Portfolio manager comments — Q1 2025
Fund performance was negative during Q1 2025. Positive contributors included the Chinese pharmaceutical manufacturer 3SBio, the Indian metal and energy group Shyam Metalics & Energy, and the Korean contract manufacturer Cosmax. Plans were announced in January for the implementation of comprehensive regulatory reforms within the pharmaceuticals and medical technology sectors in China. The proposed changes, which involve several ministries, aim to promote high-quality growth in the pharmaceutical industry through increased support to research, development and innovation. This benefited the share price for 3SBio, which presented a strong quarterly report during the same period.
In contrast, Taiwanese Chroma had the most negative impact on returns. The company, which offers testing and measurement solutions for semiconductors, EVs, energy and electronics, was negatively affected by a weakening interest in the market for AI-related investments. Taiwan’s equity market fell during Q1 2025 after posting strength in 2024. Even King Yuan Electronics, which tests chips for Nvidia, had a negative impact on returns.
One of the fund’s Thai holdings, WHA Corp, announced plans to spin-off its industrial business, WHA Industrial Development. The market reacted negatively to the news, and the company later announced that the listing would be postponed due to uncertain economic and capital market conditions.
In general, concerns about US tariffs had an impact on the markets during the quarter. Expectations for new tariffs from the US in conjunction with the so-called "Liberation Day" created uncertainty in the global equity markets, including in Asia. Indonesia’s equity market also posted weak performance, and the Jakarta Composite Index had its steepest intraday decline in March since 2011, falling just over 7% in one single trading day. However, the fund has a limited exposure to Indonesia.