You would be hard-pressed to find a continent as disparate as Asia. Lumped together by geographical proximity, these 50 countries span half the globe – ranging from snowy Artic to desert to tropical jungle. They are commodity rich; in both natural resources and human assets – the population of the Middle East alone growing at a rate of 1.5% a year. This may not sound like much but it is the equivalent of adding a new Turkey or Egypt every 10 years.
You can find developed, emerging and frontier markets in Asia; economies producing cutting edge technology and those that rely solely on tourism for GDP growth, countries which are financial hubs and those that are manufacturing centres.
It is easy to group them together, fund managers' remits do after all, but in short, this region is far from homogenous. Asia and its different cultural nuances may be hard to understand, but these individualities create fantastic opportunities for long-term investors. There will be times when the market drops 30%, and companies which were spearheading positive returns last week may drag your portfolio under the next. But if you are bold, having Asian equities and bonds in your portfolio could be the difference which helps you reach your investment goals.
Morningstar.co.uk Editor Emma Wall is in Asia finding out why investors should mind the bumps for long-term gains from the region.
Monday: China and Hong Kong
The emerging market heavy weight is slowing down, should you be concerned?
How Investing in China is Changing
ETFs to Prosper from China's New Growth Markets
Fidelity's Dale Nicholls: Don't Ignore China's State-run Stocks
Will China Suffer a Hard Landing?
How are Chinese Investors Preparing for Retirement?
China Scraps One Child Policy: Good News for Investors?
Tuesday: India
Is Prime Minister Modi strong enough to set India on the right path for long term growth?
India: A Safe Haven from Slowing China and Rising US Rates?
Henderson: Why We Have High Conviction in Indian Equities
India is Stand-out Market for Disappointed Investors in Asia
Investment Trust in Focus: JPMorgan Indian
Wednesday: Japan
Developed market Japan has seen significant stock market gains since 2013, is this sustainable?
Japan in Recession: Should Investors be Worried?
Japan's Ageing Population: Economic Drag or Investment Opportunity?
What is Abenomics and is it Working?
Thursday: Heterogeneous Asia
The investment opportunities in the very different South East Asia and the Middle East
What Does Investing in Asia Bring to Your Portfolio?
Asian Equity ETFs for Income Investors
Martin Currie: Consider Small Asia Markets for Undervalued Stocks
BlackRock: 2016 is an Exciting Year for Bond Investors in Asia
Want Investment Growth? Look to the Middle East
Friday: Asia in Your Portfolio and Accessing Asia through the West
Benefit from growth in Asian economies with a lower risk profile
What You Should Consider Before Investing in Asia
ETFs to Capture the Higher Yields of Asian Bonds