by Gerald Wong, CFA, Beansprout February 24, 2025 This post was created in partnership with Nikko Asset Management Asia Limited. All views and opinions expressed in this article are Beansprout's objective and professional opinions. Growing up, a well-worn copy of Robert Kiyosaki's "Rich Dad Poor Dad" sat on our family bookshelf. You might know it. It's something of a bible for those seeking financial independence, telling the tale of two fathers and their contrasting approaches to money and wealth. In it, Kiyosaki paints his “rich dad” as a self-made multi-millionaire full of wealth-building wisdom. The word “millionaire” has since become an ultimate benchmark–proof that you’ve “made it”. Yet, as I entered adulthood, having a million dollars in the

by Timothy Ho, Dollars and Sense March 11, 2025 This article is sponsored by Nikko Asset Management. All views expressed in this article are the independent opinion of DollarsAndSense.sg based on our research, is purely for informational purposes and should not be relied upon as financial advice. DollarsAndSense.sg is not liable for any financial losses that may arise from any transactions and readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence. You can view our full editorial policy here. At the start of each year, many of us set New Year’s resolutions—whether for r

5 Dec 2024 Asian bonds set to gain as central banks ease further By Asian Fixed Income Team Domestic demand in Asia resilient on the back of gradual monetary easing [ 1 ] Asia ex-China demonstrated resilience in 2024, with growth buoyed by strong local demand and healthy exports. Easing inflation—driven by relatively tight monetary policies [ 2 ] and moderating food and commodity prices—allowed most Asian central banks to reduce policy rates in the latter half of the year. As we move into 2025, growth in Asia ex-China may moderate slightly but is expected to stay largely supported by firm domestic demand. We expect inflation to remain subdued as regional food prices stabilise. Now that inflation is within central banks’ targets across most Asian economies, the path is clear for further mon

10 Jan 2025 Chris Rands, Senior Portfolio Manager Mohammed Zaidi, Investment Director Mohammed Zaidi (Investment Director, Asian Equity) interviews Chris Rands (Joint Head, Global Multi-Asset). In this discussion, Chris shares his views on the global investment environment going into Year 2025. Important information: This video is prepared by Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. and/or its affiliates (Nikko AM) and is for distribution only under such circumstances as may be permitted by applicable laws. This video does not constitute personal investment advice or a personal recommendation and it does not consider in any way the objectives, financial situation or needs of any recipients. All recipients are recommended to consult with their independent tax, financial and legal advisers prior to

19 Dec 2024 By Kenneth Tang, Senior Portfolio Manager, Asian Equity What are the key drivers of strong sustainable returns for Singapore equity? Watch Kenneth Tang in this 2-minute video roundup. Important information: This video is prepared by Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. and/or its affiliates (Nikko AM) and is for distribution only under such circumstances as may be permitted by applicable laws. This video does not constitute personal investment advice or a personal recommendation and it does not consider in any way the objectives, financial situation or needs of any recipients. All recipients are recommended to consult with their independent tax, financial and legal advisers prior to any investment. This video is for information purposes only and is not intended to be an offer, or a

5 Dec 2024 Identifying outperformers within the “New Singapore” narrative By Asian Equity Team Reflecting on 2024   As we approach 2025, it is an appropriate time to review the performance of Singapore’s equity market in 2024. The market performed strongly in 2024, with the Straits Times Index (STI) delivering double-digit gains of 21.7% as of end-November 2024 in Singapore dollar (SGD) total return terms [ 1 ] . The rally was mostly concentrated in the second half of the year, and the Singapore market was one of the few in Asia to maintain positive momentum after Donald Trump’s US election victory. This positioned Singapore as the second-best performer in the Asia ex-Japan region in 2024, meaning that it trailed only Taiwan and outpaced major emerging markets like India and China. &n

5 Dec 2024 The coming year promises a different environment By Multi-Asset Team Outlook for 2025  With 2024 mostly behind us, we are again reminded of how difficult it is to forecast asset market performance over the medium term. Coming into 2024, many pundits believed that a bond markets-supportive US recession was still on its way. However, the widely predicted recession never showed up. Instead, the MSCI World Global Equity index has risen over 20% year to date, while the Bloomberg Aggregate Bond Index has gained a modest 3% in USD terms [ 1 ]. Despite the difficulty in forecasting, we examine where markets could be headed in 2025. We are currently focused on a “no-landing” scenario, in which the US economy continues to grow at trend as the effects of a less restrictive monetary po

16 Dec 2024 Trump 2.0 will not be the only catalyst for fundamental change By Asian Equity Team Asian small companies: beneficiaries of key growth trends worldwide   We have a favourable outlook for Asian small companies [ 4 ] given key factors that highlight their resilience and potential for growth in the current economic landscape.   Many Asian small companies can weather economic fluctuations and geopolitical risks. The key competitive advantage of these firms stems from their scale of operations, which provides management with greater agility in responding to shifting trends compared to their larger peers. Additionally, many Asian small companies exhibit higher earnings growth than their bigger counterparts (please see:

16 Dec 2024 Trump 2.0 will not be the only catalyst for fundamental change By Asian Equity Team Trump 2.0 will not be the only catalyst for fundamental change Many may expect the incoming Trump administration's transactional approach to be detrimental to the geopolitical and macroeconomic landscapes. However, we believe that Washington's mercantilist stance should not prevent Asian markets from offering attractive absolute returns, as was the case during the 2017-2021 period under Trump's first term. What’s changing in Asia: a broad outlook for the year ahead  As another year goes by, we are once again reminded that change really is the only constant. This reinforces our belief in our investment philosophy: identifying companies that exhibit the best blend of fundamental change, susta

Fund Objective The investment objective of the Fund is to achieve medium to long term capital appreciation. The Fund invests primarily in equities listed on the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited that offer attractive and sustainable dividend payments with the potential for long term capital appreciation and may also invest in non-Straits Times Index (FTSE STI) component stocks as well as equities listed outside of Singapore with similar characteristics. The Fund does not have a reference benchmark as it is managed on a total return basis pursuant to its investment objective and as such, may not seek to outperform any benchmark. Fund Documents Brochure

Fund Objective The investment objective of the Fund is to provide a total return of capital growth and income over the medium to long term by investing in equity investments listed and traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange The Fund's investment focus is to invest in a diversified portfolio of dividend producing equity investments listed and traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange that offer attractive and sustainable dividends from companies with relatively strong sustainable cash flows, stable growth and stable dividend payout. The Fund will be actively managed and may allocate up to 30% of its NAV to cash to manage any downside market fluctuations. (Please note that for the Hedged Classes, the Managers intend to mitigate currency risk by hedging the currency exposure of the assets of the Fund th

Watch Kenneth Tang, Senior Portfolio Manager of Asian Equity, as he shares how he manages the Nikko AM Shenton Thrift Fund and reasons why investors should consider investing in the Fund. Important information: This video is prepared by Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. and/or its affiliates (Nikko AM) and is for distribution only under such circumstances as may be permitted by applicable laws. This video does not constitute personal investment advice or a personal recommendation and it does not consider in any way the objectives, financial situation or needs of any recipients. All recipients are recommended to consult with their independent tax, financial and legal advisers prior to any investment. This video is for information purposes only and is not intended to be an offer, or a solicit

20 September 2024 Exploring the trade, economic and geopolitical implications Asian Equity Team Pricing in risks associated with trade and protectionism, geopolitics US President Joe Biden’s faltering performance at the 27 June presidential debate and subsequent gaffe at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit press conference stoked growing concerns among Democrats over his ability to beat Donald Trump at the polls. His subsequent decision to withdraw from the race and pass the torch to Vice President Kamala Harris left party supporters rushing to reset campaign strategy. On the other side, the Republican camp overwhelmingly endorsed Trump as their presidential candidate. With this in mind, a second term in the White House for the business mogul is a possibility, unless there

28 August 2024 Exploring hidden opportunities amid a push for more active cash use Yu Sato, Lead Portfolio Manager Japan, a nation of “cash-rich” companies, is undergoing corporate reforms aimed at raising valuation of companies by improving their capital efficiency. This includes leveraging existing corporate savings for shareholder distribution and investing for future growth. The reforms, along with cash-rich companies' historical outperformance and strategic options due to their ample cash holdings, make these firms well worth exploring. A country of cash-rich companies With its firms having held a higher amount of savings than those in other developed economies over the past three decades (Chart 1), Japan can be described as a country of “cash-rich” companies. As with many aspects of

Why they warrant the attention of global investors Grace Yan, Senior Portfolio Manager, Asian Equity 22 July 2024 South Korea’s “indie[1]” cosmetics brands: vibrant alternative to large conglomerates It’s no secret that the global beauty industry has come to be dominated by smaller South Korean players.  The “hallyu” wave, also known as the Korean wave, started in the 1990s and ignited the global popularity of South Korean culture and entertainment. Today, this includes beauty trends, blazing a trail across the world with their “K-beauty” skincare and cosmetic products. Terms like “glass skin” have become established globally among the beauty-conscious, along with the 10-step skincare routine prescribed to achieve the hydrated, ‘glowy’ look. South Korea may be known for its large cong

27 Jun 2024 Kenneth Tang Senior Portfolio Manager, Asian Equity Singapore recently had its first leadership change in 20 years. What does this mean for the Singapore market? Watch Kenneth Tang as he provides 3 key takeaways. Important information: This video is prepared by Nikko Asset Management Co., Ltd. and/or its affiliates (Nikko AM) and is for distribution only under such circumstances as may be permitted by applicable laws. This video does not constitute personal investment advice or a personal recommendation and it does not consider in any way the objectives, financial situation or needs of any recipients. All recipients are recommended to consult with their independent tax, financial and legal advisers prior to any investment. This video is for information purposes only and is not

By Gerald Wong, CFA, Beansprout 26 Jun 2024 7 min read We compare bond ETFs to Singapore T-bills to find out if they are a good complement for investors looking to earn an attractive yield. This post was created in partnership with Nikko Asset Management Asia Limited. All views and opinions expressed in this article are Beansprout's objective and professional opinions. What happened? Demand for T-bills has been very strong recently.  Applications for the 6-month T-bill reached a record high of S$16.0 billion in the auction on 11 April, as the yield on the T-bill remained elevated.  At the same time, investors regained confidence tha