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Explore Joint Investment Fund Opportunities
News11 October 2024

Explore Joint Investment Fund Opportunities

His Excellency Sou Socheat, the Delegate of the Royal Government and Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), led a delegation to meet with representatives of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc. On the morning of Friday, October 11, 2024, His Excellency Sou Socheat, along with his colleagues, held discussions with representatives of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc regarding joint investment fund projects. The meeting proceeded smoothly with high-level cooperation. More Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia

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Roadshow: Cambodia's First CIS Fund Subscription 2024
Event10 October 2024

Roadshow: Cambodia's First CIS Fund Subscription 2024

On the morning of 10th October 2024, Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC. (BAMC) proudly hosted the First Roadshow for Cambodia’s CIS Fund Subscription 2024, in collaboration with our esteemed partner ACLEDA Securities PLC. The event was honored by the presence of H.E. Sou Socheat , Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), who graced the occasion with his high presidency. This landmark event marks a pivotal moment in the development of Cambodia’s financial sector, where we officially introduced the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (BAEF) to the public. Through insightful presentations and dynamic discussions, we promoted the potential of the CIS fund to a diverse audience, including institutional investors, industry professionals, and individuals eager to explore new investment opportunities. The roadshow provided participants with a deep dive into the benefits and unique features of the CIS fund, showcasing how it paves the way for broader participation in Cambodia’s growing capital market. It also highlighted our commitment to delivering innovative financial products that cater to the needs of both local and international investors. This event not only signified a significant milestone for Banjaran Asset Management, but also underscored the rapid expansion of Cambodia’s financial markets and the increasing role of the CIS fund in driving economic growth and investment opportunities in the region. We are incredibly grateful for the support and participation of all attendees, and we look forward to continuing our mission to make financial investments accessible to all while contributing to the future growth of Cambodia's economy.

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Earth Warriors Day 2024: Uniting for a greener future at Oudong Pagoda
Event28 September 2024

Earth Warriors Day 2024: Uniting for a greener future at Oudong Pagoda

Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc is proud to have actively participated in Earth Warriors Day 2024. Our team joined forces with the community to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable environment. Together, we remain committed to environmental stewardship and fostering long-term positive impact for future generations. 28-September-2024

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BAMC Asia Equity Fund – Cambodia’s First Fund – Fund Distributor Launch Event
Event23 July 2024

BAMC Asia Equity Fund – Cambodia’s First Fund – Fund Distributor Launch Event

On 23 July 2024, Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC. successfully hosted the “BAMC Asia Equity Fund – Cambodia’s First Fund – Fund Distributor Launch Event.” The event marked a significant milestone with the official signing of the Fund Distribution Agreement between Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC. and ACLEDA Securities PLC. The ceremony was held under the high presidency of H.E. Sou Socheat , Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), who was accompanied by associates from the SERC. The launch brought together distinguished guests, regulatory representatives, and valued partners, reflecting strong collaboration and support for the growth of Cambodia’s capital market. This milestone not only represents the introduction of the First Collective Investment Fund in Cambodia but also highlights the commitment of Banjaran AMC and its partners to creating accessible investment opportunities and strengthening the financial sector in this emerging market.

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Unlocking Investment Opportunities: Banjaran Asset Management Explores CIS Potential in Cambodia
Event28 February 2024

Unlocking Investment Opportunities: Banjaran Asset Management Explores CIS Potential in Cambodia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Mr. Aaron NG, CEO of Banjaran Asset Management (Singapore), participated in a lively discussion on the “Fireside Chat on The Opportunities, Preparedness, and Potential of the Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) Business.” The event, moderated by H.E Dr. Vin Pheakdey, Deputy Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), delved into the evolving landscape of CIS in Cambodia. Mr. NG shared insights on how the CIS business can unlock new opportunities for local and international investors while addressing the preparedness of market participants. The discussion highlighted the potential of CIS to strengthen Cambodia's financial services sector and increase access to investment opportunities across the region.

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Government and Banjaran Asset Management Hold Productive Talks on New Collective Investment Scheme Fund
Insight28 February 2024

Government and Banjaran Asset Management Hold Productive Talks on New Collective Investment Scheme Fund

Phnom Penh, Cambodia - A significant meeting took place between His Excellency Su Sochet, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), and representatives from Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC. The delegation, led by H.E. Su Sochet, met to discuss the establishment and future prospects of Banjaran’s new Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) fund. This crucial dialogue aimed to align regulatory frameworks with the goals of the fund, ensuring its compliance with Cambodian financial regulations. The new CIS fund is expected to provide Cambodian investors with a broader range of investment options, allowing them access to international markets and enhanced financial growth opportunities. The discussions were highly productive, with both parties expressing optimism about the future of the fund and its potential to drive growth within Cambodia’s burgeoning financial services sector. The meeting also reinforced Banjaran Asset Management’s commitment to promoting robust investment solutions while adhering to the highest standards of governance and transparency. This marks a significant milestone for Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC as it continues to collaborate closely with the SERC, bringing innovative investment opportunities to the Cambodian market. More Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia

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Investment Education Series related to Collective Investment Scheme (Part Three)
Article2 January 2024

Investment Education Series related to Collective Investment Scheme (Part Three)

The Investment in Collective Investment Scheme In part two of the Investment Education Series, we discussed the needs and merits of investing as well as the benefits of investment diversification. The article concluded that an investment fund, or Collective Investment Scheme fund offers the best option for individuals to invest and grow their wealth steadily over time. A fund also helps to lower investment risk through diversification, all while keeping investing affordable to the public. In this article, we will share the real case study of the first Investment fund that was approved by the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC) on 15 November 2023, the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (BAEF). BAEF is managed by Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC (BAMC), a SERC-licensed asset management company based in Cambodia. The fund lawyer is HBS Law and the fund auditor is Crowe (KH) Co., Ltd, both of which got the accreditation from the SERC. The fund trustee is Stronghold Trustee Co., Ltd which is also a SERC-licensed CIS trustee. In summary, in the ecosystem of the CIS, all players shall get a license, approval, or accreditation from the SERC. About BAMC Asia Equity Fund BAEF is a fund investing in a diversified portfolio of 30 or more companies listed on major stock exchanges across Asia Pacific Ex-Japan. The fund targets to provide the benefits of investing in Asia, which economists globally see as the premier growth region in the coming years. The fund’s tagline is “The Rise of Asia”. According to the disclosure documents, BAEF targets a return of 7% to 10% per annum over the medium to long term, yet this return is not guaranteed. The investment in fund is considered as a form of a regular savings plan. The invested amount can eventually be used for children's education, healthcare, to part fund the purchase of a house, or for retirement. To invest in the fund, the investor shall obtain an investor ID from the SERC first. However, for those who already have the investor ID, they do not need to re-apply for the investor ID. Below is a term sheet for the BAEF fund: Key Consideration Before Making Investment Decision Generally, fund managers make investments using basic approaches like the top-down approach and bottom-up approach. A top-down approach is when the fund manager looks at macro factors such as, economic cycles, inflation, interest rates, global trends, etc. The bottom-up approach is when the fund manager looks at the features of the individual securities that they invest in such as, the balance sheet, profit and loss statement, management, products, and services, etc. The BAEF adopts both approaches in making their investments. Bottom-up Approach: Sustainable Growth in the Long-term The fund manager will select companies that have proven sustainable business models and have proven track records. The fund manager will look at audited financial statements, valuation, and quality of management amongst other things. Top-down Approach: Why Invest in Asia? Stable Productive Population in the coming 10 to 20 years Asia has a large population base and a favorable demographics. It has a large segment of the younger population which will translate to a stable productive workforce over the next 10 to 20 years. This will result in higher income and higher consumption. These factors will help to drive the region’s economy and its businesses to grow. Relative to poor demographics from regions like the US and Europe, Asia is preferred. Strong Economic Growth In terms of economic growth, Asia is also growing faster and is bigger than the EU and North America. According to an IMF report dated Oct 2023, real GDP growth in 2023 is highest in Asia Pacific at 4.4% vs EU at 1% and North America at 2.1%. As % a share of the total world’s GDP, Asia Pacific share is 45.6%, the EU at 21.0% and North America at 18.7%. Benefits from the World’s Largest Free-Trade Agreement and Pro-Business Governments Asia’s economic growth will be further enhanced after 15 Asian countries recently signed a free-trade agreement known as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which will be the world’s largest free-trading bloc. The free-trade agreement should enhance trading activities and thus further drive GDP growth as a result. In its forecast, IMF projected Asia to remain as the strongest GDP growth region in 2028 at 3.9% vs EU at 1.6% and North America at 2.1%. Investment Education Series related to Collective Investment Scheme (Part Three) Asian Companies are Recognizable Globally Asia now has many homegrown listed companies which are recognizable globally. These companies are well-managed and have strong financials. They include companies like Singapore Airlines, Alibaba, Tencent, Samsung Electronics, TSMC, Grab, BYD and many others. Asia Markets Remain Cheap Despite Asia’s bigger population base and stronger economic growth, Asian stocks trade at much lower levels as compared to EU and US stocks based on valuation ratios like price-to-earnings, price-to-book value, and price-to-sales. These ratios are financial metrics that measure and analyze stock prices in unit terms and compare them with those of peers or competitors. The lower the financial ratio, typically the more attractive is the stock market or a particular stock. Furthermore, Asia ex-Japan accounts for 58% of the world’s population, and 48% of the world's economy, yet it accounts for only 12.42% of the investments made in the stock markets globally. BAMC views that the under-representation of Asian stock investments will have to be adjusted upwards eventually. Is it the Right Time to Invest Now? There is no right or wrong time to invest in the stock markets. Investing is a disciplined approach to set aside the savings and put them regularly into investments like an investment fund. Past market cycles show that each time markets fall, they will rebound. And when they rebound, they will set a new market high. In other words, stock markets tend to rise over the long term though in between, they may correct according to economic cycle or on non-economic-related events like war, pandemic, etc. In the current situation, stock markets in general have fallen since the beginning of 2022 on the back of several key events like the Russian-Ukraine war and the sharp increase in US interest rate. Is this an opportune time to invest? BAMC has analyzed the past market cycles and noted that after each significant event that had caused stocks to fall, they had rebounded sharply after riding out that event: Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 – the collapse of Asian currencies led by the Thai Baht and which spread to other Asian currencies, caused Asian markets to tumble. But they rebounded some 155% from the low in 1997 until 2000. Dot.com Bust 2000 and September 2001 – global markets fell when the US dot.com bubble went bust in 2000, and it was further made worse by the September 2001 bombing of the Twin Towers in the US. A couple of years later in 2003, Asian markets started to recover and moved higher. It rebounded some 360% since 2003. Global Financial Crisis in 2007 – the collapse of US banks Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers in 2007 caused global markets to take a sharp tumble. The fall was rather short-lived and within less than two years, global markets recovered sharply by 236%. COVID-19 in 2020 – again global markets took a nosedive when the pandemic started. However decisive action by global central banks to provide funding to businesses affected by the pandemic caused the markets to again rebound very quickly. The markets fell but rebounded within a short span of six months by some 90%. Russia-Ukraine war and spike in inflation and interest rate hike in 2022 – markets have since fallen. Is it time to buy? An article from the Securities & Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC)

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Investment Education Series related to Collective Investment Scheme (Part Two)
Article8 December 2023

Investment Education Series related to Collective Investment Scheme (Part Two)

Why Invest and the Importance of Investment Diversification Investment diversification across different asset classes would lower the risks compared to traditional investment portfolios. With the launch of the first Collective Investment Scheme (CIS), which was approved by the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC) recently, Cambodians now have an opportunity to further protect their investments. The CIS scheme now allows Cambodians to diversify their asset types into more legitimate investments across different countries which in turn lowers the risks. A further line of protection is with the investments being carried out only with fund managers licensed by SERC. The SERC recently approved Cambodia’s first SERC-approved CIS fund – the BAMC Asia Equity Fund, managed by Banjaran Asset Management Cambodia. Diversification of investment is not a new concept and is something that is propagated and recommended even by the world financial leaders. According to the world’s 6th richest man and famous investor Warren Buffet, “Never depend on a single income. Make an investment to create a second source”. There are many benefits to investing whereby it helps wealth creation with investors making more money. For Cambodians, it also paves the way for financial independence, eventually leading to them not worrying about their financial stability. It can also be a solid source of additional income to top up their regular income. Importantly, it could also serve as a protection against inflation, giving the investor the freedom of affordability when prices of goods increase. The positive wealth-creation effect of investing is illustrated in Figure 1 below: Investors, naturally would expect their assets to grow over time as they continue to maintain their investments. However, it is also important to note that all investments come with a certain amount of risk. The higher the return, the higher the risk. These risks can be moderated through a simple action of diversifying the investment in the regulated financial products. Currently, Cambodians tend to grow their wealth primarily through two forms of investments: bank fixed deposits and land-related investments. According to CEIC Data, in August 2023, Cambodia saw a record high of US$40.9 billion in total bank deposits. This was an increase from US$37 billion recorded a year ago. ❖ Other Types of Investment There are many investment options available for investors, ranging from lower-risk investments like bank deposits and investment-grade bonds to the extremely high-risk investments like private debt and private equities where investors may potentially lose all their invested capital. ❖ Investment Diversification Investment diversification is the process of spreading your investments across different asset classes (bank deposits, stocks, bonds, real estate, etc), across different countries (HK/China, US, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, etc), and across different industry sectors (banking, consumer, technology, property, etc). The main objective is to spread the risk such that if one investment goes bad, it should not affect the overall investment. When investments are diversified, the risk is lower. In an equities collective investment scheme fund, for example, the risk of investing in stocks can be reduced through diversification. This is done by creating a basket of stocks (known as a portfolio) comprising of 30 different stocks. The diversification benefits include not just from an increase in the number of stocks invested, but also by investing in different countries and across different industry sectors such as banking, property, consumer, telecoms, technology, etc. Through diversification by adding more stocks to a fund, the risk is greatly reduced. The illustration below shows the diversification benefit-risk reduces as more stocks are added to the portfolio: One point to note is that while adding more stocks to a portfolio will reduce risk, it will come to a point where the residual risk cannot be further reduced as more stocks are added. This residual risk is known as the market risk (indicated by * in Figure 3), which cannot be diversified away. An example of market risk is when a major war breaks out, or a global pandemic that goes out of control, on a scale that is worse than COVID-19. For an individual, it is troublesome to practice investment diversification. Firstly, the investment amount may be too small to diversify into different asset classes, or to buy too many stocks. Secondly, transaction costs may be high and will affect the investment return as a result. Thirdly, the investor may not have time or knowledge to track the different investments and this may lead to taking no action as a result. And lastly, investors may lack the discipline to maintain proper investments. Likewise, Cambodians generally should diversify their asset types into more legitimate investments. A good diversification would be to invest some in fixed deposits, land-related investments, and collective investment scheme funds. Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) fund collects monies from different investors and pools them together for investment purposes. Each investor retains ownership and control of his own units in the fund. The fund then invests in assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, etc. For an equities CIS fund, for example, a professional fund manager licensed by the SERC does the investment work. Investors can choose when to invest or exit the fund. Funds come with different investment strategies and objectives and appeal to different investors with different risk appetites. Investing in a CIS fund should offer investors an easy way to meet their investment and investment diversification objectives. An investment fund offers multiple benefits. This includes it being professionally managed by a SERC-licensed fund manager and the fund is separately approved by the SERC for sale to the investing public. It may offer diversification benefits as some CIS funds will invest in a diversified portfolio of stocks across different countries and different industry sectors The initial investment amount can be set at an affordable level, for example as low as US$500. With this small amount of investment, an investor can own units in a portfolio of approximately 30 stocks or more. It also gives Investors the right to buy and sell the fund on a daily basis with the pricing of the fund being transparent and published daily in the local media. Investing should generate a reasonable, positive return with a manageable degree of risk. Individuals should generally invest in products that are regulated by the SERC, and managed by SERC-licensed fund managers. To be able to invest in a fund unit, the investor shall obtain the Investor Identification Number (ID) from the SERC first. Investors should also practice investment diversification to minimize investment risk. CIS fund offers investors the ease of investing, and also provides the other benefits from investment including diversification. An article from the Securities & Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC)

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Joins Global "#WeThe15" Movement at National Centre of Disabled
Event3 December 2023

Joins Global "#WeThe15" Movement at National Centre of Disabled

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC. participated in the global "#WeThe15" event held at the National Centre of Disabled. This event, part of the worldwide campaign to represent the 1.2 billion people living with disabilities, aims to advocate for their inclusion, rights, and visibility. As part of the "#WeThe15" movement, Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC stood alongside other organizations in promoting greater awareness and support for persons with disabilities. The event featured a series of engaging activities, discussions, and initiatives focused on driving equal opportunities and improving accessibility for those with disabilities. Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC's involvement in this global initiative highlights its dedication to corporate social responsibility, fostering an inclusive community, and supporting efforts toward equality and empowerment. Through initiatives like "#WeThe15," the company remains committed to making a positive impact both locally and globally.

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Market Outlook

2026 August Market Outlook: Navigating Volatility
Market Outlook1 September 2026

2026 August Market Outlook: Navigating Volatility

Concerns around the durability of AI-related capital expenditure and intensifying competition triggered a sharp sector sell-off after a mid-July peak. Investor sentiment turned more discerning on the back of earnings season, and questions arose regarding how sustainable the AI investment pace is without eating into cash generation. Capital rotated out of semiconductors and into energy, financials and value stocks, shifting to markets and names seen as less exposed to a single-theme correction. Layered on top was renewed Middle East escalation and its effect on rates expectations. Brent crude spiked back above $100/barrel intermittently after the US reinstated a naval blockade on Iran and announced plans to impose a levy on cargo transiting Hormuz, although the levy was never implemented. This revived inflation concerns and caused markets to price a reduced likelihood of further Fed easing. Elevated US bond yields further weighed on stocks. Looking ahead, renewed conflict or another AI-related pullback could swiftly unwind recent sentiment gains and force a repricing of both rates and earnings expectations. Against this backdrop, we continue to favour a diversified, bottom-up approach that balances exposure to structural AI and technology themes with quality, less crowded names to weather through volatility.

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2026 July Market Outlook: Navigating Crosscurrents
Market Outlook3 August 2026

2026 July Market Outlook: Navigating Crosscurrents

Central banks broadly maintained a data-dependent stance through the period and remained watchful even as global energy-driven inflation eased. The Federal Reserve reaffirmed its commitment to price stability even as growth prospects softened, while the European Central Bank similarly balanced improving headline inflation against still-elevated services prices. Closer to home, the Monetary Authority of Singapore raised its 2026 core inflation forecast on concerns that persistent price pressures could dampen household spending. The Hormuz disruption has driven inflation fears that outweigh traditional safe-haven demand. Gold and silver have moved in an unusual, counterintuitive pattern, falling rather than rallying as fighting escalated. In equities, investor sentiment shifted markedly as the AI-led rally that dominated the first half of the year gave way to a bout of volatility, prompting some rotation into value and cyclicals. Asian equities showed sharp dispersion rather than uniform resilience. In July 2026, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng emerged as the standout performer on continued strength in Chinese technology and AI names, while South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei slipped from June’s rebound as the memory-chip optimism and AI trade cooled. Looking ahead, markets remain caught between two competing narratives, a genuine easing of geopolitical and energy-driven inflation pressure, against the risk of renewed hostilities or a resurgence in AI-related volatility, which could quickly reverse recent gains in sentiment and reprice rate expectations. Against this backdrop, we continue to favour a diversified, bottom-up approach that balances exposure to structural AI and technology themes with quality, less crowded names to weather through volatility.

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2026 June Market Outlook: From AI-Led Momentum to Persistent Uncertainty—A Disciplined Path Forward
Market Outlook1 July 2026

2026 June Market Outlook: From AI-Led Momentum to Persistent Uncertainty—A Disciplined Path Forward

Stronger than expected inflation in the US led newly installed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh to reinforce expectations that any rate cut is more likely in late 2026 or into 2027. Despite this hawkish view, US equities pushed to fresh highs, led by technology stocks. This period also saw Space Exploration Technologies Corp.’s (“SpaceX”) record-setting initial public offering, becoming a focal point for risk appetite and growth sentiment, which further amplified market enthusiasm. In the near term, the success of the SpaceX listing is likely to add further liquidity into space, artificial intelligence (“AI”) infrastructure and adjacent sectors. Investor sentiment remains heavily concentrated in AI-related and technology names, and some investors view the Asian market as a way to increase exposure at more attractive valuations than US technology leaders. Strong momentum in Asia is led by Korea, Taiwan and Japan, which play a central role in the AI and memory chip supply chain. On the other hand, China continues to lag even with incremental policy support. In other key markets, UK equities underperformed their peers, and Eurozone technology stocks performed moderately amid weak macroeconomic data, where the pullback in oil prices eased some inflationary pressure. Markets remain highly sensitive to developments in the Strait of Hormuz, where disruptions and the current partial normalisation of shipping through the strait weigh on energy prices and inflation expectations. Against this backdrop, maintaining well-diversified exposure across geographies and themes remains important. We continue to be highly selective in stock selection, adhering to a disciplined, bottom-up approach to portfolio construction that prioritises quality and resilience to macroeconomic uncertainty.

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2026 May Market Outlook: From Record Highs to Rising Uncertainty—A Selective Path Forward
Market Outlook1 June 2026

2026 May Market Outlook: From Record Highs to Rising Uncertainty—A Selective Path Forward

Major indices have reached new highs since the March dip. Strong corporate earnings have reinforced investor confidence and sustained the ongoing risk-on rotation into AI-related stocks. The technology sector now represents a larger share on the MSCI Emerging Markets Index than the S&P 500, underscoring the central role of Taiwan and South Korea in the AI supply chain. With inflation still elevated and growth looking uneven across regions, central banks are balancing financial stability and energy-driven price pressures. Expectations for rate cuts have been pushed out or replaced by further tightening of monetary policy. The new Federal Reserve Chair, Kevin Warsh, known to favour rate cuts, faces inflationary pressures in the US economy that work against the dovish narrative, making rate cuts unlikely. Other central banks, such as the Bank of Japan and the European Central Bank have kept its policy unchanged, but with upward revisions to inflation forecasts, investors expect rate hikes this year. Though markets have appeared resilient to geopolitical shocks, the continuation of the Strait of Hormuz blockage can dampen economic activity through supply chain disruption and entrenching inflationary pressures. Against this backdrop, maintaining well-diversified exposure across geographies and themes remains important. We continue to be highly selective in stock selection, adhering to a disciplined, bottom-up approach to portfolio construction that prioritises quality and resilience to macro uncertainty.

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2026 April Market Outlook: From Conflict Shock to Market Strength — What’s Driving the Recovery
Market Outlook11 May 2026

2026 April Market Outlook: From Conflict Shock to Market Strength — What’s Driving the Recovery

Major indices across the countries tumbled in March but abruptly spiked in April upon the announcement of US-Iran peace talks, though the US Navy continues its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Record highs in the tech-heavy S&P 500 and strong US corporate earnings reaffirm the market’s resilience throughout the conflict, particularly for demand in technology. Similarly, Asian markets tracked US gains and rallied in April; South Korea’s Kospi and Japan’s Nikkei were also driven by technology related optimism and de-escalation relief. Singapore’s central bank tightened monetary policy while the Bank of Japan cooled rate hike expectations. The situation in China remains mixed with continued weak domestic demand and an ongoing property sector drag, while local banks have outpaced broader market since the war broke out. As markets rebounded and risk sentiment improved in April, we remain highly selective in stock selection while diversifying across markets, maintaining our disciplined, bottom-up approach to portfolio construction.

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2026 March Market Outlook: Markets Under Pressure as Geopolitical Tensions Rise
Market Outlook6 April 2026

2026 March Market Outlook: Markets Under Pressure as Geopolitical Tensions Rise

The US-Israel war with Iran has created a delicate balancing act between investing for resilient growth and managing geopolitical volatility. While a "soft landing" remains the baseline for many advanced economies, the landscape has grown more complex following the late-February shocks. On interest rate watch, the US Fed is expected to maintain a "higher-for-longer" stance to counter inflationary pressures from rising energy cost, and to a lesser extent the new 15% global tariffs. Markets are pricing in a sustained "war premium" in energy. With Brent crude hovering near $100, any further escalation in the Middle East could reignite global supply-side inflation, which may lead to extended high-interest-rate environment and hence leading to a sharp global economic slowdown. In China, it has largely stayed away from the Middle East war though it has urged US and Israel to de-escalate and stop its aggression against its ally, Iran. China is amongst the most affected countries by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, though Iran has allowed some Chinese-flagged oil tankers to transit through. Meanwhile, all eyes are on the implementation of the 15th Five-Year Plan. Success hinges on whether Beijing’s "New Quality Productive Forces" can offset the structural drag of its property sector. After the February technology sector correction and in this current environment of heightened volatility, we remain highly selective in the technology sector while diversifying across markets, maintaining our disciplined, bottom-up approach to portfolio construction.

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