While the fund did post a gain of 20.7% (in sterling terms) last year it hugely lagged its peers and ended in the bottom of the Asia ex Japan category. The main reason for this relative underperformance was a dedicated focus on high quality companies in a market where investors looked for more speculative, higher beta shares.
After last year the team slightly changed its investment process to make sur
e the fund is not left behind should this type of speculative market reappear. In addition to a company quality score Baring analysts are now also placing a share price score on each holding. According to the manger Khiem Do this will ensure the team finds the right shares in markets such as 2003. This is not the case today though as investors are again putting a premium on quality shares, which is the type of market where this fund should do best.
Investors have been exiting Asia lately and markets have fallen. According to Mr Do this is because of the slowing global economy where emerging markets in general and Asia in particular is seen as the wrong place to be. He is however slightly surprised investors do not see or appreciate the improving balance sheets of Asian companies, the better demographics and the attractive valuations.
Overall the Baring Asia Growth fund has struggled over the last couple of years and it has a two star rating as of June 30th. It remains to be seen if the changed process will help the fund going forward and if investors globally will turn around to view these markets in the same light as Mr Do.