Winners rationale

2017 proved a beta year to be remembered as globally synchronised growth led to a storied low volatility rally that was favourable to virtually all capital markets – particularly for equities.

For multi-asset funds, this was the year for investors to truly take advantage of their mandate for real unconstrained management, rather than retain relatively rigid splits between stocks and bonds, so they could take advantage of strong equity momentum.

In addition, the search for yield in Asia persists and in the midst of monetary tightening, credit spreads are increasingly under pressure. The necessity to satisfy income needs of Asian HNWIs without taking excessive duration risk effectively means that portfolio managers with wider access and expertise to the full universe of investable securities stand a better chance of meeting a multitude of investor objectives.

This year, J.P. Morgan Asset Management once again outdid its competitors in multi-asset investing, leveraging its global network of dedicated specialists to deliver superior risk-adjusted returns while maintaining income distribution to Asia’s yield-hungry HNWIs.

With its first multi-asset fund launched in 1970, J.P. Morgan Asset management has a proven track record across market cycles. In recent years their flagship multi-asset fund has obtained critical acclaim – particularly from private banks in Asia. In 2017 its total size grew at a tremendous rate that reflected both new inflows and strong performance. On top of its strong portfolio management capabilities, the American asset manager has bolstered this with a client-centric approach to private banks and an eight-strong team in Asia dedicated to the segment.

As a result, private banks and their clients in Asia continue to rely on J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s multi-asset investment capabilities as means of asset allocation for diversification and income generation, selecting it for the fourth year in a row as Asian Private Banker’s Best Fund Provider – Multi-asset Solution.