Winners rationale

With total returns for the regional market standing at 41.72%, the strongest performance since 2009, 2017 was a remarkable year for Asia ex-Japan equities.

But unlike some developed market equities, the market expansion was largely boosted by corporate earnings growth instead of valuation multiples. The region observed around 22% EPS growth last year, resulting in a far more impressive outcome than market expectation, which sat at 12% earlier in the year.

The outside environment was also favourable. In the US, markets did not see massive stimulus enacted or any significant tariff barriers raised, creating a “Goldilocks” backdrop for the Asia ex-Japan market.

Private banks in Asia did not miss out on last year’s opportunities, with most of them making strong calls on the region’s equities, either in single line or fund formats.

BlackRock’s Asian equities team, with its funds consistently outperforming benchmarks, did not disappoint gatekeepers in 2017.

BlackRock has more than 20 skilled investment professionals in the Asia ex-Japan equity space, all of varying backgrounds, in terms of education, experience and culture. The team’s long-term investment horizon allows them to identify mispriced assets and exploit market inefficiencies in the Asia ex-Japan equity market, enabling them to achieve a stellar track record.

BlackRock’s strong risk management orientation and the investment the firm has made over the past 25 years in proprietary analytical systems further serve to differentiate the asset manager.

It is no surprise that BlackRock has been selected as this year’s Best Fund Provider – Asian ex-Japan Equity.