Articles & Commentaries

  • What's Hot and What's Not

    If you're looking at the performance chart on the left and wondering if it was somehow accidentally inverted during the transmission of this article, wonder no more. It wasn't. Global financial markets have been in distress since the start of the year as uncertainties surrounding the recovery progress of global economies stacked up. Gold, the go to asset class in ...

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  • Another Half to Go

    The 1st Half of 2022 doesn't look like it's going to end much better for the global financial markets than how it started. Putin has not shown any signs of abandoning the attack he initiated on Ukraine. Thousands have lost their lives, with million having been displaced in what the world is calling the biggest war in Europe since the ...

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  • Gold Leaving the Rest in the Dust

    Coronavirus, War, Inflation - these 3 words have been key drivers of global financial markets in recent months. With the lack of clarity on any of these topics, investors have been shying away from riskier asses in a bit to protect their wealth from further erosion as prices of risk assets continue to tumble....

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  • Gold Price Soars as the Tigers Roar

    Did you know that 95% of Siberian tigers inhabit the forests of Russia? And now that we're in the Chinese zodiac year of the Tiger, the Russian tiger seems to be looking at ways to expand their play area. The talk of a Russian invasion into Ukraine has not abated, but instead, has intensified on a grander scale. President Putin ...

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  • Who's Leading the Race for Gold?

    Congratulations to the Euro 2020 Italian supporters for a game well played - the Azzuris will be bringing the cup home to Rome. Unfortunately,, Italy was not able to celebrate a double win, as Serbia's Novak Djokovic took home the Wimbledon trophy after beating his Italian compatriot, Matter Berrettini. Next Golden trophies up for grabs? Tokyo Olympics! So Who's up ...

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  • The Gold Rush!

    Malaysians have been taking advantage of the recent slide in Gold price to accumulate their holdings in the precious metal. The rush for Gold even stole local news headlines when large groups were seen queueing up at complexes in a bid to build their treasure trove when jewelers offered store discounts. After a stellar 22.5% rise in Gold price in ...

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  • What's New for the New China ETF?

    While the year of the Ox started off strong for global financial markets, the end of the lunar new year celebration also saw the party ending for many major indices. Concerns over rising bond yields, and high valuation of tech-related stocks led to selling pressures on the China market. Though the sell-off was focused on the tech sector at the ...

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  • China Grows as the Rest of the World Looks On

    After much anticipation, China released their 3rd quarter GDP numbers. The country saw its economy expand by 4.9% YoY in 3Q2020, a steady and continued growth from the 3.2% seen in 2Q2020. While most other economies look on in envy (and while trying desperately to control the spread of the virus), China is steadily cruising ahead and enjoying a broad-based ...

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  • Gold Is Still Precious

    While investors shift in and out of the equity market in an attempt to participate in the rising momentum, one asset class that has quietly outpaced most major equity indices in Gold. Remaining precious amidst the ongoing uncertainties that loom over global economies, Gold price has steadily crept higher this year.

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  • Will it be a podium finish for Gold?

    The race for returns has seen investors rushing into Gold as global financial markets face a never-ending flood of news that suggests we will be in this unprecedented environment for much longer than expected...

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  • Capturing Malaysia's Highest Momentum Stocks

    Momentum investing has gained traction amongst investors as a strategy to capitalise on prevailing market trends to ride the market's natural upward momentum. It typically involves going long on equities and investing based on technical indicators that measure momentum such as moving averages and price signals. These steps would involve comprehensive and detailed research which some investors may not have ...

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  • Building Resilience with REITs using Smart Beta

    Asia Pacific's real estate investment trusts (REITs) are expected to outperform the broader market on their dividend prospects as economies reopen. According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs published in June, the relative stability and higher visibility of dividends in the REIT sector has helped it outperform the overall market during periods of rate cuts and slow economic growth. ...

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  • Invest Intelligently with Smart Beta ETFs

    Smart beta exchange traded funds (ETF) have gained increasing prominence amongst investors by combining the best of both active and passive strategies.

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  • China's Consumption Sector Steps Up

    It hasn't been an easy for global financial markets in recent months as lockdown measures push economies to a halt. After emerging from its 11-week lockdown, China had the head start of restarting its economy, and is said to be seeing its manufacturing sector back at 80% capacity. But with containment measures imposed outside of China, the global supply chain ...

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  • Gold Breaks 7-year High

    Gold price has broken its 7-year high as market risks continue to loom over global financial markets. As equity markets have rejoiced over the re-opening of segments within the global economy, concerns of a 2nd wave lurks in the shadows. Gold ETFs have been seeing a steady stream of inflows as investors cushion their portfolio with Gold exposure amidst the ...

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  • Lessons to draw upon from the recent plunge in crude oil futures

    In April, many investors were caught by surprise on the price movement of the United States Oil Fund ("USO"), which is an exchange-traded fund ("ETF") that seeks to track the West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude oil. A myriad of investors flooded this ETF as a means to gain exposure to oil...

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  • How China's New Economy has kept its economic wheels turning

    After the movement control order ("MCO") was put in place on the 18th of March, many of us are now having to accustom ourselves to a new environment. As we enter the 4th week of the MCO, have you realised how reliant you have become on technology?

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  • Gold: Offering Refuge in Times of Uncertainty

    Investors have been thrown into a vortex of uncertainties since we started the year of the Metal Rat. There was barely any time to rejoice from the achievement of finally signalling the US-China phase 1 trade deal when news of the Coronavirus outbreak hit us...

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  • China's New Economy Sectors: How Are They Doing?

    China's economy is shifting from being primarily focused on investment and manufacturing to a consumption- and services-driven market. In this paper (as prepared by S&P Dow Jones Indices), we use the S&P New China Sectors Index to analyse China's growing economic sectors and examine their equity, fundamental, and price performance characteristics.

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  • Ending The Year In A Haze

    We started the year with confidence that global financial markets were set for an upward trajectory this year after signs that key markets were going to lead the pack. Going into the final weeks of the year, markets seem as uncertain as it did this time last year.

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  • The Opportunities Within New China

    Investing in Chinese companies have not been easy over the past 3 months amidst the unresolved trade tension and the on-going protest in Hong Kong. The New China Economy which are made up of sectors such as technology, consumer discretionary, healthcare, are outperforming China of old (sectors such as financials, utilities, manufacturing).

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  • Markets turn volatile... but not more so than it has been this year

    There has been no clear sight of the dust settling from uncertainties that global financial markets continue to grapple with. Trade talks between the US and China are still on-going, although the latest round of additional tariffs that President Trump tweeted about has been delayed.

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  • Your Quick Guide to Markets Thus Far

    As anticipated, the US Fed slashed its rates by 0.25% in July, marking its 1st rate cut since the financial crisis in 2008. Despite encouraging economic data flowing out of the US, the Feds Chairman, Jerome Powell cited the move as an "insurance against downside risk". The move was seen as a defensive one, given the current sluggish ...

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  • China's Equities Bounced Back After GDP Meets Estimates

    China released its 2nd quarter GDP results at 6.2%. The 6.2% was its weakest in almost 30-years, but given the current landscape, it was within estimates. Markets recovered the same day the data was released as underlying data points showed signs of improvement.

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  • US & China in for another round of Poker as trade dispute enters new phase

    Sell in May and go away has never been more relevant as of late. Global financial markets took a hit after President Trump raised the stakes and announced more tariffs to be imposed on China imports, citing trade talks to be moving along too slowly for his liking.

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  • Old China vs. New China

    There has been much talk about China government's shift of focus away from its manufacturing-centric economy towards one that is consumption-centric. Concentration is now turned towards its massive population, as well as its rising middle-class. Having built its reputation as the go-to country for manufacturing during its developing stage, we are now witnessing a transition towards the service and ...

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  • 1Q2019 Snapshot of the TradePlus S&P New China Tracker

    Consumption remains a key performance driver for the Chinese market, where tech and consumer-related stocks have continued to trend higher over the quarter. Here's a snapshot of how the New China Economy faired in 1Q2019.

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  • China: Focusing on Consumption

    In line with a more sustainable growth pace, China had recently guided a lower GDP range for 2019

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  • Updates on TradePlus S&P New China Tracker

    Updates on TradePlus S&P New China Tracker

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  • Precious Metal Living Up to its Name

    After a slow start for Gold in 2018, tensions and uncertainties drove prices higher in the 2nd half to eke out a 1.2% gain (in MYR terms) for the year. We started the year on a high note, with strong investors' confidence leading investors to stay focused on riskier assets.

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  • China: Taking on New Routes to Growth

    The meteoric rise of China as an economic powerhouse over the past half century is nothing short of a remarkable story. Through the gradual liberalisation of its economy since the 1970s, China has successfully steered itself from being one of the world's poorest nations to its second-largest economy today.

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  • Commentary on Gold

    Short-term global headwinds present long-term investment opportunities in Gold

    Global financial markets kick-started 2018 with much enthusiasm - where the synchronised and broad-based expansion seen from the year before seemingly showed further room to run...

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  • Demystifying Shariah-Gold ETFs

    Against a benign economic backdrop of moderate inflation, but also dramatic headlines stemming from escalating tensions in North Korea, more missteps in Trump's administration and terror attacks in Europe - we've seen a collective flight to safety by investors amidst rising geopolitical risks which has chilled stock markets.

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  • What is an ETF

    Exchange traded funds (ETF) are unit trust funds that are listed & traded on a stock exchange. They are open-ended, index tracking funds which invest in a basket of securities (eg. stocks, bonds, commodities, etc.) to mirror the performance of the index that it tracks.

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  • Various ways to invest in Gold

    Decided to add some gold exposure into your portfolio but not sure where to begin? Let us explore some of the common ways where one can gain a piece of royalty!

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  • Why Gold?

    From its usage as a medium to facilitate commerce in ancient times to being keepsake jewelleries for royalties and the affluent - gold has undoubtedly played a pivotal role in economies throughout the millenniums. Widely dubbed as a unique asset of wealth and value, its applications today are just as relevant for investors as it is for the man on ...

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  • Gold: A Puzzle Piece for Diversification

    With the exception of death and taxes, it is often mentioned that nothing else in this world offers permanency - and the same can be said for the investment realm. The rise and fall of markets have been very much evident throughout the decades, and we've seen bulls turn into bears without the slightest hint. Hence the reason why market ...

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  • Investing in Gold

    Having stood against the test of time, gold has been interwoven into society as a unique asset of wealth and value. Today, it has become an essential piece of a diversified investment portfolio and is widely considered as an elective wealth preservation tool especially during adverse and uncertain market conditions.

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  • Active Vs Passive Strategies

    The active versus passive debate has played out across numerous investment circuits globally, and whilst proponents for each strategy have strong arguments for either approach - the debate still rages on.

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  • Hedging Currency Risk

    To hedge or not to hedge? That's probably the question on the minds of most investors, as they look outwards for their investments and seek to add to their allocation overseas.

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  • Picking a Unit Trust that Suits your Portfolio

    Having too much choice can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it presents more options for consumers, but the downside is that it can also be overwhelming for some, with a whole plethora of options to choose from - and this often leads to the consumer then making no choice at all.

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  • Diversification still make "cents"

    "Never place all your eggs in a single basket" is probably one of the most commonly used and thrown-about phrases in various financial commentaries and articles. Nonetheless, although the investment realm has vastly expanded over the years, the advice still holds true and is applicable even till today.

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