AsianInvestor’s most read articles: October 2017

Oct 31, 2017

Last month we ran exclusives on plans at CIC and Taiwan's Bureau of Labor Funds. We also broke news of Amundi's post-merger revamp and changes at CPPIB, Point72 and Schroders.

<i>AsianInvestor</i>’s most read articles: October 2017

Here we present the stories from our daily newsletter that attracted the most attention in October in descending order, with number one the recipient of the most hits.

Excluded from the list below are the roundups of people news we publish every week and our Institutional Excellence Awards announcements by institution type, proficiency and country.

1. Amundi to cut Asia staff, funds in post-merger revamp

The French fund house will cut poorly performing and overlapping funds and focus on products close to client preferences, as it aims to build Asia AUM, said the group deputy CIO.

2. CIC to expand team amid huge push into alternatives

China’s $900 billion sovereign wealth fund envisages doing more direct investing as part of a bold allocation shift. Li Keping, senior adviser and former CIO, spoke to AsianInvestor.

3. Taiwan's BLF plans new absolute-return equity mandate

The $126 billion state pension fund will hand out the new overseas-focused mandate in mid-November, amid rising volatility in global markets.

4. Point72 taking bigger HK office in Asia buildout

The family office of Steven Cohen, the founder of now-defunct US hedge fund SAC Capital, is expanding aggressively. It is expected to seek external money next year.

5. CPPIB poaches GSAM’s China equity head

Alina Chiew has resurfaced in Hong Kong at Canada’s biggest pension fund as it steadily expands its investment team in Asia.

6. Why Natixis has joined asset management’s M&A frenzy

The regional chief of the French fund manager explains why it made the latest move in a spate of M&A taking place among active asset managers across the globe.

7. Schroders adds deputy head of multi-asset for Asia

The UK-based fund house has poached a UBS veteran for the newly created role.

8. Taiwan's PSPF to issue landmark total-return mandates

The $19 billion Public Service Pension Fund has invited pitches for its first global total-return fixed-income mandates. Four managers will each get $200 million.

9. Criteria review called for Taiwan "deep cultivation plan"

AllianceBernstein, Allianz GI, Eastspring, Franklin Templeton, JP Morgan AM and Schroders again win programme awards in Taiwan. But there are concerns on potential polarisation.

10. Asia's HNWIs hunt for bitcoin gains

Bitcoin's appeal is growing among Asia's wealthy but regulatory concerns and illiquid digital currency markets, are likely to keep investments muted for now, say experts.