Innovation is happening everywhere in the asset servicing space, but the best cases are those that result from an intimate grasp of the challenges facing fund managers and investors, and present a viable solution to overcome such issues. They showcase the congruence between purpose and outcome, ease and function, speed and reliability. This year The Asset is highlighting two projects that we think epitomize those qualities that make innovation a necessary and integral part of the evolution of financial services, and recognize them as part of The Asset Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards for Institutional Investors, ETFs, and Asset Servicing Providers 2023.

HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM) has rolled out a sub-fund that invests in short-duration bonds focused on US crossover opportunities, with the flexibility to invest globally, and on material environmental, social and governance (ESG) improvements against its reference benchmark. The HSBC Global Investment Funds (HGIF) - ESG Short Duration Credit Bond Sub-Fund is being offered to HSBC’s retail and private banking customers in Singapore until September 30. The product is registered as a recognized scheme in Singapore.

Digital wealth management platform Endowus has partnered with Allfunds, a B2B fund distribution company, to enable individual and institutional investors to access investment products in a timely and cost-effective manner.

Barclays Private Bank has announced two senior appointments in its Singapore office as part of efforts to strengthen its presence in Asia. Tom Road has been appointed deputy head, Singapore, and Wengmun Loh has been named head of dealing and derivatives, Singapore.

Announcing the regional nominees for “Best in Asset Servicing” awards as part of The Asset Triple A Sustainable Investing Awards for Institutional Investors, ETFs, and Asset Servicing Providers 2023.

In light of potential inflection points across interest rates, inflation and economic growth, family offices are planning the biggest shifts in their strategic asset allocation in years, a new report finds.

Investors are increasing allocations towards the private credit asset class, favouring the short-duration nature of the investments and the risk/reward trade-off. In the current macro environment, the benefits of private credit investments have come to the fore. Increasingly, traditional institutional investors are joined by ultra-high-net-worth individuals and family offices, which have also been attracted to this asset class. “We're at an inflection point because a lot of the focus in recent years has been on higher-return, higher-risk asset classes, such as private equity and venture capital. The returns these asset classes have delivered in the past are becoming increasingly difficult to repeat,” shares Scott McClurg, head of private credit, alternatives, at HSBC Asset Management (HSBC AM). “So, there's an increasing appetite for a more balanced risk-adjusted return. This is where private credit can play a part, allowing investors to benefit from the opportunity to access strong credit quality, delivering attractive returns.”

Staying invested and exposed to China can pay handsome dividends to an investment portfolio, especially over the long term

The Philippines moves a step closer to having its own sovereign investment fund after legislators approved a controversial bill on the proposal. The Senate on Wednesday (May 31) approved on third and final reading the proposed Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Act with several important revisions, including the proposed funds’ funding source, as well as some limitations when it comes to the appointment of the MIF’s board of directors.

China’s Gen Z, also known as the "post-95" group, has emerged as a generation with a strong wealth management awareness. While displaying a high aptitude for digital technology, using financial apps and online information with ease, they are also relatively conservative in their investment habits. They invest in money market funds, mutual funds, and wealth management products offered by banks.

BNY Mellon has appointed Winnie Chen as Singapore chief executive, effective immediately. She will be responsible for driving growth priorities in Singapore, while ensuring the firm’s governance and control structures are aligned with regulatory expectations.

Emerging Asia is expected to dominate global growth in the next three decades and beyond, according to a new report. By 2050, four of the world’s seven largest economies will be in Asia. China looks set to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy by 2035 and India could take fourth place by the early 2030s, the abrdn Research Institute (aRI) says in its latest research.

Real estate remains a key institutional asset class, with global assets under management standing at US$4.1 trillion, a new survey finds. The average AUM per manager rose 10% to US$35.7 billion in 2022, from US$32.5 billion in the previous year.

While most people are tightening their belts to cope with the effects of inflation and sluggish economic growth, the ultra-rich in Singapore and the rest of Asia-Pacific continue to indulge in investments of passion. Purchases of luxury watches, jewellery, luxury handbags, and diamonds continue to beat investments in mainstream asset classes, according to the latest Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index (KFLII).