Top 10 Best Performing Unit Trust Funds As of 30 April 2013

This is your first time reading this review? I would highly recommend that you read "A Guide Towards Understanding Unit Trust Performance Table" first before proceeding.

Review
Fund Category : Asia excluding Japan 
Top 10 Best Performing Fund for Category Asia Excluding Japan (click Image to Enlarge):

2 Weeks Gain/Loss Ranking Table for Category Asia Excluding Japan:

Fund Name	YTD as of 16th April 2013	YTD as of 30th April 2013	2 Weeks Gain / Loss (%)	2 Weeks Gain/ Loss Rankings	Previous 2 Weeks Gain/Loss Rankings
Public Islamic Asia Dividend Fund	-4.59	-3.18	1.41	3	6
Public Asia Ittikal Fund	-5.32	-3.84	1.48	2	4
Eastspring Investments Asia Pacific Shariah Equity Fund	-0.11	0.6	0.71	6	5
MAAKL Shariah Asia-Pacific Fund	-5.36	-5.9	-0.54	8	2
PB Islamic Asia Equity Fund	-6.56	-4.74	1.82	1	7
CIMB Islamic Asia Pacific Equity Fund	-2.08	-1.2	0.88	5	9
Pheim Asia Ex-Japan Islamic	0.31	-0.6	-0.91	9	1
Eastspring Investments Asia Pacific Equity MY Fund	-2.78	-1.69	1.09	4	8
Hong Leong Asia-Pacific Dividend Fund	0.23	0.89	0.66	7	3
MAAKL Pacific Fund	Newcomer	0.25	N/A	N/A	N/A
AVERAGE 2 WEEKS GAIN/LOSS (%)			0.73

Review of Asia Excluding Japan Funds:

The Asia Pacific Ex Japan category finally seen positives average gain of 0.73% after weeks of losses. The average gain were largely contributed by Public and PB family of funds with PB Islamic Asia Equity Fund leading the 2 Weeks Gain ranking with +1.82% increase of its NAV. The biggest loser for the 2 week period is Phiem Asia Ex-Japan Islamic fund, shedding -0.91% of its NAV. 

Here are some of the key data to help investors predict what's in store for the Asia Pacific market:

Singapore:

Real GDP unexpectedly contracted in Q1

2013 again, by -0.6 percent relative to the previous 

quarter’s growth of 1.5 percent 

due to 

the poor performance in the manufacturing sector.

The services sector, which 

accounts for about two-thirds of real GDP, grew by a 

mere 1 percent, primarily supported by expansion in the 

finance and insurance and business services sectors. 

In the annual budget of 2013 announced in February, the 

Singapore government emphasized quality and equitable 

growth through innovation and productivity growth to 

ensure their sustenance over a long period. The budget has 

announced programs to support manufacturing and small 

and medium businesses, and has introduced corporate tax 

rebates and other incentives to help businesses cope with 

cost pressures.

It is expected that private consumption 

expenditure will increase substantially in the years 

ahead. This implies that there lies an immense growth 

potential for wholesale and retail trade as well as financial 

services. 

Philippines:

The Philippines economy will likely continue 

expanding at a moderate pace this year, achieving 

the government’s growth target of 6–7 percent.

Favorable domestic consumption, government spending, 

and business investments in the Philippines will remain the 

country’s primary drivers of growth as exports stay subdued 

with only a marginal improvement in the global economy.

Spending 

related to the midterm elections in May 2013 will likely 

be another significant economic driver this year

In addition, rising government expenditure on 

infrastructure, health care, education, and other social 

welfare initiatives is expected to enhance economic 

activity in 2013

Expansion plans are the strongest in the electricity, 

gas, water, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing sectors. 


Amid the many positives for the Philippines economy, 

exports could be a dampener 

due to lukewarm 

global demand.

With no major issue affecting the Asia market coupled with strong domestic demands, funds in this category should see moderate growth over the 1 year period. Investors can choose to diversify into funds from Asia Pacific especially with the uncertainty of our local stock market due to GE13.

Review
Fund Category : Greater China

Top 10 Best Performing Fund for Category Asia Excluding Japan (click Image to Enlarge):

2 Weeks Gain/Loss Ranking Table for Category Greater China:

Fund Name	YTD as of 16th April 2013	YTD as of 30th April 2013	2 Weeks Gain / Loss (%)	2 Weeks Gain/ Loss Rankings	Previous 2 Weeks Gain/Loss Rankings
CIMB-Principal Greater China Equity Fund	-5.64	-5.14	0.5	6	3
CIMB-Principal Greater China Equity Fund	-5.64	-5.14	0.5	6	3
PB China Titans Fund	-4.43	-2.22	2.21	2	N/A
Public China Ittikal Fund	-5.4	-3.9	1.5	5	1
PB China Pacific Equity Fund	-2.6	-0.98	1.62	3	4
Public China Select Fund	-1.66	0.89	2.55	1	5
AmIslamic Greater China	-7.22	-6.76	0.46	7	7
Eastspring Investments Dinasti Equity Fund	-4.09	-2.52	1.57	4	2
Hwang China Select Fund	4.54	3.67	-0.87	9	8
MAAKL Greater China Fund	-3.72	-3.83	-0.11	8	6
AVERAGE 2 WEEKS GAIN/LOSS (%)			0.99

Review of Greater China Funds

Public and PB family of funds for this Category lead the gains for funds in this category with Public China Select Fund (PCSF) gaining +2.55% of its NAV.  Hwang China Select Fund lost -0.87% of its NAV, making it the worst performing among the 10 funds for the 2 week period. 

On the average, the Greater China Fund category gained +0.99%, a turnaround after 10 weeks of decline. Is this a sign of better things to come?

Let's take a look at some key data for March 2013 related to China:

Chinese inflation has declined. The government reports that, in March, consumer prices were up only 2.1 percent from a year earlier. This is good news for the new government as it opens room for more expansive monetary policy. Recently credit market policy had been somewhat restrictive due to concerns about inflation.


Still, one month does not make a trend. The central bank will monitor inflation in the coming months to decide if a shift in policy is needed. 

The trick for Chinese policy makers is to keep credit flowing while avoiding inflation and asset-price bubbles—especially in the property market. It is a tough balancing act. 

In early April, ratings agency Fitch lowered its rating of Chinese debt, largely due to the precipitous increase in the volume of local government debt. Fitch noted that China’s ratio of credit to GDP has risen from 125 percent in 2008 to 198 percent today. The concern is that local government investments are not generating a sufficient return to service these debts.


One major effort of the new government of President Xi Jinxing is to fight corruption, which President Xi has publicly warned could undermine support for the Party and government. Specifically, Xi has cracked down on the massive amount spent on entertaining officials, advocating that official banquets should consist of “four dishes and a soup” and should not include extremely pricey Chinese liquors


China’s trade data for March was good enough to spark a global rally in equities. China reported that, in March, imports were up a surprisingly large 14.1 percent over the previous year. This suggests strong domestic demand and bodes well for the strength of exports in countries that trade with China—which is just about everyone. 

Review
Fund Category : Equity Malaysia

Top 10 Best Performing Fund for Category Equity Malaysia (click Image to Enlarge):

 

2 Weeks Gain/Loss Ranking Table for Category Equity Malaysia:

Fund Name	YTD as of 16th April 2013	YTD as of 30th April 2013	2 Weeks Gain / Loss (%)	2 Weeks Gain/ Loss Rankings	Previous 2 Weeks Gain/Loss Rankings
MAAKL-HDBS Flexi Fund	4.57	5.3	0.73	3	2
Kenanga Growth Fund	3.93	4.76	0.83	1	10
AMB Dividend Trust Fund	3.06	3.75	0.69	7	6
Phillip Master Equity Growth Fund	6.31	6.13	-0.18	8	3
Kenanga Syariah Growth Fund	4.09	4.8	0.71	6	7
MAAKL Dividend Fund	4.65	5.38	0.73	3	4
Hwang AIIMAN Growth	5.9	5.18	-0.72	5	1
CIMB-Principal Equity Fund	4.83	5.6	0.77	2	5
Public Focus Select Fund	3.69	3.48	-0.21	9	9
CIMB-Principal Wholesale Equity Fund	Newcomer	2.72	N/A	N/A	N/A
AVERAGE 2 WEEKS GAIN/LOSS (%)			0.37

Review of Equity Malaysia Funds:

Our local bursa's performance has been going against all prediction of a dip before the 13th GE. The past two weeks have been no surprise as funds invested into Equity Malaysia continue to post positive gains at an average of +0.37%. While fund managers have started to free up cash for opportunity buying after the election, the predicted dip of our Bursa has yet to materialized. Many are expecting the drop to come post GE, depending on who should take over the Federal Government. You can find out more about the possible outcomes of the election and how the market is expected to perform HERE.

Long term investors for Equity Malaysia fund should not be overly concerned as a drop in the market presents an opportunity for you to accumulate more units at a lower price. The fundamentals for growth in Malaysia are there, the only question is which party (PR or BN) will be running the show?

For the time being, let's all sit back and enjoy the euphoria of pre-election and the hangover of post election. Exciting times ahead!

Cheers and Happy Investing!

P.s : If you are based in Johor Bahru and would to know more about unit trust investing, feel free to e-mail me at sickfreak03@gmail.com

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