Winnersrationale

With the COVID-19 pandemic receding in most economies, and with markets supported by relatively sanguine liquidity conditions, many asset managers entered 2022 cautiously optimistic about a relatively smooth global economic recovery.

Unfortunately, the macro environment proved more challenging than many had anticipated. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine added to inflationary pressures and prompted a subsequent raft of interest rate hikes by major central banks. Meanwhile, further waves of COVID-19 in Asia — most notably China — restrained border reopenings and a broader economic recovery for much of 2022.

Against this volatile backdrop, it was perhaps little surprise that a portfolio comprising 60% equities and 40% bonds endured, by some estimates, one of its worst ever years performance-wise. In short, 2022 was a period in which active managers capable of hedging downside risks and deploying capital into tactical opportunities needed to stand up and be counted.

In that regard, J.P. Morgan Asset Management was an obvious standout in 2022. For two years running, the US investment manager has been awarded the Asian Private Banker’s prestigious House of the Year – Overall accolade at the Asset Management Awards for Excellence, a clear testament to the strength and depth of its capabilities across equities, fixed income, multi-asset and alternatives. J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s haul of trophies in 2023’s programme consisted of three outright awards and three highly-commended.

For China A-shares, for example, the APB judging panel was particularly impressed by J.P. Morgan Asset Management’s unfailing power to attract inflows in the asset class despite a volatile year for the market. That was in no small part due to the breadth and depth of the US asset manager’s research capabilities, which covered more than 300 A-share stocks as of June 2022. Its insights were augmented on-the-ground by those of its Shanghai-based joint venture China International Fund Management Co., Ltd.

Across its entire asset management franchise in Asia-Pacific, the US lender was able to expand the scope of its distribution across private banking partners, helping it to attract significant inflows into key funds. For example, the AUM of its flagship fixed income offering, the JPMorgan Funds – Income Fund, has ballooned over the last two years or so. Over 60% of its assets are held by investors in Asia.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management demonstrated its capacity for innovation in 2022 as well. It expanded its sustainable investing offering in Singapore by registering two funds for ESG-hungry investors in February 2022. The fund manager introduced its US$4.8 billion JPMorgan Funds – Global Healthcare Fund and its US$87.6 million Climate Change Solutions Fund. Both strategies are Luxembourg-domiciled SICAV products.

J.P. Morgan Asset Management also launched the JPMorgan Sustainable Infrastructure Fund in Hong Kong in July 2022, and in Taiwan recently. The infrastructure portfolio combines fundamental and sector-specific international equity insights, expertise in artificial intelligence and data science alongside sustainable investing insights and stewardship.

For these reasons and more, J.P. Morgan Asset Management wins House of the Year – Overall in Asian Private Banker’s 2023 Asset Management Awards for Excellence.