Investment Insights

  • Understanding Risk Tolerance

    Whatever type of investment you are considering, it all boils down to one thing: risk and reward. This is where risk tolerance comes into play – in essence, the amount of risk you’re willing to take to achieve your investment goals. In this article, we will consider different types of risk tolerance and how they can change over the years. As with anything related to investment markets, nothing stays the same forever!

  • What are the main factors which dictate corporate bond price movements?

    Recently, we have seen a significant increase in demand for corporate bonds as investors look to secure relatively high income streams and a safe home for their capital. It can be challenging to look ahead, as we saw with the US Federal Reserve recently suggesting there may just be one interest rate reduction this year, against initial hopes of six at the start of the year. This perfectly reflects how important it is to be aware of factors that move corporate bond prices and how you can safeguard your capital.

  • Investing in APAC Smart Agriculture Technology

    While FinTech tends to grab the investment headlines, there is an ongoing revolution in smart agriculture technology. Even though huge improvements in agricultural techniques have already been identified and implemented, many believe we are only scratching the surface of the potential, especially in the APAC region.

  • How do quantitative investment strategies work?

    It is no secret that technology now plays an integral part in investment strategies and even the process of placing orders. This has led to increased demand for quantitative investment strategies, which rely heavily on mathematical and statistical models to make unbiased investment decisions. In theory, these investment strategies are relatively straightforward, but they require intense computing power and statistical data in practice.

  • Is tokenisation the ultimate financial disrupter?

    The introduction of distributed ledger technology (DLT), with the most common variation known as blockchain, could be the ultimate financial disrupter. This technology feeds into the cutting-edge technology provided by FinTech companies and is likely to change the way we trade and hold assets.

  • Understanding Synthetic Investment Positions

    The global futures and options market has grown considerably over the last 50 years and, in many cases, created situations where the “tail is wagging the dog”. The power and influence of these markets are enormous, and while often accused of fuelling speculation, there are ways in which you can use these instruments to protect your portfolio.

  • Is the APAC region ready for T+1 settlement?

    When the US decides to make wholesale changes to investment markets, the rest of the world will ultimately follow. That is the way it is, the way it has been for many years with Europe, the APAC region and the rest of the world now faced with the early 2024 transition to T+1 settlement. Focusing on the APAC region, is the industry ready for the switch, and what are the implications of a slow conversion?

  • ETF will allow Hong Kong investors to invest in Saudi Arabia

    It is fair to say that the Hong Kong authorities have been extremely proactive since the launch of their first ETF in 1999. At the time, this was a means of selling off shares accumulated by the authorities during various stock market interventions. However, the sector has come on leaps and bounds since then, and today’s rumour of a Saudi Arabian-based ETF has caught the attention of many investors.