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Eastspring low volatility strategy
Investing in volatile equity markets

Investing in volatile equity markets

Heightened market volatility episodes have become more frequent in recent years. Whether it is related to uncertainty over the COVID-19 recovery, China’s property market woes, the US Fed tightening or the Russia-Ukraine crisis, these episodes generally occur without much warning and can trigger several fast and deep corrections.

Investing and staying invested in such volatile markets can be challenging for both new and seasoned investors. With a low volatility strategy, investors can better navigate market swings and limit the downside in their portfolios.

Merits of a low volatility strategy

Minimise losses with a low volatility strategy

Helps minimise
losses

A low volatility strategy helps to minimise the losses by falling less than the market during turbulent times. This helps investors stay invested, reduce their risk of exiting the market just before a recovery, and missing the market’s best days.

Gain more from a faster recovery through a low volatility strategy

Gains more from
a faster recovery

A low volatility strategy typically recovers faster from market selloffs as it needs to rise by a smaller magnitude to return to the previous starting level. This effect compounds over time and a low volatility portfolio could accumulate more wealth over the long term.

A low volatility strategy enhances overall returns while reducing risk

Enhances overall returns while reducing risk

Investors who prefer broader equity exposures and wish to remain fully invested in equities even during periods of elevated volatility can consider complementing their portfolios with a low volatility strategy to achieve higher risk-adjusted returns.

Volatility will continue to be a natural part of the global financial markets’ landscape. At the same time, market volatility can be a good time to take advantage of emerging investment opportunities. While the benefits of low vol strategies are evident, relying on a single factor approach i.e., low volatility, may not be always effective in achieving the lower drawdowns yet broader market participation that many investors desire. This is why low volatility funds that consider a large universe of stocks rather than only focusing on stocks with low vol characteristics are more effective.

Eastspring Investments –
Asian Low Volatility Equity Fund

Exhibits relative resilience versus the broader Asian equity strategy

Buffers against inflation given its historical distribution payout* of 4.75% p.a.

Differentiates by minimising volatility at the portfolio level, not at stock level

Managed by one of the few expert quant teams based in Asia

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* Refer to the distribution disclosure in the disclaimer below.

Eastspring Investments –
Global Low Volatility Equity Fund

Greater opportunities to add alpha from a larger global universe

Produces smoother performance patterns through market cycles

Differentiates by minimising volatility at the portfolio level, not at stock level

Managed by one of the few expert quant teams based in Asia

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  • Details
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Investment approach

Our key differentiator is that we look at a broad universe of stocks rather than focus on stocks with low volatility qualities. Our process thus achieves a well-diversified and low volatility portfolio, not a portfolio of low volatility stocks.

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Start with a broad universe

Filter the broad universe of listed equities for investability using minimum market cap and daily liquidity thresholds.

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Conduct robust filtering

Exclude stocks with poor fundamental qualities such as valuation, momentum, quality etc. that are likely to underperform in the near term.

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Optimise for volatility

Optimise the portfolio for low volatility within sector and country constraints to produce a well-diversified portfolio.

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Perform daily monitoring

Monitor the portfolio daily and conduct rebalancing monthly or as and when needed while taking transaction costs into account.

Start with a broad universe

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Filter the broad universe of listed equities for investability using minimum market cap and daily liquidity thresholds.

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Conduct robust filtering

Exclude stocks with poor fundamental qualities such as valuation, momentum, quality etc. that are likely to underperform in the near term.

Optimise for volatility

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Optimise the portfolio for low volatility within sector and country constraints to produce a well-diversified portfolio.

Eastspring's low volatility investment approach

Perform daily monitoring

Monitor the portfolio daily and conduct rebalancing monthly or as and when needed while taking transaction costs into account.

Interview with Eastspring's Quantitative Team

Find out how our Quantitative Strategies team leverages technology and data to identify and exploit market inefficiencies caused by market volatility and behavioural biases.

Lead fund managers

Chris Hughes

Portfolio Manager, Quantitative Strategies

Jie Lu

Portfolio Manager, Quantitative Strategies

Related insights

Keep abreast of developments with insights from our investment experts.

The power of the tortoise: Why slow and steady wins the investment race
From Euphoria to Volatility: Embracing resilience in an uncertain world
The need for multi-factor equity investing in dynamic markets
Quant investing in Asia – Cushion and complement with a low volatility strategy
Using a quant approach to invest in Asian equities

Distribution disclosure

Distributions are not guaranteed and may fluctuate. Past distributions are not necessarily indicative of future trends, which may be lower. Distribution payouts and its frequency are determined by the Board of Directors, and can be made out of (a) income; or (b) net capital gains; or (c) capital of the Fund or a combination of any of (a) and/or (b) and/or (c). The payment of distributions should not be confused with the Fund’s performance, rate of return or yield. Any payment of distributions by the Fund may result in an immediate decrease in the net asset value per share. Payment of distributions out of capital amounts to a return or withdrawal of part of an investor’s original investment or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. For further details on distributable income, and historical payments and their compositions for the last 12 rolling months, please refer to the website. Distribution of dividends is at the discretion of the Board of Directors taking into consideration market conditions and underlying securities actual annual dividend yield.

Source

1 Asia Bond Monitor Summer Issue released in 2010 and 2020 by the Asian Development Bank. Data as of March.
2 J.P. Morgan, as of March 2020. Asian USD bond market size is represented by the market value of J.P. Morgan Asia Credit Index.
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DISCLAIMER

This document is issued by Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H). Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited is the appointed Singapore Representative and agent for service of process in Singapore. This advertisement has not been reviewed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The Fund is a sub-fund of Eastspring Investments, an open-ended investment company with variable capital (Société d’Investissement à Capital Variable or SICAV) registered in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, which qualifies as an Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (“UCITS”) under relevant EU legislation. The Management Company of the SICAV is Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A., Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg.

All transactions into the Fund should be based on the Singapore Prospectus and Product Highlights Sheet (“PHS”). Such documents, together with the articles of incorporation of the SICAV and the most recent financial reports, may be obtained free of charge from Eastspring Investments (Luxembourg) S.A., or at relevant Eastspring Investments business units/website and their distribution partners.

This document is solely for information and does not have any regard to the specific investment objectives, financial or tax situation and the particular needs of any specific person who may receive this document. This document is not intended as an offer, a solicitation of offer or a recommendation, to deal in shares of securities or any financial instruments.

Please refer to the offering documents for details on fees and charges, dealing and redemption, product features, risk factors and seek professional advice before making any investment decision. An investment in the Fund is subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. The value of shares in the Fund and the income accruing to the shares, if any, may fall or rise. Where an investment is denominated in a currency other than the base currency of the Fund, exchange rates may have an adverse effect on the value, price or income of that investment. Investors should not make any investment decision solely based on this document. Investors may wish to seek advice from a financial adviser before purchasing shares of the Fund. In the event that an investor may choose not to seek advice from a financial adviser, the latter should consider carefully whether the Fund in question is suitable for him.

Past performance and the predictions, projections, or forecasts on the economy, securities markets or the economic trends of the markets are not necessarily indicative of the future or likely performance of Eastspring Investments or any of the funds managed by Eastspring Investments. There are limitations to the use of indices as proxies for the past performance in the respective asset classes/sector.

The Fund may use derivative instruments for efficient portfolio management and/or hedging purposes.

Eastspring Singapore is an ultimately wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential plc of the United Kingdom. Eastspring Singapore and Prudential plc are not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or with the Prudential Assurance Company, a subsidiary of M&G plc, a company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

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Prudential plc, incorporated and registered in England and Wales. Registered office: 1 Angel Court, London EC2R 7AG. Registered number 1397169. Prudential plc is a holding company, some of whose subsidiaries are authorized and regulated, as applicable, by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority and other regulatory authorities.

Prudential plc is not affiliated in any manner with Prudential Financial, Inc., a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or with the Prudential Assurance Company Limited, a subsidiary of M&G plc. A company incorporated in the United Kingdom.

Copyright © 2024 Eastspring Investments (Singapore) Limited (UEN: 199407631H). All rights reserved.

Wei Ming Cheong

Portfolio Manager

Wei Ming Cheong joined Eastspring Investments, the Asian asset management business of Prudential plc, in November 2005. Wei Ming is a Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income team and is responsible for managing and overseeing local currency fixed income strategies, including regional Asia, Singapore, Indonesia and RMB local currency fixed income funds. Wei Ming holds a Master degree in Finance from RMIT, Australia, and a Bachelor of Accountancy from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Danny Tan

Portfolio Manager

Danny Tan joined Eastspring Investments, the Asian asset management business of Prudential plc, in February 2004. Danny is a Portfolio Manager of the Fixed Income team and is responsible for managing and overseeing portfolios of our insurance clients, as well as credit-focused portfolios. Danny is a CFA charterholder and holds a Bachelor of Business degree in Financial Analysis (Hons) from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.

Chris Hughes

Portfolio Manager, Quantitative Strategies

Chris Hughes is the Portfolio Manager for our Low Volatility strategies. He participates in designing and implementing systematic equity funds, heading up the team’s portfolio management effort. He also undertakes research and development of systematic investment strategies.

Chris has more than 16 years of investment experience and holds a PhD in Biochemistry and a BSc. (Honours) from Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine and a MSc. (Distinction) from Kings College in England. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Jie Lu

Portfolio Manager, Quantitative Strategies

Jie Lu is the Portfolio Manager for our Low Volatility strategies. He is responsible for research and development of quantitative strategies and funds and heads up the team’s research effort.

Jie has more than 15 years of investment experience and holds a PhD in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a Financial Technology Option from the MIT Sloan School of Management in the USA. He also holds a MSc and a BSc in Physics from Tsinghua University in China. He is also a CFA charterholder.

Rong Ren Goh

Portfolio Manager

Rong Ren Goh joined Eastspring Investments in January 2016 as a Portfolio Manager in the Fixed Income team and is responsible for the management of Global, Japan and selective Asian local currency fixed Income funds. Rong Ren has 12 years of investment experience and holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) Economics from London School of Economics.