Weekly Asia News (Friday)

SMBC Nikko Securities is quickly emerging as a powerhouse in Japanese fixed-income trading, according to the results of Greenwich Associates 2011 Japanese Fixed-Income Investors Study. »

CAIS, a New York-based financial technology company providing an independent, alternative investment platform to the global wealth management industry, is opening an office in Sydney, Australia to better meet client needs and address the growing demand for alternative investments throughout the Asia Pacific region. »

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has accepted an enforceable undertaking (EU) from the former operator of the ARP Growth Fund (ARP) permanently preventing him from working in the Australian financial services industry or managing a corporation. »

Offshore law firm, Mourant Ozannes, has opened an office in Hong Kong to provide clients and intermediaries with access to the firm's offshore legal services in an Asian time zone. »

Kinetic Partners, a global professional services firm to the asset management, investment banking and broking industry, is opening a new office in Hong Kong, the firm’s first step into Asia.  »

Several fund groups that have been on thin rations for lengthy periods of time saw significant amounts of fresh money during the third week of January as hopes the Eurozone debt crisis will be brought under some degree of control – and its broader risks contained – were bolstered by the IMFs request for additional resources. Europe Bond and China Equity Funds posted their biggest weekly inflow in over two years, flows into dedicated BRIC Equity Funds climbed to a 60 week high and Latin America Equity Funds enjoyed their best week since late July. »

The Asia-Pacific region is dealing with intensified regulations, pressured revenues, narrowing distribution, reluctant inflows, and other challenges. Cerulli contends, however, that opportunity presents itself in long-term trends such as changes in regulation that will actually expand investment opportunities and demographic and market developments that will facilitate sales of products that do not currently have a strong presence among Asian investors. »

Silk Road Management has launched the Silk Road Australia Index (SILKAU), a debut benchmark that includes largest Mongolia and Central Asia-focused companies with listing on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). The index currently covers 10 companies with the total market capitalisation of USD1.2 billion (31 December, 2011) and is set with initial value of 1000 as of 1 January, 2012. »

EARNEST Partners has been granted a Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) licence by the Chinese government that will allow it to invest directly in yuan-denominated "A" shares listed on China's mainland stock exchanges. Investment directly in "A" shares is prohibited without this license. »

Insurance companies and pension funds have traditionally played an important role as providers of long-term risk capital and, in a world of deleveraging credit institutions, are crucially needed to finance economic development. »