New Fund: Public Select Treasures Equity Fund

Yet, another new fund from Public Mutual for investors to consider. The local fund house want to capitalize on its local expertise by launching this new local fund which seeks to achieve capital growth over the medium to long-term period by investing in a portfolio of investments comprising small and medium-sized companies in terms of market capitalisation from diversified economic sectors.

Only local? How about foreign markets?

Although the fund is predominantly investing in local stock market, it can also invest in component stocks of small and mid cap stock market indices of selected foreign markets. If the small and mid cap stock market indices are not available for a foreign market, the fund will invest in stocks of companies which form the bottom 30% of the cumulative market capitalisation of that particular market.

To achieve increased diversification, the fund may invest up to 25% of its NAV in equities and fixed income securities of selected foreign markets which include China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines and other permitted markets.

Does the fund do currency hedging?

Yes, the fund may utilise foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against foreign currency movements.

What's the benchmark the fund?

• 70% FTSE Bursa Malaysia Mid 70 Index;
• 20% FTSE Bursa Malaysia Small Cap Index; and
• 10% 3-Month KLIBOR

Click here to download the fund prospectus.

Source: Public Mutual

What's Boutique Fund Manager ?

Good news to all young and talented fund managers in the country. Securities Commission of Malaysia (SC) further liberalize the capital market by introducing a new category of fund management license recently called "boutique fund management" license.

What's so exciting about it?

Citing encouraging entrepreneurship and competition within the industry, this new license could propel the fund management business to another height. Below table shows the major differences between full-fledged vs boutique fund management firm:

Difference between Full fledged and Boutique fund management frim

What's sophisticated investors?

It's referring to high net worth individuals and high net worth entities. Gross income must have at least RM 300,000 or net tangible assets of RM 3 million excluding own stay property.

Kenanga ASEAN Tactical Total Return Fund

Being a part of ASEAN, we living in Malaysia has seen the growth of the region for the past so many years. Would you like to participate in it? If yes, you should continue read on...

How good is ASEAN ???

ASEAN is a dynamic, fast growing group of economies. The ASEAN nations are committed to regional economic integration by 2015, in the form of the ASEAN Economic Community - a trade bloc that envisions transforming ASEAN into an economic entity with free movement of goods, services, investment and skilled labour, with a freer flow of capital.

Investing in the fund offers investor geographical diversification whilst leveraging on the growth potential of ASEAN as an economic community.

The fund is suitable for investors who are seeking long-term capital growth on the amount invested, who are willing to accept equity risk to obtain potentially higher returns and who want to have investments in the ASEAN region.

What can this fund offering you?

Click here to download the fund prospectus.

New Fund: PB Dividend Builder Equity Fund

Dividend funds have been the favour of investors when uncertainty of markets take place. The current situation of the market is just like that.

What's the strategy of the fund?

This new fund seeks to provide income by investing in a portfolio of stocks which offer or have the potential to offer attractive dividend yields. The fund maintains equity exposures within a range of 75% to 98% against its Net Asset Value (NAV). Meanwhile, the balance of the fund's NAV will be invested in fixed income securities and liquid assets which include money market instruments and deposits.

How about foreign exposure?

To achieve increased diversification, the fund may invest in equities and fixed income securities of selected foreign markets of up to 25% of fund's NAV. In the other hand, the benchmark of the fund are as follows:

• 90% FTSE Bursa Malaysia Top 100 Index (FBM 100); and
• 10% 3-month KLIBOR

Having said so, this fund is meant for medium to long term investment is suitable for those investors with moderate risk appetite and scared of the global uncertainties. Happy investing !!!

Click here to view the prospectus.

Source: Public Mutual

Introducing the all NEW EPF Members Investment Scheme Information Portal (April 2015)

Another very good initiative by the Employee Provident Fund (EPF), a new online portal was launched today to provide the necessary information for all EPF members who conduct their own research and survey on all unit trust funds that were offered under the EPF Members-Investment Scheme (EPF-MIS). Most importantly, it's FREE !!!

The portal named "EPF Members Investment Scheme Information Portal" is managed by an external party and it is accessible as long as the member have an EPF i-Akaun log in.

How to access?

Visit the EPF website here.

Then, you will be directed to the new portal where all of us waiting for...

What's in it for me?

Powered by novagni, the new portal is user friendly and useful for all EPF members...

Fund performances of different funds sorted by different category.
You can only compare the funds within the same category.

You can view the fund info by such as general fund info, transaction info, and statistic of the funds including the history of distributions...

Different funds comparison of up to a maximum of 4 funds at one shot...

Honestly, we should give the EPF a thumbs up for this. The initiative taken to have the i-Akaun log in was amazing few years back. Coupled with this new portal for all i-Akaun users is an extra milestone for other government related agencies to follow. Let's give EPF a "Like" here and "Share" it out all Malaysian as an encouragement to EPF...

To read the FAQs about the new portal, please click here.

Source: EPF website

NEW Fund: Eastspring Investment Asia Pac (ex-Japan) Target Return

Continue looking good on the global outlook, particularly Asia Pacific region as the direct beneficiary of global economic recovery, this new fund would invest into those companies based on its attractive intrinsic value.

However, the road to recovery is not as straight-forward. The recent market sell down is a very good example. Market volatility was another concern for investors, which many of us cannot stomach it. Any solutions for that?

Yes... with this new fund...

The Eastspring Investment Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) Target Return fund aims to provide investors with at least 8% per annum growth over medium to long term whilst managing the downside risk of investments in Asia Pacific (ex-Japan) region.

By employing a value investing strategy, the fund aims to deliver the return regardless of market conditions. The fund manager when managing these type of portfolios will strike a balance between achieving capital appreciation and mitigating downside risks.

In general, the fund manager will strive to keep the volatility of the fund below that of the overall market.

How the fund can mitigate the market volatility?

1. First, the fund is managed based on value investing, which looks at companies with sustainable business models that are trading at a discount to their intrinsic value.
   
   
2. Second, the fund's portfolio is unconstrained (not based on benchmark index), allowing fund manager the flexibility in identifying and implementing most optimum investment strategy.

Click here to download the fund prospectus.

TA Regular Income Fund

In an ever-changing world, TA Investment Management Berhad are proud to announce to you the launch of TA Regular Income Fund. IOP starts from 16 June - 30 July 2014. 

Reasons not to miss this investment opportunities:

Awards Winning Fund Manager - Fullerton Fund Management:

a) Winner of the Singapore Lipper Fund Awards 2014 – Best Bond Singapore Dollar (3 Years) for Fullerton Short Term Interest Rate Fund

b) Winner of Asian Private Banker Asset Management Awards for Excellence 2013 - Best Fund House for RMB Denominated Bonds

c) Winner of Morningstar Fund Awards (Singapore) 2010 for Asian Bond

d) Winner of the below awards as voted by “The Asset” magazine, for their flagship Fullerton 

Highly recognized fixed income manager in Singapore: 

- Fullerton currently have two flagship SGD fixed income funds in Singapore. Both of the funds have AUM of more than S$1bn each. Hardly fixed income funds in Singapore will have more than S$1bn AUM.

Note: Fullerton Fund Management has an excellent track record with no history of loss from bond default. 

Mitigate the possibility occurrence of mismatch risk and ensure the Fund potentially obtain the full notional value of those bonds upon the Maturity Date of the Fund

- No perpetual bond. 

- Avoid trading on bonds. 

- Invest in bonds that match the Maturity Date of the Fund.

Note: **This is not a capital protected/ guaranteed fund and the returns are not guaranteed. Capital investment and capital preservation is subject to no default of underlying bonds or fixed income securities. 

Click here to download the fund prospectus.

Source: TA Investment Management

New Fund: CIMB-Principal Global Multi Asset Income Fund

Are you looking for a fund that's truly diversified? Look no further. With this new fund, it offers income from a range of different asset classes comprising of global equities and global fixed income securities.

Furthermore...

You will be investing in a fund which is designed to take advantage of yield opportunities in whichever geography or sector they arise. That's why it's truly diversified and you can even ride on the recovery of US and European markets.

How this fund works?

In order to achieve the objective, the fund will invest at least 95% of the money into Schroder International Selection Fund Global Multi-Asset Income (the Target fund).

So, by investing into this fund, investors are expected to:-

• aims to receive income and potential capital growth over medium-to-long term
• captures income opportunities from global equities and bonds
• unconstrained approach with an active asset allocation strategy and flexibility across asset classes
• Gain from an income seeking risk solution using active risk management with 5%-10% p.a. target volatility

Click here to download the fund prospectus.

New Fund: HWANG SELECT JAPAN QUANTUM

Did you missed out on the bull run of Japan market last year? Can't find any pure Japan fund in local unit trust funds? You no need to wait anymore with HwangIM launching the 1st Japan Fund in the market for investors to get exposure to pure Japanese market.

The Hwang Select Japan Quantum Fund is an equity fund that seeks to provide capital appreciation over the medium to long term period. It invests in undervalued Japanese companies with growth potential.

3 Reasons Why this Fund ?

1. Growth Opportunities from the Return of the Samurai, with "Abenomics"
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Catalysts (Improving Business Environment and Employment Rate, Tokyo Olympics 2020)
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Strength and Knowledge of NIKKO AM

After in  sleeping mode for more than 2 decades, Japan is waking up again to become ultimate rising sun country of the world. If you think that Japan's future is still promising for the next few years, you may consider to diversify into this fund.

Source: HwangIM

Click here to download prospectus

The Edge-Lipper Fund Awards 2014: Who's the BEST among all?

For unit trust industry, The Edge-Lipper Fund Awards was an annual event to showcase their best performing funds. It was like Oscar Awards for unit trust fund houses. This year there were a total of 47 awards presented. Who is the BEST ?

Let's refer to below table:

And the BEST Group Awards goes to...

Congratulations to Amanah Mutual Berhad !!!

New Fund: Kenanga Asia Pacific Total Return

After merging with ING Funds Berhad, Kenanga Investors Berhad launched its first new fund of the enlarged family. In this uncertain global economic environment, how much return can a fund generated was the main concern for many investors. Want to get higher return? Then, we cannot runaway from higher volatility! Are there any balance in between?

Yes. To cater for such investors, this new fund aims to provide a compounded rate of return of at least 10% per annum over market cycle (5 years) by investing in a diversified portfolio of Asia Pacific equities.

3 Reasons WHY it benefits you:

Well... Unlike others, this fund DO NOT has any benchmark constraint. This allows flexibility in identifying and implementing the most optimum investment strategy. Picture below shows the differences between Absolute and Relative return:

Still not yet convinced? How about the proven track record?

Click here to download prospectus

Source: Kenanga Investors Bhd

New Fund: AmAsia Pacific REITs Plus

Do you remember the AmAsia Pacific REITs fund? I'm sure you have heard about it. Yes, backed by its success story, AmInvestment Management Bhd has launched a new version called AmAsia Pacific REITs Plus. The word "Plus" is used as a continuation of the AmAsia Pacific REITs and the fund may invest in listed equities in the real estate sector.

The fund aims to provide regular income and to a lesser extent capital appreciation over the medium to long term (at least 3 years) by investing in real estate investment trusts (REITs) and equities in the real estate sector.

What's the strategy?

Minimum 70% in REITs and a maximum of 29% in listed equities in real estate sector, which are in the Asia Pacific region. This is the asset allocation of the fund. Diversification in terms of country and different REITs sub-sectors (etc. residential, commercial and industrial) is expected.

An active allocation strategy will be employed by fund manager, based on macroeconomic trends and REITs market outlook of respective countries in Asia Pacific region. Meanwhile, bottom-up security selection strategy will be used for equities, with focus on undervalued companies.

Who is suitable for this fund?

• Those who wish to have investment exposure in real estate sector through a diversified portfolio of REITs and real estate equities in Asia Pacific region.
• Those seeking regular income and to a lesser extent capital appreciation over medium to long term

What's AmInvest aiming?

4% payout on yearly basis, which AmInvest said is achievable and is higher than fixed deposit rate offered by banks. AmInvest favors Australia, Singapore and Japan for REITs and China, Indonesia and Thailand for listed equities.

Click here to download the fund prospectus

New Fund: Eastspring Investments Target Income Fund 2

In the current low interest rate environment, investors continue to chase for yields which resulted in strong demand for close-ended bond funds that potentially offers higher return than fixed deposits. Keeping this in mind, Eastspring Investments is launching a new fund.

The fund endeavors to provide regular income during the tenure of the fund (3 years), by investing in local and/or foreign debt securities.

Investment Strategy

A minimum of 70% will be invested in local and/or foreign debt securities, while the remaining of not more than 40% may be invested either in non-rated debt securities and/or debt securities rated below investment grade rating.

• lower than BBB3 rating by RAM; or
• below investment grade rating by other rating agencies

Although the fund is expected to invest up to 40% in non-rated issuers and/or issuers rated below investment grade, there is a risk that this limit may be exceeded as issuers of investment grade debt securities held within the portfolio may be downgraded by rating agencies and thus resulting in the fund's over exposure in such category.

Additionally, up to 30% may invested in money market instruments, and worth to note that the fund may exercise Early Repayment. As such, this is a moderate risk fund, instead of low risk.

The fund is suitable for investors who:-

• seek regular income distribution;
• have 3 years investment horizon; and
• have a moderate risk tolerance.

Click here to download fund prospectus

New Fund: OSK-UOB Capital Protected Essentials Fund

As the world population continues its growth led by the emerging countries coupled with the higher purchasing power, the demand for the essentials or basic commodities (i.e. those that we use daily such as cotton for clothing, corn and sugar for food, crude oil for energy) have significantly increased. Further, with the imbalance of increase in demand and slower growth in supply, this has also resulted in a situation where consumers now and going forward have to pay more for fuel, clothing and food.

With the expectation of further increase in the prices of these essentials or basic commodities, OSK-UOB has established a fund that will capitalize on the price movements of these essentials or basic commodities, which is OSK-UOB Capital Protected* Essentials Fund.

Fund Asset Allocation:

Indicative Asset Allocation

Over The Counter (OTC) Option:

A 4-year option whose underlying reference is a basket of 4 commodities, i.e. Brent Crude Oil, Cotton, Sugar and Corn, and each commodity is represented by a listed futures contract.

Why it also called "Memory Option" ?

This is because the option is structured to provide 4 annual coupon payments during the tenure of the fund, if at the relevant observation date, all of the 4 underlying reference commodities prices are greater than or equal to their initial reference prices determined at the commencement date of the fund. It has a "memory" component i.e. the annual coupon payable can be carried forward if it failed to met the conditions for a particular year.

103% Capital Protection?

Yes. The capital protection covers the investors' capital investment and includes the 3% sales charge payable by investors.

Hence, the fund is suitable for investors who:

1. have a low risk tolerance;
2. seeks capital protection*;
3. seek potential returns from commodities essential to our daily lives;
4. have a medium term horizon; and
5. seek income

Download the fund prospectus here

Source: OSK-UOB Investment Management

* Investors are advised that the fund is not a guaranteed fund. Capital protection is provided through investments in ZNIDs and not by a guarantee. Consequently, the return of capital is SUBJECT TO the credit/default risk of the issuers of the ZNIDs and may result in losses.