T. Rowe Price's Bell sees upside potential in Vietnam

Far Eastern nation could pick up where other EMs could falter, manager argues

Vietnam is the best-placed frontier market to prosper over the coming years, according to T. Rowe Price portfolio manager Oliver Bell, as he flags three factors likely to drive performance of the asset class over the remainder of 2019.

Bell, who runs the $276.3m Frontier Markets Equity SICAV, believes various elections, specific countries advancing into the MSCI 'emerging markets' classification and geopolitical developments will be the primary factors to watch. Market weakness based on 'noise' is expected as Indian elections continue In a recent note, he said: "In 2018, Argentina was mired in a crisis, Saudi Arabia struggled with foreign investor perceptions, Sri Lanka faced a leadership vacuum, and harmful tax measures in Kenya and Romania took a toll on their respective financial sectors. "As these issues are ...