Japan’s Nikko Asset Management has launched two new ETFs which it claims will be the lowest cost funds to track the Nasdaq 100.
The Listed Index Fund US Equity Nasdaq 100 No Currency Hedge AND Listed Index Fund US Equity Nasdaq 100 Currency hedge both track the US index with the latter also providing a currency hedging option.
They are listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with an expense ratio of 0.25%, almost twice as cheap as the next cheapest Nasdaq 100-based ETF in Japan offered by Nomura Asset Management which has an expense ratio of 0.45%.
The ETF release is the latest example of Nikko AM expanding its portfolio of passive products. In March it launched an ETF tracking the Dow Jones Industrial Average with an expense ratio of 0.30%. The asset manager also launched its first ETF to provide exposure to the real estate investment trust market with ESG elements.
The launch also reflects the growing investor interest in the Nasdaq index, which tracks the 100 largest non-financial companies on the US exchange and tends to lean heavily towards the tech sector.
Meanwhile in China, regulators have just given the green light to four fund managers to launch the first ETFs to track the Shanghai Stock Exchange’s Star Market, which is effectively China’s own version of the tech-focused Nasdaq market.
© 2020 funds global Asia 
At times like these, HSBC Asset Management easily pivots towards emerging markets.
The spotlight on growth markets and the need to be nimble and dynamic is ever-sharper, given the difficulty in predicting monetary policy in the world’s major nations.
A comprehensive, cost-effective, and transparent currency overlay hedging solution is crucial to mitigate FX exposure risks in the complex landscapes of Japan and China's FX markets, explains Hans Jacob Feder, PhD, global head of FX services at MUFG Investor Services.
Ross Dilkes, fixed income portfolio manager at Wellington Management, examines the opportunities and risks for bond investors presented by the region’s decarbonisation agenda.
Shareholders in Japan no longer accept below-par corporate governance standards. Changes are taking place, but there are still areas for improvement, says Tetsuro Takase at SuMi Trust.
Robert St Clair, head of investment strategy at Fullerton Fund Management, explores the reasons investors should be paying attention to the rising demand for healthcare in China.
China's internet market presents one of the most compelling long-term growth potentials for investors today, given the catalysts supporting the sector from both macro and fundamental perspectives, explains Dr Xiaolin Chen, head of international, KraneShares.
