Investors looking beyond US scoop-up Asian funds
Net flows into exchange-traded equity funds that invest in Asia totalled $8.45 billion for the three weeks ended May 7, the highest in about seven months, LSEG Lipper data covering 844 funds listed globally showed.
Meanwhile, U.S. equity funds logged a fourth straight week of outflows, totalling $43.5 billion to May 7, as President Donald Trump's trade policies have shaken investor confidence.
"There is more awareness of the need for portfolio diversification and the overcrowding in the Magnificent 7 stocks, helping flows to non-U.S. markets including Asia," said Prashant Bhayani, chief investment officer at BNP Paribas Wealth Management.
These outflows coincide with good performance and recent rises in currencies across Asia, suggesting a rush of money moving to the region and offering an added attraction for foreign buyers.
Valuations and a belief that countries could either strike trade deals or end up beneficiaries from new routes opened up to avoid U.S. levies are also supporting sentiment.
Gary Tan, a portfolio manager at Allspring Global Investments, has bought some stocks in ASEAN recently, which he thought were good value.
"After the initial tariff shock in April, investors have been selectively investing in market-specific ETFs in countries where they anticipate positive outcomes from tariff negotiations," he said.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan is up more than 4% for the year so far, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq have clocked losses of close to 4% and 7%, respectively.
The one-year forward price-to-earnings (PE) ratio for Malaysia's benchmark index, for instance, stands at 17.56, with Taiwan at 14.64 and the S&P 500 at 20.62.
"We think the growing need for diversification away from U.S. assets, the dollar weakening towards its long-run fair value over time, coupled with cheaper valuations and lighter positioning, are supportive for Asian equities," said Sunil Koul, global emerging market equity strategist at Goldman Sachs. - Reuters
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YOURSAY | How to fight a strong man wielding a big sword using just a pen knife? COMMENT | Malaysia's pusillanimous foreign policy Koel: A thoughtful and timely article by former attorney-general Tommy Thomas. Handing over US$70 billion when Malaysia's total investments held in the US are US$43 billion? This is madness! Does Malaysia have a coherent foreign policy in these troubled times? We hardly see or hear from Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan. It is time to go back to the spirit of the non-aligned movement, and time to actively seek alternative trade partners. The world is seeing the fallout of putting all your eggs in one basket. All you need is one madman to destroy everything. As we see right now, there is no stability to this White House administration. How much of what's happening is about helping that country? How much is the self-interest and greed of a businessperson in the highest office of that country? Nobody seems clear. Not even his aides. In such uncharted territories, smiles and flattery are not going to get us very far. People also need to look at who suffers the worst in these 'tariff wars'. There is a white, supremacist, and racist element to these trade wars that hints at a neocolonial stance. Some of the worst hit are the countries of the Global South, and that is by design. In case your history is weak, what did the colonisers do? Impoverish, extract, and dominate. Of course, in most cases, they will find local collaborators, lackeys to help them in this pursuit. We are probably seeing the first part of this strategy of impoverishing some of the poorest countries in the world. To what end? In case anyone missed it, local media ran an article that highlighted a case in Vietnam of a land grab that might hint at what is also at play with US President Donald Trump's administration. Land used for farming in North Vietnam was suddenly taken away and given to the Trumps for them to build golf resorts. Thousands of Vietnamese farmers were suddenly asked to move out with pitiful amounts of compensation that are hardly sustainable. All part of the tariff talks. Of course, the Vietnamese leaders who struck this deal are not personally affected, and the move will be framed as 'boosting the economy', but at what cost to the Vietnamese farmers? Such is the danger when governments fail to stand up to foreign bullies. Time to think strategically and open our markets to friendly, just, and mature nations and governments. Malaysia's interests, independence, and sovereignty must be safeguarded. The government should not reduce us to the status of a vassal state. Do we have any pundits at the moment to help this government steer through these trade wars? We cannot afford to send children to negotiate with the sharks! For a Better World: Thomas has done his research meticulously by quoting a vast array of published material. But his liberal, anti-Trump ideology can be difficult to observe or distinguish, but it pervades his discussion and analysis. Why blame the world's problems and ills on the US and its present leader, Trump? He won the national popular vote with 49.8 percent while his rival secured 48.3 percent. Respect it, but if Trump transgresses his country's Constitution or laws, he can be sacked/impeached by US Congress members. I agree that the US is a superpower, but so is Russia and, to some extent, China and the European Union. The way Thomas articulates it, it looks like it's Trump's fault for every conceivable bad and controversial issue that arises in human society on this Earth. Do Trump and his ruling elite have such unimaginable power? GP2025: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has always been all talk and namby-pamby in actions. He hides behind 'international diplomacy' so that he need not be tough. He is useless, and the majority know it and want him out of government. Unfortunately, the minorities, whom he has taken for a ride and who don't want to face it, still support him. Anwar is expected to do his job. No amount of criticism is going to help him perform. That's asking too much of someone who can't deliver. The best thing to do now is to support Perikatan Nasional's initiative to remove him from government. HOYOHOYO: Tommy, it's easy to write as a lawyer. Facing the drastic consequences is another thing. Anwar is wise in his response to Trump. A 19 percent tariff on all US-imported goods will lead to exorbitant tariffs on our exports. He had repeatedly warned against retaliation. High tariffs will obliterate the entire exporting industry overnight. The wisdom of inviting Trump to visit Kuala Lumpur is to massage his ego. How to fight a strong man wielding a big sword using just a pen knife? Anwar chooses reality to avoid the consequences that you are not facing in the comfort of your office. Scoop: Slap a 19 percent tariff on US goods? What happens to the tariff on Malaysia? Ask Canada, India, and China. Trump doubled the tariffs on those who imposed reciprocal/retaliatory tariffs. What would happen if Malaysia's tariff rate ended up close to double that of Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia? Almost three times higher than Japan and South Korea? Tommy is a corporate law specialist, not an international trade specialist or economist. Oh, and the piece is way too complimentary of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad's foreign policy. Hmmmmmmmm: Tommy, I find your views too simplistic. Regarding our response to US tariffs, it looks like a case of 'damned if I do and damned if I don't'. The problem in this country is that we do not choose the best brains to lead us. If we have the best advisors, then we can be confident that the decisions made by the government are for the best. As it is, we will always wonder if we made the right decisions. I also wonder what the point is with trading with the US if we do not ultimately make a profit. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
