featured insights & webinar
Nasdaq has made new highs and investors are understandably excited. Similarly, here in Asia we have seen innovative technology companies outperform YTD but with much less fanfare. David Lai explores the major megatrends in Asia and why you need to invest in tech leaders across this region.
May 03, 2019
Looking past stellar Q1 returns, we discuss positioning going forward and the need to navigate the conflicting signals offered by equity and bond markets today
Apr 10, 2019
With the CSI300 up ~25% YTD, many clients are worried that the market has fully priced in the MSCI inclusion. We review 5 flawed assumptions and explain why the rally is just the start of a long-term trend.
Mar 26, 2019
As China markets reacted to expansionary policy news, familiar criticism of China’s debt and leverage concerns has begun to emerge from global investors. Separating myths from reality, our advisor Say Boon Lim shares his thoughts on the 5 biggest myths about China’s economy.
Mar 13, 2019
So far in 2019, markets have moved positively and our worst fears from Q4 remain unfounded. However, investors should not be complacent and interpret this period of good news as predictive of the rest of 2019. Markets are likely to again fear the future. In this week’s post, our advisor Say Boon Lim shares his thoughts about the current period of benign market activity.
Feb 18, 2019
As we pass the 6-month anniversary of our latest ETFs, we review their performance since launch, the underlying story behind the exposures and the potential for returns going forward.
Feb 13, 2019
We enter this year at a crossroads for markets, with multiple cycles coming to an end. In his first insight as our senior advisor, Say Boon Lim offers his thoughts on asset allocation amid diverging economic, market and currency cycles. Following his thoughts as a guide, we introduce a number of ETF implementation ideas for 2019 across equities, fixed income, commodities and even currencies.
Jan 25, 2019
Emerging markets seem to be one of the top picks among both sell-side strategies and well-known investors in 2019. We would like to examine if their views are valid and understand better about the reasons behind. To make it into an actionable advice, we also share our thought why emerging ASEAN maybe the crème de la crème and update our readers on the performance of Premia Dow Jones Emerging ASEAN Titans 100 ETF.
Jan 14, 2019
As we wrap up 2018, it’s hard not to reflect on a -25% year in A-shares. As investors, however, we have to look forward and ask ourselves – what’s in store for 2019? Will the trade war result in continued downward momentum? Or will policy accommodation and an improved trade environment result in a massive upside reversal? Looking back 10 years to the global financial crisis, we examine a potential path forward for A-shares in 2019.
Dec 17, 2018
Below is a quick summary of what you need to know regarding this weekend’s G20 Xi-Trump meeting and our thoughts on impact for Asian and Chinese equities.
Dec 03, 2018
BY TOPICS
Chart Of the Week
David Lai , CFA
CFA
An increasing number of analysts are reaffirming a constructive outlook on China’s housing market, as supportive policies help shift the narrative from crisis to structural recovery. According to HSBC, a combination of factors—including supply constraints, credit normalization, and policy convergence—is driving a turnaround in the property sector. The average home mortgage rate has dropped to a record low of 3.1%, down significantly from 5.6% in 2021. In Q1 2025, rental yields exceeded mortgage rates in 42 out of 129 major cities, compared to just 12 cities a year earlier, resulting in a positive cost of carry. Additionally, household mortgage burdens have eased, with the mortgage-to-income ratio falling to 42%—a decade low—from 57% in 2021. For developers, funding costs are also at record lows. State-owned enterprise (SOE) operators now face average borrowing costs of 3.46%, with some construction loans as low as 1.8%. This sharp reduction in interest expenses is helping restore profitability, ensure project completion, and free up capital for land acquisition. On the inventory front, 14 cities saw over a 20% drop in housing stock between April 2024 and March 2025, with Shenzhen’s inventory hitting a three-year low. Meanwhile, the offshore bond market is beginning to reopen for quality issuers facing near-term dollar bond maturities. For instance, Greentown China and Beijing Capital Land successfully returned to the primary market in March, raising a combined US$1.45 billion—breaking a two-year issuance drought. Investors seeking exposure to this segment can consider the Premia China USD Property Bond ETF, which has delivered a solid 8.9% return year-to-date.
Apr 28, 2025
