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Press Conference - Cambodia First Collective Investment Scheme Fund
Press Release Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC (“BAMC”) has successfully obtained approval from the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (“SERC”) to launch the BAMC Asia Equity Fund (“BAEF”) in the Kingdom of Cambodia. BAEF is the first retail fund to launch for sale in the Kingdom which the public will be able to invest in. BAEF is an investment fund investing in a diversified portfolio of 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”. Being the first SERC-approved retail fund to launch in Cambodia, BAMC will give Cambodian investors, who to date have narrowly relied on bank deposits to grow their wealth, an opportunity to diversify their investments. In addition, Cambodians would no longer need to travel to foreign financial centers to access investment opportunities outside the Kingdom. BAEF is the first of a series of funds that BAMC plans to bring to the investing public in Cambodia. To make the fund accessible to all investors, BAMC has set the minimum investment amount at just US$500. BAMC is the fund manager of BAEF with Banjaran Asset Management Pte Ltd (“BAMPL”) of Singapore as the investment advisor. Stronghold Trustee Co., Ltd (“ST”) is the trustee of the fund. Her Excellency Chan Theany (“HE Theany”), Chairwoman of BAMC said: “We are honored and happy to be the first fund management company in Cambodia to successfully launch a SERC-approved public collective investment fund. I am proud to report that in the process of obtaining the various licenses and approvals, we have trained a team of local Cambodians to take on various roles in the areas of asset management. For the launch of BAEF, we have brought in international fund management expertise and its best governance practices. We hope this will set a high standard for the asset management industry going forward.” Mr. Aaron Ng (“Aaron”), CEO of BAMPL said: “BAMPL is proud to be the investment advisor to BAEF, Cambodia’s first approved public investment fund. We have extended our experiences, international practices, and best governance practices to BAMC. We offer our best wishes to BAMC on this launch.” About BAMC Asia Equity Fund (“BAEF”) The BAEF is an investment fund that invests in stocks listed in major stock exchanges in Asia Pacific Ex-Japan. It aims to deliver an expected return of 7-10%* per annum over the medium to long term. The Fund is expected to be diversified with at least 30 stocks across Asia (eg. Singapore, Hong Kong/China, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, etc.) and across various sectors (eg. Banking, Property, Industrials, Consumer, Telecoms, Technology, etc.). The Fund is domiciled in the Kingdom of Cambodia and is USD-denominated. The Fund will accept subscriptions and redemptions daily and the daily unit price of the Fund will be available on various media channels. *- Investment return is not guaranteed. About Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC (“BAMC”) BAMC was incorporated in the Kingdom of Cambodia in 2022 and holds a fund management license issued by the SERC to establish and manage a public funds of collective investment scheme. BAMC is a joint venture between Banjaran Holdings Pte Ltd from Singapore, Best Magnet Capital Co., Ltd, and Primo Plus Co., Ltd. Banjaran Holdings and BAMPL are related companies. About Stronghold Trustee Co., Ltd (“ST”) ST is the first Full-Licensed Trustee licensed by the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia and registered with the Trust Regulator. It specializes in trust services, including Collective Investment Scheme and Personal and Commercial trusts tailored to clients’ needs. ST is part of the Stronghold Group of Companies and has its roots in Taiwan. About Banjaran Asset Management Pte Ltd (“BAMPL”) BAMPL was incorporated in Singapore in 2014 and currently holds a Capital Market Services license in fund management issued by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. BAMPL’s main business activities are in investment management and its funds are distributed through private banks and investment banks across Asia and the UK. BAMPL is also a leading provider of multifamily office services in Singapore. BAMPL’s assets under management are approximately US$ 5 billion (as of 30 June 2023) in a variety of asset classes. These include private and listed equities, private and listed debts, alternative investments, ESG-focused investments, and real estate investments. More News EAC News Kampuchea Thmey Fresh News Asia TNAOT Jia Hua Daily Cambodia Express News Khmer Times Phnom Penh Post Sabay News Kiri Post Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC) Cambodia Investment Review BTV News
SERC Approves BAMC Asia Equity Fund for Public Offering
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – The Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC) has officially granted Decision No. 285 SERC/SSR for the establishment of the “មូលបត្រកម្មសិទ្ធិអាស៊ី ប៊ីអេអឹមស៊ី - BAMC Asia Equity Fund” as part of the Collective Investment Scheme. This landmark decision also includes the registration of the Disclosure Document (Prospectus) for the public offering of fund units managed by Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc. The BAMC Asia Equity Fund marks a significant advancement in Cambodia's financial landscape, providing local and international investors with diverse investment opportunities. This fund is designed to enhance access to capital markets and promote economic growth in the region. Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc is committed to upholding the highest standards of fund management and governance practices. With the approval of the BAMC Asia Equity Fund, the company aims to contribute positively to the development of Cambodia’s capital markets and provide investors with innovative investment solutions. The launch of the BAMC Asia Equity Fund is expected to set new benchmarks for collective investment schemes in the Kingdom, fostering a more vibrant and inclusive financial services sector. Further updates regarding the fund's public offering will be announced soon.
Investment Education Series related to Collective Investment Scheme (Part One)
Investing in Legitimate Investment Products According to published figures by the World Bank, Cambodia's GDP per capita has risen from US$783 (2010) to US$1,625 (2021). Statista.com projected that its GDP will continue to grow to approximately US$2,656 by 2028. The growth in the middle income and increase in wealth of the average Cambodian will naturally bring about the need for investing. However, recently we have also seen a spike in cases of reported fraudulent and failed investment schemes, as well as some which are outright scams. When investing, investors are traditionally enticed by high returns and a sense of familiarity. Very often they ignore what is perhaps the most important factor when investing, which are the risk factors. Risk comes in many forms, to name a few: Counterparty Risk Market Risk Currency Risk Liquidity Risk Regulatory Risk Specific Risk Environmental Risk Bankruptcy Risk Operational Risk Based on past data, it is evident that there is a direct relationship between risk and return. The higher the return from a particular investment, the risk becomes higher. We can illustrate this in a simple graph. Generally, to mitigate the risk, investments should be made on or above the line. Furthermore, investors should select legitimate investment products. ❖ Legitimate investment products (Regulated) When investing, investors should consider whether the investment scheme is regulated, unregulated, or an outright scam. Regulated investment products are generally subject to onerous supervision by the country’s regulators. This makes regulated investment products safer choices compared to the others. A regulated investment product will generally have these features: Approval from the regulator Managed by a licensed fund manager Proper legal documentation and disclosures and will normally be audited by an audit firm accredited by the regulator. Therefore, the risk of a regulated investment scheme being a fraud is very low. ❖ The update of the Cambodia Collective Investment Scheme Market Acknowledging the potential of the collective investment scheme market for economic growth, the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), a sole regulator to regulate, supervise, and develop the securities market in Cambodia has developed the infrastructure to launch this market through the adoption of the Prakas to regulate this market. As a result, on May 29, 2018, SERC adopted the Prakas on “Licensing and Supervision of Collective Investment Scheme Business” to allow companies to apply for a license or approval from the SERC to conduct the Collective Investment Scheme Business. As of Q3 2023, SERC has provided license/approval to 16 fund management companies, 8 trustees, 5 fund distribution companies, and 3 fund administrators. In addition, on July 20, 2023, SERC also adopted the Prakas on “The Issuance of Fund Unit of Collective Investment Scheme”. This Prakas determines the condition and requirement to issue fund units of the collective investment scheme and the post-issuance operation to ensure the orderliness, accountability, and transparency in the market and, most importantly to protect all market stakeholders including investors. ❖ Unregulated Investment Products Unregulated investment schemes are generally operating companies offering high returns and are only governed by the basic corporate regulations. Scams and unregulated investment schemes are often difficult to differentiate. These investment schemes generally have the following features: The promise of unusually high returns (too good to be true because the risk may be extremely high), Poor documentation (hidden risks and hidden costs are not disclosed), Managed by a small team of individuals (usually with exaggerated backgrounds), No proper third-party verification (not audited – all done by one company). Most importantly, there are no regulators to supervise the legitimacy of the investment schemes. ❖ Scams or Fraudulent Investment Schemes These are recent cases of unregulated investment schemes that have gone bad in Cambodia: The International Forex Trading case of 2019, in which the scheme was operated by a small group of individuals making promises of very high returns. There were no checks and balances and the company was in charge of both making the investment as well as issuing cheques to investors. Such unregulated companies, when unchecked by an independent third party can make false and exaggerated claims. In the Empire Big Capital Limited and Investment Consultant Association case of 2017, again this scheme was operated by a small group of individuals making promises of very high returns (10% per month). Similar to the previous case, there were no checks and balances, the company basically did everything internally. There were also reports of land investment schemes that have turned sour and were alleged to be fraudulent. Some of these operators have been arrested and charged, and some jailed. The alleged land investment scheme always promised high returns. There is a lack of transparency in how the funds were invested and with regard to the progress of the projects and their cashflows. It is important to note that there is a difference between an investment scheme going bad and it being an investment scam. All investments have to take risks to generate returns. There are many examples of investments going bad due to poor market conditions and other reasons. Scams happen when there is no real intent to channel money collected from investors into the stated investment. Instead, profits are fictitiously generated by using money from new investors to pay previous investors. This is known as a Ponzi scheme. Scam operators are in all instances not approved by regulators. ❖ Conclusion In seeking legitimate investments, investors should consider the following: Is the company regulated by the relevant authorities? Is the product approved by the relevant authorities? Does the investment reasonably justify the return that is promised? Does the collective investment scheme have basic checks and balances, like independent lawyers, auditors, and other professionals? Lastly, trust your instincts. If an investment sounds too good to be true, you should investigate further and ask more questions. In selecting a legitimate investment that fits your risk profile, the investment should diversify your risk and at the same time help you grow your wealth over time. An article from the Securities & Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC)
Banjaran Asset Management Submits BAMC Asia Equity Fund for Collective Investment Scheme Approval to SERC
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc. has taken a significant step forward in the financial sector by submitting the application for its BAMC Asia Equity Fund for fund unit offering approval. The submission falls under Cambodia's Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) regulatory framework, reflecting the company's commitment to providing robust investment opportunities in the region. The inspection of the application was conducted by Her Excellency Thay Sokphalline, Director of the Securities Issuance Department, along with a team of officials from the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC). The comprehensive review marks an important milestone for the BAMC Asia Equity Fund, which aims to broaden access to diverse investment portfolios, catering to the growing demand for equity investment solutions in Asia. The BAMC Asia Equity Fund represents a pioneering effort in Cambodia’s capital market landscape. Banjaran Asset Management remains confident that this offering will contribute to the country’s economic growth by attracting both domestic and international investors. With a strategic focus on high-growth sectors across the Asia region, the fund is poised to deliver long-term returns for investors while strengthening Cambodia’s position in the global financial market. Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Plc. continues to work closely with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with all legal and financial guidelines. Pending approval, the BAMC Asia Equity Fund will be the first of its kind in the Cambodian market, marking a significant achievement in the country's financial sector development. For further updates and details, please stay tuned for official announcements from Banjaran Asset Management and the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC).
Firechat on The Preparedness, Opportunities, and Potential of the Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) Business
Phnom Penh, Cambodia – Mr. Christopher Wong, Investment Director of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC, participated in a dynamic discussion titled “Firechat on The Preparedness, Opportunities, and Potential of the Collective Investment Scheme (CIS).” The event was moderated by H.E. Dr. Vin Pheakdey, Deputy Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC). The discussion focused on the evolving landscape of collective investment schemes in Cambodia, emphasizing the importance of regulatory preparedness and the potential for economic growth through these investment vehicles. Wong shared his expertise on the opportunities that CIS presents for both local and international investors, highlighting its role in enhancing capital access and promoting financial inclusion in the country. The event also provided a platform for industry stakeholders to engage in dialogue about the challenges and opportunities within the investment sector. Wong's insights contributed to a deeper understanding of how collective investment schemes can be leveraged to strengthen Cambodia's financial markets. As the country continues to develop its capital markets, such discussions are crucial for fostering collaboration among regulators, investors, and industry leaders. Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) remains committed to participating in initiatives that promote a robust investment environment and advance the nation’s financial services sector. Firechat on The Preparedness, Opportunities, and Potential of the Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) Business.
Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) Participates in Green Cleaning Event
Koh Pich, Phnom Penh – Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC proudly participated in a Green Cleaning Event held on Diamond Island, reinforcing its commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. The event aimed to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining clean and green spaces while encouraging community involvement in environmental initiatives. During the event, employees from Banjaran Asset Management joined local volunteers and community members in various cleaning activities, including litter collection and environmental education sessions. This hands-on approach not only contributed to the beautification of Diamond Island but also served to educate participants about the principles of environmental stewardship and the necessity of preserving natural resources for future generations. “We believe that corporate responsibility extends beyond financial success; it includes being active stewards of our environment. By taking part in events like this, we hope to inspire others in the business community to contribute to a cleaner and greener Cambodia.” Ben Lee, Managing Director of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia), expressed pride in the company’s participation. The Green Cleaning Event showcased the importance of collective efforts in promoting sustainability, with various organizations and local government representatives coming together to set a positive example. Banjaran Asset Management’s involvement highlights its dedication to not only advancing financial services but also fostering a culture of environmental consciousness within the Kingdom. As part of its broader corporate social responsibility strategy, Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) aims to continue engaging in initiatives that benefit both the community and the environment, further establishing itself as a responsible leader in Cambodia’s financial sector.
Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) and Stronghold Trustee Collaborate on Market-Leading Public Investment Fund
Phnom Penh - A significant signing ceremony took place between Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) PLC and Stronghold Trustee Co., Ltd. The event, presided over by H.E. SOU Socheat, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), alongside other key officials, marked the collaboration for launching Cambodia’s first public fund and collective investment scheme. Pending approval from the SERC, this initiative will be a landmark achievement in the Kingdom’s financial services sector, providing retail investors with alternative investment options beyond traditional bank deposits. The fund will be managed by Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia), with Stronghold Trustee serving as the trustee and Singapore-based Banjaran Asset Management as the investment adviser. This collaboration will offer Cambodian investors access to international markets without the need to travel to financial centers like Hong Kong and Singapore. Hans Chen, CEO of Stronghold, expressed excitement for the launch, emphasizing the professionalism and expertise that Stronghold brings to the initiative. Ben Lee, Managing Director of Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia), highlighted the incorporation of international fund management practices and the training provided to local professionals in the fund management ecosystem. Established in 2022, Banjaran Asset Management (Cambodia) operates under a fund management license issued by the SERC, as part of a joint venture with Banjaran Holdings Pte Ltd, Best Magnet Capital Co., Ltd, and Primo Plus Co., Ltd. Stronghold Trustee, the first licensed trustee under the Cambodian Trust Law, specializes in trust services tailored to client needs. With approximately $5 billion in assets under management, Banjaran Asset Management Pte Ltd (BAMPL) in Singapore further solidifies its expertise in investment management, offering a variety of asset classes. The launch of this public investment fund represents a pivotal step in Cambodia’s financial landscape, providing new wealth growth opportunities for local investors and setting the stage for future advancements in the sector. More News Cambodia Investment Review Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia Trust Regulator
SERC Welcomes Singapore’s Banjaran Asset Management for Strategic Talks on Cambodia’s Securities Sector
04 May 2022, Phnom Penh In a notable demonstration of Cambodia's ongoing commitment to fostering the growth and modernization of its capital markets, His Excellency Sou Socheat , Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Director General of the Securities and Exchange Regulator of Cambodia (SERC), together with His Excellency Dr. Vin Pheakdey , Deputy Director General of SERC, officially welcomed the executive leadership team from Banjaran Asset Management Pte Ltd (BAMPL), a Singapore-based asset management firm, during their visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia in May 04 2022. The visiting delegation was led by Mr. Aaron Ng , BAMPL CEO, and Mr. Low Hon-Yu Low , BAMPL Executive Director. The meeting served as a crucial platform to discuss strategic cooperation and potential business opportunities within Cambodia's developing securities sector. H.E. Sou Socheat provided a comprehensive overview of Cambodia's capital market, detailing its regulatory frameworks, investment climate, and institutional infrastructure. He underscored the government’s ongoing reforms aimed at ensuring transparency, protecting investors, and achieving international compliance, all designed to position Cambodia as an attractive emerging market. Discussions also focused on Cambodia's initiatives to deepen its market by diversifying financial instruments and encouraging participation from both domestic and international players. BAMPL expressed significant interest in exploring investment and operational opportunities in Cambodia, aligning with their broader Asia-Pacific strategy to expand their presence and offer diversified market access to investors. H.E. Dr. Vin Pheakdey further emphasized the importance of regulatory compliance, robust risk management standards, and continuous investor education. He assured BAMPL of SERC's support in facilitating responsible market entry for reputable foreign institutions. The BAMPL team shared insights into their business model, regional experiences, and their vision for contributing to Cambodia's capital markets. Their proposed business plan, including fund management and distribution services, were reviewed in detail. H.E. Sou Socheat concluded the meeting by providing constructive feedback and outlining the key regulatory requirements for licensing and operational approval. He offered practical guidance on navigating the legal and procedural aspects of establishing a presence in Cambodia’s securities sector, reaffirming SERC’s openness to engaging with serious investors and partners who align with Cambodia’s financial development goals. This meeting underscored Cambodia’s proactive efforts to foster a dynamic, inclusive, and internationally connected capital market, signaling its readiness for greater integration into the broader Asia-Pacific financial ecosystem. This paves the way for increased foreign investment, product innovation, and accelerated long-term economic growth beneficial to both local and global investors.
Market Outlook
2025 February Market Outlook: Deepseek Shakes Up AI—Is China’s Tech Rebound Just Beginning?
The launch of Deepseek marks a notable development for China as the startup claims it is significantly more efficient than widespread models developed by US companies. The startup also claims to have developed the model with only US$ 6 million and has made their model publicly available for use globally. This stands in contrast to US technology firms, which have been spending billions of dollars. Additionally, the availability of Deepseek’s model has raised concerns about potential reductions in AI infrastructure investment. Our view is that these investments will continue since the US sees AI as a national security issue and will continue to advance their own AI models. The rise of Deepseek has also brought investor attention back to Chinese technology firms with their share prices rebounding strongly. Despite the meteoric rise, valuations are still at reasonable levels though we do expect profit-taking along the way given the recent sharp rise. We believe the positive shift in China’s stock market is at its early innings given how negative global investors have been on China over the past few years. We will be closely monitoring the outlook from major Chinese technology companies in their coming earnings results, along with key political events such as the upcoming Chinese government’s Two Sessions. These developments could further bolster investors interest in China. So far, earnings results from most US technology firms that we monitor were only marginally disappointing, yet significant price corrections have followed. We see this as a result of high analyst expectations and stretched valuations, which have amplified volatility even on minor earnings misses. That said, market sentiment remains positive, and with no signs of a recession, we will continue to maintain our positions.
2025 January Market Outlook: Strategies for Navigating a Shifting Global Landscape
In our previous update, we briefly shared our outlook for 2025, and we maintain our view that market risks will be driven by three key factors: the uncertain interest rate trajectory in the US, elevated US equity valuations in the sectors that we monitor and heightened geopolitical risks globally. These factors are likely to result in higher volatility in equity markets compared to recent years. However, this does not mean that equity prices will drop precipitously. Instead, we simply believe a more cautious approach to positioning and stock picking is warranted. The US equity market has benefited from the strength in its economy and leading position in artificial intelligence (“AI”) technologies. This has led to high earnings expectations being baked into stock valuations, which we find to be optimistic given the looming risk of tariffs and the ongoing cooling of the general economy. Some argue that the Trump administration will reduce corporate taxes to boost earnings and control interest rates despite inflation risks. Our view is that timing all these initiatives to benefit the US economy will be challenging and there will likely be knee-jerk reactions to any significant policy announcements, earnings misses and economic data surprises. For ASEAN countries, while the “China + 1” narrative is beneficial, they may not be spared from US tariffs as Trump announced his attention to impose tariffs on close allies such as the EU and Canada. Additionally, recent US technology export regulations were tightened, and none of the ASEAN countries were included in the list of “US allies” who were granted unrestricted access to advanced semiconductors. In other developed markets such as major EU countries and Japan, we believe that their economies are still struggling to pick-up meaningfully. Coupled with the ongoing geopolitical environment, we will continue to be selective in increasing exposure to these regions. Among the countries we monitor, we believe that China could be a bright spot in 2025, provided the administration acts strongly and decisively. They have announced ambitious goals to stimulate the economy with no concrete actions yet, in our view. We will be monitoring their key policy meetings for actionable plans before significantly increasing our weighting in the region.
2024 December Market Outlook: Balancing Caution and Opportunity Amid Global Economic Shifts
Recently, China has expressed increasing urgency to stabilize its property market and domestic consumption, through stronger-than-usual language from the administration. Given that these were mostly high-level statements, we remain skeptical on the announcement given the Chinese government’s hesitance to implement substantial economic stimulus in recent years. In the US, we also see that there has been growing interest in value stocks, as investors seek opportunities in undervalued companies amid concentrated gains in companies like the Magnificent Seven. At current valuations, Goldman Sachs has forecasted that the broader S&P500 index will return a mere 3% annually over the next 10 years. We will however remain focused and selective on US opportunities - buying on dips, looking at undervalued stocks or even going into smaller capitalization companies if they have differentiated business models or products. We believe this approach is more sensible under the current conditions of uncertainty in both the global economy and geopolitics heading into 2025.
2024 November Market Outlook: Balancing Chinese Stimulus and U.S. Political Shifts
The Chinese administration have announced their intention to rollout an additional RMB 6 trillion package to support the debt burden of local governments and China’s finance minister also gave forward guidance that they would be introducing new measures to further stabilize the property market. While the headline number of RMB 6 trillion seems substantial, ultimately it was not impressive as the debt swap is intended to occur gradually over the next 3 years. Furthermore, there is uncertainty over how the local governments will spur their respective economies once their debt position improves. A positive note is that there has been some initial rebound in property sales. However, we believe near-term equity valuations in China are likely to remain rangebound until further stimulus measures are announced given the modest earnings results so far. In the US, the presidential election results were a red sweep, where the Republican party took control of the House and Senate. This shift is expected to lead to more decisive policy action going forward which would be beneficial for domestic US companies. Nevertheless, President Donald Trump’s erratic nature may cause bouts of market volatility despite the anticipated policy clarity. Going forward into 2025, we remain constructive on technology companies. With overall valuation levels in this space remaining high and economic growth still normalizing, we shall selectively initiate new positions. We note that equity markets have been exhibiting high amounts of volatility on surprising economic data or slight earnings misses. We believe this is due to the high valuations observed in the broad equity market. Though disappointing earnings results may signal the start of a deterioration in business performance, we tend to see that most of these reactions are overblown over a long-term horizon. This presenting attractive buying opportunities.
2024 October Market Outlook: Hong Kong and China Stocks Await Policy Boost as AI Growth Persists in the US
Since the initial surge in the Hong Kong and Chinese stock market, significant profit taking has followed. Despite this, we maintain our view that company valuations in the region remains attractive. The main event that we are monitoring is towards the end of this month, where China holds their Politburo Standing Committee. We expect major stimulus measures to be announced given the state of their economy, and this should result in a positive impact to stock valuations. In the absence of strong stimulus measures, we will be reassessing our view on the region. We remain confident that investments in artificial intelligence (“AI”) applications will remain strong through 2025, driven by the industry's continued high-growth potential. While sales momentum has moderated, we believe this cycle has several more quarters of growth ahead. As a result, we believe that modest selloffs in the US technology sector are potentially attractive entry points.
2024 September Market Outlook: Tech Stocks Face Headwinds as AI Valuations Come Under Scrutiny
Since the last newsletter, technology stocks continued to underperform as investors began to question the premium valuations that these companies command since the start of the artificial intelligence (“AI”) narrative. There is no doubt that AI will result in long-term productivity gains as more companies begin to announce standalone AI products. Additionally, continued improvements in AI hardware will likely accelerate development going forward. As we assess the current investment landscape, we anticipate the road forward for AI-related opportunities to be less smooth than the past year as investors increasingly scrutinize the potential for these AI investments and applications to deliver solid returns. We believe that the first to see widespread AI adoption would be in areas that provide support in pattern recognition and personal assistance. These applications, while not entirely new, have progressed significantly over the past year. To illustrate, Salesforce has recently announced Agent Force, a client servicing bot that is easily customizable for different industry applications. Compared to older chatbots, early adopters of Agent Force have seen a 40% improvement in customer query resolution. In healthcare, doctors are also increasingly using AI to assist with effective diagnosis and drug development. We are well positioned to benefit from increasing AI adoption over the long-term on this front. Where we are looking to gain additional exposure is in AI-related hardware. We are tracking several data center equipment and power management companies. However, these sectors in general are trading at a high premium and are already well-invested. We believe we should take a more considered approach prior to initiating a significant position given the high valuations. The AI landscape is undoubtedly changing very quickly, and we will be flexible on our positions depending on the developments that unfold going forward.