AsianInvestor’s 10 top stories in August

Here we present the stories from our daily newsletter that attracted the most attention in July, with number one having received the most hits from our core readership of asset owners. We do not include in the list the roundups of people news we publish every week. 

1. AIA eyes moves into infra loans, Belt and Road assets (By Joe Marsh, August 23)

The Hong Kong-based insurer, with $171 billion under management, is speaking to third-party firms to build its knowledge, with a view to making direct investments into infrastructure debt.

2. BlackRock, HSBC lead push for Asia insurance assets (By Joe Marsh, August 7)

Global fund houses have been expanding their coverage of Asia's fast-growing insurance segment, but may find smaller firms more fertile ground than the bigger players.

3. Counting the cost of a Prudential Asia sale (By Richard Morrow & Joe Marsh, August 12)

Speculation is rife that Chinese insurer Ping An is eyeing the Asian division of British peer Prudential, but other outcomes are being mooted. What would this mean for each firm? 

4. How Fosun picks managers for its insurance portfolios (By Jolie Ho, August 29)

The chairwoman of the insurance business outlined the kinds of mandates the group could consider handing to external managers on the sidelines of a media briefing in Hong Kong.

5. Bank of Singapore hires Rajeev De Mello as CIO (By Joe Marsh & Jolie Ho, August 9)

The private bank is bringing in a bond market veteran as chief investment officer, with the current incumbent set to take on another role.

6. BlackRock creates new SE Asia sales head role (By Joe Marsh & Indira Vergis, August 16)

The world's biggest asset manager has transferred a senior executive from Hong Kong to Singapore as part of its regional restructuring of client coverage.

7. Allianz CIO outlines alts push as macro worries build (By Joe Marsh, August 20)

The German insurer’s global CIO discussed how it is gaining exposure to private markets, including Asian property, while flagging concerns about the US economy.

8. Ping An plans greater exposure to infra debt products (By Jolie Ho, August 1)

Backed by its parent insurer, Ping An AM will continue investing into infrastructure debt. But analyst says the supply of such non-standard debt is becoming more limited.

9. MetLife eyes private assets amid downturn fears (By Ernest Chan, August 8)

The US insurer's Asia operations intend to respond to a prolonged rising interest rate environment by investing more into commercial mortgages and private debt.

10. China Life eyes more real estate in alts push (By Jolie Ho, August 27)

The biggest lifer in China said it is targeting further  property investments as it outlined investment plans after announcing its results for the first six months of the year.