Australian global fund manager, IFM Investors, is working on expanding its global footprint with a new industry office in Hong Kong to allow the firm to meet the appetite of institutional investors.
The firm was recently granted a licence from the Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong.
IFM chief executive, Brett Himbury, said the move would secure the firm a foothold in the competitive Asian marketplace and assist investors to diversify investment opportunities in high-return regions.
"Our investors are increasingly seeking opportunities in Asia and an office in Hong Kong will allow us to continue to globalise our investment capabilities," he said.
"We will work closely with regulators and professional investors in Hong Kong to meet regulatory requirements and investor needs."
More than 40 per cent of IFM's investment professionals were now based outside Australia, with other offices based in New York, London, Berlin, and Tokyo.
IFM Investors active equities team recently launched its Asia-Pacific Market Neutral capability that allows investment in Australia, Hong Kong, Korea, Singapore, and Taiwan.
Services and software companies are set to reap the benefits of the AI boom in 2025, according to a market professional.
Despite ongoing tariff concerns, the State Street Risk Appetite Index rose to 0.36 in January, signalling a return to risk-seeking behaviour after a pause in December.
The yellow metal is riding a perfect storm of macroeconomic and political conditions, setting the commodity up for further growth this year.
While investors remain bullish on the US dollar and equities, they are bearish on just about everything else, Bank of America has found.