Market Commentaries
October 2011
Shifts in the balance of power and macroeconomic headwinds are creating a two-speed world in economic growth terms. The developed world is likely to see slower growth rates. Meanwhile, the outlook for growth in emerging markets, while revised down, remains far in advance of the developed world. Investors must take stock of these shifts and consider whether they have adequate exposure to the fastest-growing parts of the world.
October 2011
US growth may have slowed significantly this year, but every cloud has a silver lining. In the midst of financial turmoil and sharp declines in confidence, data has begun to surprise on the upside again.
July 2011
Industries that will benefit from this evolution in China's development extend beyond pure retailing. A growing number of companies leveraged to the China consumer theme are not confined to China and are listed in Hong Kong and Taiwan. This In Perspective looks at the ways to participate in China's consumer-led growth.
June 2011
The offshore Chinese bond market is rapidly developing due to the promise of yield and direct RMB currency exposure. This In Perspective provides an overview of the market's major developments to date and discusses its potential to become a more important asset class for investors in the future.
June 2011
Investment banking in the US and UK may have passed its glory days, but banks in Southeast Asia may be on the cusp of a new era in capital cultivation. The key economies are expanding and companies are looking at growth opportunities outside their home markets. The demand for a broader range of services is growing, presenting unrivalled opportunities for the region's key players. Where are the opportunities for investors?
April 2011
The US is still the biggest economy in the world (by some margin) and home to many of the best companies. The opportunities are sufficient enough to give Warren Buffett - one of the most successful investors in a generation, little cause to stray too far from US shores. Here, we consider the case for the US at a time when the authorities are steering the economy towards growth via ultra-loose macro policy.
March 2011
An update on the volatile situation in the Middle East
March 2011
Investing in emerging markets usually means investors are challenged by under-developed disclosure regimes. Accessing reliable information from companies in these environments becomes a risk in its own right, but some Asian markets are making strides in creating an investor-friendly culture. Which countries are leading the way?
February 2011
With the notable exception of the US, rising inflation is increasingly becoming a headline news story all across the world. Here, we examine why inflation matters to investors, the reasons why inflation is becoming more of a concern at the present time, and evaluate the different ways through which investors can protect against and even profit from rising inflation.
February 2011
The story of last year was emerging markets. For growth investors, there was only one show in town. That was until October when a sharp reversal of developed and emerging market fortunes took place. Since then, the weakness of emerging markets in relation to developed markets has been marked. What are some of the implications for investors?
October 2011
The recent market volatility has negatively impacted the high yield asset class. This In Perspective reviews the fundamentals that underlie corporate issuers and explains why high yield can offer reasonable returns in both slow and high growth periods.
October 2011
Valuations for the high yield asset class are again at odds with fundamentals and liquidity is the cause. This could present investors with an opportunity for very rewarding returns.
July 2011
Amit Lodha talks about how his recent trip to China has left him with a renewed sense of comfort about the long-term structural growth story. He also discusses his insights into China's continuing influence on the global commodity markets.
June 2011
At the end of June 2011, the controversial second round of quantitative easing in the US, dubbed "QE2" will come to an end. As we near the end of QE2, economic data remains mixed and investor uncertainty is high. So what's next? Will QE2 be extended or is QE3 in the offing?
June 2011
Asian equity markets have underperformed the broader market recently due, in large part, to worries about the impact of rising inflation and monetary tightening policies needed to counter it. However, such concerns should not obscure the strong long-term case for investing in Asian equities.
April 2011
Investment decisions look neat and tidy in hindsight but in real time there are many considerations to take into account. Amit Lodha, fund manager at Fidelity talks about how he uses scenario analysis to assess the likely impact of potential outcomes on the funds he manages and the businesses he has invested in.
March 2011
The overall objectives of China's 12th five-year economic plan are the promotion of sustainable economic growth while restricting over-investment in certain sectors of the economy. The plan also devotes considerable attention to social reforms. Significant investment in the area of research and development is another key platform, set to make China the centre for technology development in Asia. Will China succeed in meeting such a diverse range of goals?
February 2011
February 2011
Asia's dominance on the world stage continues to break new ground. High profile capital raisings from America's General Motors and Visa become less significant when considered in the context of burgeoning capital markets in Asia. Take a look at why emerging Asia is the place to raise capital and where the future opportunities may lie.
January 2011
Hear from Nick Price, Portfolio Manager of Fidelity Funds - Emerging Europe, Middle East and Africa Fund who shares on Africa being a classic example of the gap between perception and reality which could leads to investment opportunity.
January 2011
Market Perspective on Latin America