EM Fund Stock Picks & Country Commentaries (November 3, 2024)

EVs, Israel vs. Iran & oil, etc. reality checks. China’s $19T crisis, cyclone impacts, all about data centers, how EM companies withstand interest rate shifts, consumer staples + hotel stocks, etc.

As of the beginning of November, a few more September or Q3 fund updates have dropped along with a number of interesting podcasts or new research pieces (note that our continuously updated post containing all funds covered is here):

• 🔬🌐 Robecco has this piece noting the lagging performance of certain MNC brands like Nike (NYSE: NKE) and Starbucks Corp (NASDAQ: SBUX) versus more localized ones: The rise of local brands

  • Local brands with more resilient supply chains and distinctive consumer propositions are disrupting multiple consumer segments.

  • Global supply chain complexity favors local brands over global rivals

  • Locally sourced products tend to resonate with local culture and values

  • Changing consumer preferences are underpinning this trend

• 🎙️🌐 This Robecco podcast has a transcript: Podcast: What's driving the recent growth in active ETFs? (26:16 Minutes) - This has been a landmark year for active exchange traded funds. More than 300 new active ETFs have been launched so far in 2024, and around EUR 200 bln investor flows have made their way into this market segment. Why have investors become increasingly eager to get exposure to these not-so-passive investment vehicles?

• 🔬🌐 Allianz has this interesting paper: The global economic ripple effect of cyclones - 04 Tropical cyclones: A looming threat / 11 Case study: Taiwan / 20 Building resilience

• 🔬🌐 Amundi has this lengthy report: 2024 U.S. Elections: Macro, Geopolitical, and Investment Perspectives - Summary - Executive summary; Infographic: US election scenarios and market implications; Domestic policy and macroeconomic implications: Harris vs Trump; Our assessment of the economic impact of the two platforms; Key drivers of the race; Foreign policy and trade; Harris vs Trump foreign policy comparison; How the US elections could shape emerging market economies; Investment implications

  

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New Asia Fund Documents & Research

• 🎬🌏 Asia Frontier Capital has this webinar: Asian Frontier Markets Update 29th October 2024 (1:16:17 Hours)

  • 00:00 - Thomas Hugger - Introduction

  • 01:46 - Ruchir Desai – AFC Asia Frontier Fund

  • 25:29 - Ahmed Tabaqchali – AFC Iraq Fund

  • 36:40 - Scott Osheroff – AFC Uzbekistan Fund

  • 46:16 - Vicente Nguyen – AFC Vietnam Fund

  • 53:57 - Q&A

• 📈🌏 Platinum Asia Fund’s & Platinum Asia Investments Limited’s (ASX: PAI) detailed Q3 Quarterly Investment Manager's Reports (under Updates & Reports and ASX Releases & Updates for the second fund) discussed a number of stocks.