Columbia Threadneedle, the global asset management arm of US-based Ameriprise Financial Inc, has launched three regionally-managed, Asia-focused equity funds in Hong Kong. They are called the Threadneedle (Lux) Developed Asia Growth and Income Fund; the Threadneedle (Lux) Asia Contrarian Equity Fund; and the Threadneedle (Lux) Asian Focus Fund.
“Asia ex-Japan continues to be the fastest growing region in the world despite slowing down to a more stable and sustainable pace of growth in recent years,” Ng Soo Nam, head of Asian equities said.
Last year, the fund house unveiled a series of Asia-managed funds in Singapore.
“The quality of the investment environment is also improving, with the corporate mindset more focused on business resilience and profitability, boding well for shareholder returns going forward,” Nam added.
The Developed Asia Growth and Income Fund will invest in high quality and shareholder-friendly companies listed in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. It aims for a balanced mix of returns from capital appreciation and dividend yields.
“These three markets offer the largest opportunity set of well-run, dividend paying companies with sustainable business models,” the firm said.
The Asia Contrarian Equity Fund will exploit stocks that have been mispriced in the short-term but hold promise over the long-term due to sound company fundamentals.
“Favored ideas are those suffering price weaknesses due to market emotion or transient factors that are likely to dissipate within the next 12 months.”
