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Powering the Future: Inside China's Hard-Tech Revolution — Ecosystem, Leaders, and the IPO Wave Reshaping the Market
insightPowering the Future: Inside China's Hard-Tech Revolution — Ecosystem, Leaders, and the IPO Wave Reshaping the Market

China’s hard-tech sector is entering a new phase of structural growth, driven by AI adoption, semiconductor localization, and strong policy support. Domestic hard-tech leaders across semiconductors, optical networking, advanced manufacturing, and memory technologies have significantly outperformed broader Chinese and offshore equity markets year-to-date, while a new IPO wave led by ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), Unitree Robotics, and other strategic technology champions are set to further enrich the STAR Market ecosystem. In this article, our Partner & Co-CIO David Lai discusses that our Premia China STAR50 ETF and Premia CSI Caixin China New Economy ETF offer targeted access to companies benefiting from China’s long-term technology and industrial transformation.

Jun 12, 2026

Navigating the complex macro in 2H 2026 with fixed income allocation
insightNavigating the complex macro in 2H 2026 with fixed income allocation

The complex macro picture has played squarely to the strengths of Premia's fixed income range, with every ETF in the lineup outperforming its mainstream investment grade (IG) and high-yield (HY) peers over the past six months. On the IG side, a constrained Fed pushing US long-end yields toward 5% makes a strong case to hold shorter duration bonds —while accommodative China liquidity and firm local demand underpinned Asia credit—drove the relative gains than the broader global IG universe. On the high-yield side, the Premia China USD Property Bond ETF significantly outperform the US and Asia HY peers along with the gradual recovery of China's property market, and has more than 660bps of spread still on offer for further compression toward the regional average. In this article, we explore how as this trend persists, the modular lineup offered by Premia's fixed income ETF range is increasingly turning today's fragmented macro environment into clear relative outperformance across both rating tiers.

Jun 12, 2026

War and the US economy – Higher for Longer, and the 1970s Risk
insightWar and the US economy – Higher for Longer, and the 1970s Risk

Even if a peace deal is achieved soon, the writing is already on the wall for the US economy. Higher inflation and rates/yields appear inevitable. The double shocks of the Trump tariffs of 2025 and now the Iran War will exacerbate the inflation already working its way through the supply chain. In this article, our Senior Advisor Say Boon Lim discusses why as US equity valuations appear increasingly mispriced, with current multiples severely challenged by a rising discount rate, Asian emerging markets are gaining recognition as a resilient alternative. China's exit from deflation is emerging as a positive signal in particular, as improving earnings growth prospects and technological development could together present a compelling alpha opportunity.

May 21, 2026

China A-shares Q1 2026 factor review
insightChina A-shares Q1 2026 factor review

As Iran conflicts closed off the Strait of Hormuz and sparked the ongoing oil price shock, global equity saw abrupt drawdown in Q1 as geopolitically anxious investors turned risk-off and quickly adjusted portfolios. Amidst that heightened volatility, contrary to broad market correction across both onshore and offshore Chinese equities, the Premia China Bedrock Economy strategy flourished, while the Premia China New Economy and Premia China STAR50 managed to get through the quarter nearly unscathed and remain well-positioned for policy tailwinds and hard tech structural growth as the 15th Five-Year Plan kickstarted. In this article, Dr. Phillip Wool, Global Head of Research of Rayliant Global Advisors, discusses about the macro and factor-level backdrop of China A share performance in Q1 2026, and drivers for continued optimism for onshore equities this year.

May 12, 2026

China Tech: The Next Generation Source of Alpha
insightChina Tech: The Next Generation Source of Alpha

With US technology stocks under pressure from high valuations and risk-off sentiment from high beta trades amid heightened global market volatilities given geopolitical tensions, China advanced tech sector offers a well-supported and timely alternative for investors looking to diversify. The numbers speak for themselves: over the past two years, the hardcore technology focused STAR50 Index gained 77.3%, comfortably ahead of the Nasdaq's 40.2%. China has put innovation at the core of its long-term growth plan, with strong government backing for AI, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing. Under Beijing’s domestic substitution policy, Chinese companies are rapidly replacing foreign technology with homegrown solutions, and earnings forecasts are being revised higher. In this article, our Partner & Co-CIO David Lai discusses the policy signals emerging from China's 15th Five-Year Plan and explores how investors can tap into these opportunities through our Premia China STAR50 (3151 / 9151 / 83151 HK) for focused exposure to China's leading hardcore technology companies, as well as our Premia China New Economy (3173 / 9173 HK) that provides broader coverage across nearly 300 holdings spanning the full new economy landscape.

Apr 08, 2026

China’s path to domestic substitution and technology independence – Many Breakthroughs, One Challenge
insightChina’s path to domestic substitution and technology independence – Many Breakthroughs, One Challenge

Last December China launched a major national venture capital fund, a national guidance fund and three large regional funds (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Greater Bay Area), all designed to channel billions of development capital into "hard technology" sectors like semiconductors, AI, and biomedicine to fast track its trajectory to overcome the current choke points and achieve technology independence amid persistent geopolitical tension. Meanwhile, Bloomberg reported that China is also considering a US$70 billion package of incentives to boost its semiconductor industry. These are only the latest in a string of boosters: China had already announced numerous measures over the past two years, estimated to value almost US$100billion, to lift capabilities in its chip sector. In this article, we reviewed China's ongoing efforts in the global chip race, and how under rapid acceleration in domestic substitution across cutting-edge logic chips, memory foundries, and AI models, our China New Economy (3173 / 9173 HK) and China STAR50 (3151 / 9151 / 83151 HK) strategies are uniquely positioned to capture these structural opportunities.

Apr 08, 2026

China A-shares Q4 2025 factor review
insightChina A-shares Q4 2025 factor review

Despite last year’s pronounced rally in onshore Chinese stocks, the fourth quarter saw strong rotation from growth plays to a value theme, leading to divergence in the Bedrock and New Economy strategies over the final few months of the year. That said, we note all three of the Premia China ETFs showed marked outperformance over broad market, as investors continued to pivot to hardcore technology and strategic new economy sectors notwithstanding profit taking and risk-off sentiments towards the year end. In fact, under strong tailwinds such as domestic substitution policies, China’s economic engine is being reconfigured as many of these emerging leaders started to show fast tracked earnings growth and profitability. With this background, CSI Caixin Rayliant New Economic Engine Index (tracked by Premia China New Economy ETF - 3173 / 9173 HK ETFs) outperformed CSI300 solidly with total gain of 23.9% for full-year 2025, while China STAR50 index (tracked by Premia STAR50 ETF - 3151 / 9151 / 83151 HK ETFs) delivered even stronger full-year return of 36.5% notwithstanding the end of year profit taking. Meanwhile, as Low Risk, Value, Quality factors advanced in Q4, as a defensive strategy in risk off environment CSI Caixin Rayliant Bedrock Economy Index (tracked by Premia China Bedrock Economy ETF - 2803 / 9803 HK ETFs) outperformed the broader market with a gain of 4.9% for the quarter, bringing its full-year return to 12.6%. In this article, Dr. Phillip Wool, Global Head of Research of Rayliant Global Advisors, discussed the macro and factor-level influences, and provided a concise summary of contributors to China A share performance in Q4 2025 and possibly into 2026 as we kick start the first year of the 15th Five Year Plan.

Mar 16, 2026

2026 Market Outlook Part 7: Taiwan in the confluence of global tech super cycle
insight2026 Market Outlook Part 7: Taiwan in the confluence of global tech super cycle

With many of the global leading high tech manufacturing players, the Taiwan stock market sits at the confluence of the global tech super cycle, robust earnings growth and modest valuations, and is home to many global leading Asian technology players. The fundamental tailwinds that drove the Taiwanese stock market’s outperformance from 4Q25 are likely to continue carrying the rally in 2026. Indeed, the Taiwan market appears to be in the early stages of its outperformance cycle. In this article, our Senior Advisor Say Boon Lim explores why in addition to TSMC, the blue chip cohort from Taiwan offers global investors a unique diversification opportunity, providing exposure to technology super cycle beyond US big tech names, complemented by its attractive valuations and low correlations with other major asset classes.

Feb 02, 2026

2026 Market Outlook Part 6: Emerging ASEAN bottoming out amid policy tailwinds and diversification
insight2026 Market Outlook Part 6: Emerging ASEAN bottoming out amid policy tailwinds and diversification

Analysts including JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, HSBC, and Standard Chartered are generally bullish on Emerging Markets (EM) for 2026, citing dollar weakness, AI growth, and affordable valuations. Within EM, EM ASEAN is an under-appreciated sweet spot that blends value, yield and structural upsides. In this article, our Senior Advisor Say Boon Lim discusses how the region transitions towards more domestically-driven growth, with macro tailwinds from significant foreign direct investments, public infrastructure spending, and robust exports fuelled by AI demand and global supply chain dynamics.

Jan 19, 2026

2026 Market Outlook Part 1: The case for urgent diversification
insight2026 Market Outlook Part 1: The case for urgent diversification

As markets enter 2026, the need for diversification has gained an urgency not seen since possibly at the peak of the Nasdaq Bubble in year 2000. Both US stocks and corporate credits are priced for perfection in an economy that has been held up by stretched fiscal and monetary stimulus. The sales pitch of “American exceptionalism” may be wearing thin. US Big Tech is overpriced and may have overinvested in AI. Meanwhile, the labour and consumer markets are weakening even while inflation remains stubborn. The long-end of the Treasury yield curve has started ignoring rate cuts – a sign of concern about the sustainability of US government debt. In this article, our Senior Advisor Say Boon Lim discusses the urgency of diversification away from US-overpriced assets, while China and emerging ASEAN markets present compelling complementary attributes for diversified multi-asset portfolios.

Jan 13, 2026

Chart Of the Week

Earnings momentum and growth expectations driving investor flows in China
  • David Lai

    David Lai , CFA

    CFA

China A-share market has become increasingly polarized, as earnings momentum and growth expectations drove investor flows. While the Information Technology sector has surged 31.9% year-to-date, Consumer Staples have declined 13.8%, illustrating a clear market preference for growth-oriented industries over traditional defensives. The strength of the technology sector is often attributed to the global enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence and semiconductor demand, alongside Beijing’s continued support for domestic innovation and import substitution in critical technologies. However, the rally is far from being purely sentiment driven. Corporate fundamentals have provided substantial support. In the first quarter of 2026, Information Technology companies delivered earnings growth of 68.0% year-on-year, second only to Materials at 74.8%. In contrast, Consumer Staples reported a 15.4% earnings decline, reflecting weaker operating momentum. The earnings divergence has also been reinforced by analyst revisions, with full-year profit estimates for Information Technology revised upward by 7.4%, while Consumer Staples experienced a sharp 19.3% downgrade. Looking ahead, earnings growth is expected to remain concentrated in a handful of high-growth sectors. Consensus forecasts point to full-year 2026 earnings growth of 72.0% for Materials, 70.6% for Information Technology, 33.7% for Industrials, and 30.8% for Healthcare, while Utilities, Financials and Consumer Staples are expected to lag. For investors seeking exposure to China’s structural growth themes, the Premia China STAR50 ETF and Premia China New Economy ETF offer targeted access to innovative and high-growth segments of the market, both of which have outperformed the broader A-share market year-to-date.

Jun 15, 2026

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