Far East

Beini Zhou, portfolio manager of the Matthews Asia Small Companies fund, takes a look at encouraging developments in China's grassroots-level entrepreneurship

Asian stocks rose overnight, leaving the region on track for its best monthly run since 2010, as positive inflation data from Japan cheered investors.

HSBC Global Asset Management (GAM) is to launch a Far East ex-Japan ETF with a total expense ratio (TER) of 0.6%.

Defensive shares including utilities giant Severn Trent weighed on the FTSE 100 during morning trading, keeping a lid on gains following a tough week which has seen shares retreat further on US QE fears.

Standard & Poor's has cut Japan's sovereign rating outlook to negative following the devastation caused by last month's earthquake and tsunami.

ON ASIA

Jupiter Financial Opportunities co-manager Guy de Blonay has moved a significant amount of the fund's large cash weighting back into the markets, particularly the Far East.

Lagging Japanese equity market proves challenging for Asia Pacific inc Japan funds

All eight funds in the IMA Asia Pacific including Japan sector delivered returns higher than 29% over one year according to Morningstar

Stock markets across Asia have rebounded strongly in 2009, outperforming the developed world, and the prospects continue to look encouraging.