EM Fund Stock Picks & Country Commentaries (September 29, 2024)

Throwing in the towel on using the word "sustainability," quality Chinese stocks, China stimulus + Japanification, Thailand economy, an EM fund manager to close shop, EM debt guide, etc.

As of the end of September, some more August factsheets or commentaries have become available along with a number of interesting research pieces and fund webinars (some are upcoming):

• 🔬 ING Research has this 20 page report: U.S. Election Guide for the FX Market - This election guide is a companion to our article ‘US presidential election: Three scenarios for markets’ published in August. In this piece, we drill down into what new policies could mean for each of the major FX blocs. We also offer three brief articles looking at the threats of US debt sustainability, weak dollar policy and de-dollarisation

• 🎙️Janus Henderson Investors has this podcast with a transcript: Global Perspectives: Can momentum in small caps continue? (27:57 Minutes) - Portfolio Managers Jonathan Coleman and Justin Tugman discuss macroeconomic, valuation, and cyclical factors driving momentum in small cap. They share insights on the economic outlook and key themes to watch in both growth and value investing.

• 🔬 Platinum Asset Management has this piece that also covers LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (EPA: MC / OTCMKTS: LVMUY / LVMHF): A lap of luxury - Luxury goods are expensive and beautiful. And the companies that make them can be good investments.

• 🚨🎬 Platinum Asset Management also has this webinar which started out with them (they are Australia based) owning up to their recent underperformance, noting some of their structural/organizational/portfolio problems (they did not follow the herd into and were underweight in US tech/AI stocks), and what they are doing to fix their problems - somewhat refreshing to hear from a fund manager. Global consumer credit reporting agency TransUnion (NYSE: TRU) (who has a dominate market share in India) and uranium producer Cameco (NYSE: CCJ) were also discussed in detail near the end: 🎬 Catch up on the 2024 Platinum Investor Roadshow (55:55 Minutes) - At the recent Platinum Investor Roadshow, Co-CIO, Clay Smolinski and Nik Dvornak, Portfolio Manager of the Platinum International Brands Fund, talked to investors about today's big investment themes: interest rates, AI, geopolitics and energy. Nik and Clay also looked at some themes that aren't yet fully in the public consciousness - like the potential of Autonomous Systems.

• 🔬 Comgest has this piece that also details a couple of big European stocks: European Equities: Giant Steps for Europe - Europe’s largest companies are powering the MSCI Europe index, with market giants over €100bn contributing nearly 20% to returns. Despite challenges like inflation and geopolitical tensions, many have remained resilient. But what sets apart these companies from those that have hit their peak? Product Specialist Wolfgang Fickus dives into what makes these leaders stand out from the herd.

• 🔬 Van Eck has this piece: Three Forces Powering the Nuclear Energy Surge - Nuclear energy is emerging as a vital contributor to meeting the surge in global power demand.

• The following funds or fund managers have new factsheets, commentaries, research pieces, podcasts or webinars that would interest investors in Asia: