Japan / Far East

Investors could miss out on the best returns if they stay out of the Asian equity markets for too long says Barings.

Asia has the highest growth potential of all the global regions despite the its recent massive market correction, according to Standard and Poor's.

Barings has confirmed that it will part company with Japanese equity manager Joji Maki as part of a continuing process of relocating all of its developed markets equity team to London.

Advisers are shunning Japanese equities in favour of corporate bond funds despite Japanese smaller companies returning over 11% last month.

Japan looks set to slip into a mild recession, though the root of this will be exporters rather than domestic firms, according to Simon Somerville, manager of Jupiter Japan Income fund.

Investors must look beyond the headline Asian growth story and understand exactly where companies are putting their excess cash flows, according to Michael Godfrey, manager of M&G Asian fund.

Legal & General Investment Management has rung the changes on both its Japanese trust and the Pacific Growth trust.

New political leadership will be a major catalyst for improving the investment case for Japan, according to Morgan Stanley Japan's CIO John Alkire.

J O Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM) has launched Japan Select fund, which will take advantage of country's emerging dividend culture.

Invesco Perpetual has confirmed it is awaiting FSA approval for the appointment of Tim Dickson as fund manager within its Asian equities team.