Latest news with #AsiaPac
Mint
14-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
BofA Survey: Fund Managers favour India over Japan, China for equity exposure
India has emerged as the most preferred equity market in the Asia Pacific region, according to the latest Fund Manager Survey (FMS) by BofA Securities. Backed by positive sentiment around infrastructure development, strong consumption trends, and ongoing supply chain realignments, Indian equities have overtaken Japan to secure the top spot among fund managers. A net 42 percent of respondents in the BofA Securities' May survey favored India over other Asia Pac markets. Japan followed at 39 percent, while China, which had previously ranked lowest, climbed to third place with 6 percent preference. Singapore trailed at 3 percent, and Thailand remained the least favored market in the region. 'India emerges as the most favored market, perceived as a likely beneficiary of supply chain re-alignments following tariff effects,' BofA Securities noted in its survey findings. In terms of sectoral focus, infrastructure and consumption continue to dominate investor interest within Indian markets. The survey included responses from 208 global panelists managing $522 billion in assets under management (AUM). Of these, 174 participants with $458 billion in AUM responded to the global FMS segment, while 109 panelists with $234 billion AUM took part in the regional Asia Pac segment, covering the period between May 2 and May 8, 2025. The survey highlighted an improving sentiment around economic growth in the Asia Pac region. While 58 percent of fund managers still expect an earnings slowdown, the number has declined from 78 percent in the previous month, signaling a potential turnaround in outlook. Moreover, current earnings forecasts are not viewed as overly optimistic, suggesting possible room for upward revisions. Globally, pessimism is easing. A net 59 percent of fund managers still expect a weaker global economy, down from 82 percent last month. Meanwhile, 77 percent now forecast a softer Asian economy, compared to 89 percent in the prior survey. The mood on China has become increasingly constructive. Only 16 percent of respondents said they are actively seeking opportunities outside China, compared to 26 percent a month ago. In fact, a record 10 percent of participants reported being fully invested in the Chinese market. It is worth noting that the survey was conducted before the May 8 US-China meeting in Geneva, which was followed by an announcement regarding tariff reductions—potentially further boosting sentiment towards Chinese equities. In Asia ex-Japan portfolios, fund managers were seen overweighting telecom and software sectors, while underweighting energy, materials, and consumer discretionary (excluding retail and e-commerce). Sentiment towards the semiconductor sector has also improved, with only 42 percent now expecting a slowdown in the chip cycle—down from 59 percent last month. In Japan, banks continue to be the most preferred investment theme, supported by the backdrop of higher interest rates. Real estate has climbed to the second spot in terms of sectoral preference. Meanwhile, in China, investors favored themes around AI, semiconductors, and companies likely to announce buybacks or dividends. Overall, India's emergence as the most preferred equity market in Asia Pac underscores growing global investor confidence in its long-term economic fundamentals and sector-specific growth stories. With fund managers continuing to eye infrastructure and consumption as key themes, and broader regional sentiment improving, Indian equities appear well-positioned to attract sustained institutional flows in the coming months. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before making any investment decisions.
Forbes
07-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Morality Versus Legality In Stakeholder Relations
Venkat Rao: VP and Country Head—Asia-Pac & Japan at Pitney Bowes | Stanford Seed Consultant. getty The emerging landscape of business is witnessing an increasing interplay between morality and legality, particularly within the complex context of community relationships. While legality provides the framework and guidelines, morality serves as the conscience that guides decisions beyond mere compliance. In today's hyper-connected and socially conscious world, successful businesses are the ones that acknowledge the distinction between doing things right (legality) and doing the right thing (morality). The Morality-Legality Divide In Business Legality refers to adherence to laws and regulations. These rules in black and white are defined by the government to ensure order and fair play. However, laws often lag societal expectations and ethical norms. Morality as a whole is shaped by culture, values and ethics, and it encompasses a broader and more nuanced perspective on right and wrong. Consider, for instance, the case of a multinational company that may be legally correct when it displaces a rural community to build world-class infrastructure. As legally apt as it might be, the morality can be questionable if it ignores the impact on the livelihoods, heritage and dignity of the people affected. Erosion of trust can occur due to this divide in legality versus morality, which can spark a backlash and damage the brand and the company's reputation. This can occur even if no law is broken. Why Morality Matters In Community Relationships The community is more than just a geographical area; it's an ecosystem of people, culture, values, aspirations and diverse ingredients. In short, it is a living ecosystem of people and culture. Businesses embedded in communities hold immense power to influence social, economic and environmental outcomes. I don't think the debate is essentially about whether businesses should be accountable to communities, but in what ways they can act as catalysts to uphold their moral responsibilities when laws remain silent. Morally guided behavior in community and business relationships can prove to be precursors for sustainable outcomes, including: • Trust And Loyalty: Businesses with empathy, fairness and responsibility are often more embraced by communities. • Social License To Operate: Businesses can thrive in the long term because of the approval of the local population and communities • Crisis Resilience: Strong community bonds are often the reason for companies to withstand crises of any nature: reputational, environments or political. How Stakeholders Can Create Impact Collaboration is essential to bridging the gap between legality and morality, but it can only succeed when all stakeholders—corporations, communities, governments, civil society, and individuals—are involved. Here's how each group can contribute: 1. Corporate Leadership The core strategies of leaders must embed ethical considerations. This involves: • Building charters for community engagement that goes beyond legal obligations. • Practicing transparent communication and inclusive decision-making. • Employing ethics committees to vet important decisions remain the key 2. Employees Ethical ambassadors often come from employees themselves, and a blend of advocacy and loyalty can prove to create a positive impact too. I find that a knowledge management system is critical to empowering them to recognize and act on moral issues. Make sure to create safe spaces for whistleblowing and feedback, overall ensuring that morality is part of the organizational culture. 3. Investors And Shareholders Create metrics to define how ethical practices and environmental, social and governance (ESG) metrics should be blended with community practices. Investors should push companies to move beyond profit for profit's sake and instead pursue what I think of as purposeful, responsible profitability. 4. Governments And Policymakers Consulting with communities and businesses is essential to ensure laws reflect shared moral values. Offering incentives for ethical business practices, such as tax benefits or public recognition, can help establish new norms. 5. Communities Themselves Participatory governance is the key to the enforcement of laws, and communities play a vital role here. Regulatory community audits and feedback mechanisms can make businesses more accountable and attuned to local values. Conclusion While laws set the floor, morality sets the ceiling. Sustaining strong relationships in business and communities requires embedding morality—not just relying on legality. Once laws are shaped through collective consensus, upholding them becomes a shared moral responsibility. A mindset shift from compliance to conscience should be adopted when complying with laws. Overall, I find that businesses and communities thrive when they are governed by the heart rather than merely by rules. A moral compass is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity. And when stakeholders come together with a shared commitment to ethical impact, they don't just build businesses—they build legacies. Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Is Bitcoin Turning Into The ‘New Boring' Of Investing?
Press Release – Easy Crypto Photo/Supplied Crypto used to be the financial equivalent of a RedBullfuelled rollercoaster. But here we are – Bitcoin up doubledigits during the last week of April while the Nasdaq shed 10%, the S&P slipped 8.5% and even the … Crypto used to be the financial equivalent of a RedBullfuelled rollercoaster. But here we are – Bitcoin up doubledigits during the last week of April while the Nasdaq shed 10%, the S&P slipped 8.5% and even the Dow limped 8% lower. When the most volatile kid in class suddenly sits quietly at the front row, you have to ask yourself: are we watching Bitcoin grow into a safehaven adult? A safe harbour in a soapopera Markets run on forwardlooking confidence but right now, Washington is serving up cliffhanger after cliffhanger: tariff escalations and uncertainty, policy Uturns and pressconference plot twists that would make a daytime drama blush. The US dollar has wobbled more than 10% in a fortnight – gifting the rest of the globe surprise purchasing power. Significantly, when the reserve currency 'sneezes', capital grabs its mask and looks for opportunities that aren't nailed to a single flag. This is why we're seeing: Gold spiking – central banks vacuumed up more than a third of annual supply last year. Bluechip AsiaPac equities rallying – there is freetrade optimism in Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing which means this stock is suddenly fashionable again. Bitcoin grinding higher – algorithmic scarcity and neutrality has never looked so comforting. The lesson here is that leadership certainty is optional, but mathdriven scarcity sells itself. Bitcoin vs gold: a question of 'old metal, new metal' Gold has been humanity's crisis blanket for millennia – it is universally recognised, ornamental and immune to software bugs. That deeprooted societal acceptance gives the metal a definite head start over Bitcoin and its total market value is still much larger. Gold also cruises at about onethird of Bitcoin's volatility and carries zero technical risk. Unsurprisingly, central banks remain gold's biggest fans, buying up roughly a third of yearly production. Yet according to NYDIG, 'In nearly every other measure…bitcoin has the edge – supply growth, monetary policy, supply cap, as well as its usability stemming from its digital only nature. Even in the areas in which bitcoin is deficient compared to gold, longevity and volatility, those gaps are narrowing over time.' Annualised realised volatility has slid to just over 50%, down from triple digits only a few years ago, while gold's own calm surface is rippling higher and NYDIG notes the volatility ratio between the two assets has already compressed to 3.6:1 and expects further convergence. In other words, Bitcoin is maturing, all the while the broader market gets choppier. (The surge of far more speculative altcoins has also made Bitcoin look relatively conservative.) Gold remains the elder statesman – trusted, stable and vaultfriendly – but Bitcoin is the upandcomer – scarcer by design, borderless by nature and increasingly less wild than its reputation suggests. Will portable, programmable scarcity prove the 21stcentury upgrade to an ancient store of value? Boring belongs in every portfolio 'Boring' is portfolio code for decorrelation. In simple terms, you want pieces that zig when everything else zags. Having some of your portfolio allocated to Bitcoin means that you're suddenly holding an asset that doesn't care about Fed rate whispers or electionseason Tweet storms. Institutional 'stealth allocators' now include family offices, endowments and macro funds – adding quiet weight. What's more, whilst the macro narratives shift from growth to protection and real yields turn negative, nonsovereign stores of value like crypto suddenly become very shiny. The killer combo: scarcity + silence There's a saying: the loudest investors often write the smallest cheques. The deeppocket allocators usually operate in stealth and you only learn about their positions two quarters later in a footnote. That silence has been growing louder – pension funds won't livestream their buys, but onchain data shows wallets associated with institutional custodians are expanding month after month. If you believe the wisdom of following the quiet money, Bitcoin's 'boring phase' might be your cue to pay attention – precisely because there's a lot less noise. Bottom line is always: discipline > drama Bitcoin isn't done surprising us, but the surprises are starting to tilt positively when everything else is bleeding red. In an age of rolling headlines and fiscal soap operas, an asset with a fixed supply, borderless settlement and maturing volatility feels – dare we say – very responsible and the market might already be voting 'yes'.
Scoop
06-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Is Bitcoin Turning Into The ‘New Boring' Of Investing?
Crypto used to be the financial equivalent of a RedBullfuelled rollercoaster. But here we are - Bitcoin up doubledigits during the last week of April while the Nasdaq shed 10%, the S&P slipped 8.5% and even the Dow limped 8% lower. When the most volatile kid in class suddenly sits quietly at the front row, you have to ask yourself: are we watching Bitcoin grow into a safehaven adult? A safe harbour in a soapopera Markets run on forwardlooking confidence but right now, Washington is serving up cliffhanger after cliffhanger: tariff escalations and uncertainty, policy Uturns and pressconference plot twists that would make a daytime drama blush. The US dollar has wobbled more than 10% in a fortnight - gifting the rest of the globe surprise purchasing power. Significantly, when the reserve currency 'sneezes', capital grabs its mask and looks for opportunities that aren't nailed to a single flag. This is why we're seeing: Gold spiking - central banks vacuumed up more than a third of annual supply last year. Bluechip AsiaPac equities rallying - there is freetrade optimism in Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing which means this stock is suddenly fashionable again. Bitcoin grinding higher - algorithmic scarcity and neutrality has never looked so comforting. The lesson here is that leadership certainty is optional, but mathdriven scarcity sells itself. Bitcoin vs gold: a question of 'old metal, new metal' Gold has been humanity's crisis blanket for millennia - it is universally recognised, ornamental and immune to software bugs. That deeprooted societal acceptance gives the metal a definite head start over Bitcoin and its total market value is still much larger. Gold also cruises at about onethird of Bitcoin's volatility and carries zero technical risk. Unsurprisingly, central banks remain gold's biggest fans, buying up roughly a third of yearly production. Yet according to NYDIG, 'In nearly every other measure…bitcoin has the edge – supply growth, monetary policy, supply cap, as well as its usability stemming from its digital only nature. Even in the areas in which bitcoin is deficient compared to gold, longevity and volatility, those gaps are narrowing over time.' Annualised realised volatility has slid to just over 50%, down from triple digits only a few years ago, while gold's own calm surface is rippling higher and NYDIG notes the volatility ratio between the two assets has already compressed to 3.6:1 and expects further convergence. In other words, Bitcoin is maturing, all the while the broader market gets choppier. (The surge of far more speculative altcoins has also made Bitcoin look relatively conservative.) Gold remains the elder statesman - trusted, stable and vaultfriendly - but Bitcoin is the upandcomer - scarcer by design, borderless by nature and increasingly less wild than its reputation suggests. Will portable, programmable scarcity prove the 21stcentury upgrade to an ancient store of value? Boring belongs in every portfolio 'Boring' is portfolio code for decorrelation. In simple terms, you want pieces that zig when everything else zags. Having some of your portfolio allocated to Bitcoin means that you're suddenly holding an asset that doesn't care about Fed rate whispers or electionseason Tweet storms. Institutional 'stealth allocators' now include family offices, endowments and macro funds - adding quiet weight. What's more, whilst the macro narratives shift from growth to protection and real yields turn negative, nonsovereign stores of value like crypto suddenly become very shiny. The killer combo: scarcity + silence There's a saying: the loudest investors often write the smallest cheques. The deeppocket allocators usually operate in stealth and you only learn about their positions two quarters later in a footnote. That silence has been growing louder - pension funds won't livestream their buys, but onchain data shows wallets associated with institutional custodians are expanding month after month. If you believe the wisdom of following the quiet money, Bitcoin's 'boring phase' might be your cue to pay attention - precisely because there's a lot less noise. Bottom line is always: discipline > drama Bitcoin isn't done surprising us, but the surprises are starting to tilt positively when everything else is bleeding red. In an age of rolling headlines and fiscal soap operas, an asset with a fixed supply, borderless settlement and maturing volatility feels - dare we say - very responsible and the market might already be voting 'yes'.
