News Headlines
Funds in Malaysia post average 3.99% loss
Asian Investor - 19 Feb 2008
Lipper research shows equity funds have lost steam, leading last month’s worst performers. Mutual funds registered for sale in Malaysia posted an average loss of 3.99% in January, according to data from Lipper. Equity funds, which were last year’s top performers, led the decline with an average loss of 6.47%. Funds that invest in Greater China and the Asia-Pacific region suffered the steepest losses. Islamic sub-sector funds were down 2.83% on average, but managed to outperform the broader market. Money market funds held steady. “Malaysia is increasingly being touted for its defensive qualities, but a slowing global economy and rising inflationary pressures remain risks,” says Singapore-based Kenneth Koh, head of research for Asia ex-Japan at Lipper, referring to sentiment for the local market. The Malaysian bourse started the first trading month of 2008 on a rosy note, gaining nearly 5% at one stage to touch an all-time high of 1,524.69 points. A deteriorating US growth outlook and heavy selling pressure amid sliding global bourses eventually saw the benchmark KL Composite Index giving up all its gains and falling sharply to a low of 1,340.29 points last month. Bargain hunting and a technical rebound at the end of the month enabled the KL Composite Index to close the month with a relatively smaller decline of 3.58% at 1,393.25 points, outperforming most of the other markets in the region. Average performance of fund groups registered for sale in Malaysia in January, by asset types: Equity Funds -6.47% Mixed-Asset Funds -3.70% Guaranteed Funds -1.71% Protected Funds -1.38% Bond Funds -0.17% Money Market Funds +0.21% Top 5 fund sectors in terms of performance in January, with their average gain/loss: Equity Sector Gold and Precious Metals +5.04% Bond Global +0.83% Money Market Malaysian ringgit +0.21% Commodities +0.18% Bond Malaysian ringgit -0.06% Bottom 5 fund sectors in terms of performance in January, with their average loss: Equity Greater China -16.44% Equity Asia-Pacific -12.74% Equity Sector Real Estate -10.56% Equity Global -10.50% Equity Asia-Pacific Ex-Japan -10.26%