a New York-based financial technology company providing an independent, alternative investment platform to the global wealth management industry, is opening an office in Sydney, Australia to better meet client needs and address the growing demand for alternative investments throughout the Asia Pacific region. »

Major fund distributors in Asia expect demand among the regions’ retail investors to remain concentrated on China and Asia (ex – Japan) as investors continue to reduce and avoid exposure to the United States and European markets. »

Kinetic Partners, a global professional services firm to the asset management, investment banking and broking industry, is opening a new office in Hong Kong, the firm’s first step into Asia.  »

The 2011 year was a watershed year for the Australian ETF industry, with ASX listed ETFs attracting over AUD500 million in net inflows, according to the BetaShares Australian ETF Review for December. The increase is particularly striking in that it came at a time when the general equity markets dropped significantly. »

State Street Global Advisors’ (SSgA) SPDR S&P Small Cap Emerging Asia Pacific ETF (symbol:GMFS) began trading on the NYSE Arca on 12 January, 2012. The first emerging Asia Pacific small cap ETF, the new fund provides investors with access to companies poised to benefit from the growth of emerging Asia's middle class. Its annual expense ratio is 0.65 per cent. »

The Asia-Pacific region is dealing with intensified regulations, pressured revenues, narrowing distribution, reluctant inflows, and other challenges. Cerulli contends, however, that opportunity presents itself in long-term trends such as changes in regulation that will actually expand investment opportunities and demographic and market developments that will facilitate sales of products that do not currently have a strong presence among Asian investors. »

Hong Kong based asset management firm, Enhanced Investment Products Limited (EIP) has received Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) authorisation for the launch of a new and suite of ETF products. Expected to be the first Hong Kong domiciled swap-based synthetic ETF platform managed by a local manager, EIP will list the initial suite of products on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday, 16 February 2012. »

Insurance companies and pension funds have traditionally played an important role as providers of long-term risk capital and, in a world of deleveraging credit institutions, are crucially needed to finance economic development. »