Important Information
Investors should not base investment decisions on this content alone. Please refer to the Prospectus for details including product features and the risk factors. Investment involves risks. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. There is no guarantee of the repayment of the principal. Investors should note:
- Global X HSCEI Components Covered Call Active ETF (the “Fund”) aims to generate income by primarily investing in constituent equity securities in the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index (the “Reference Index” or the “HSCEI”) and selling (i.e. “writing”) call options on the Reference Index to receive payments of money from the purchaser of call options (i.e. “premium”).
- The objective of adopting a covered call strategy is to generate income and reduce potential loss against the downward market. Each time the Fund writes a HSCEI Call Option, the Fund receives a premium. If the value of the securities relating to the Reference Index held by the Fund declines, the premium that the Fund received for writing the HSCEI Call Option may reduce such loss to some extent. However, the downside of adopting a covered call strategy is that the Fund’s opportunity to profit from an increase in the level of the Reference Index is limited to the strike price of the HSCEI Call Options written, plus the premium received.
- The Fund is an ETF which adopts a covered call strategy by (i) investing in constituent equity securities in the Reference Index and the HSCEI ETF and long positions of HSCEI Futures, and (ii) writing call options on the Reference Index. The Fund is one of the first covered call ETFs in Hong Kong. Such novelty makes the Fund riskier than traditional ETFs investing in equity securities.
- The Fund employs an actively managed investment strategy. In addition to seeking to obtain exposure to the constituent equity securities in the Reference Index in substantially the same weightings as these securities have in the Reference Index through investing directly in constituent equity securities of the Reference Index and HSCEI ETF and long positions of HSCEI Futures, the Fund also writes call options on the Reference Index. The Fund may fail to meet its objective as a result of the implementation of investment process which may cause the Fund to underperform as compared to direct investments in the constituent equity securities of the Reference Index.
- The market value of a HSCEI Call Option may be affected by an array of factors including but not limited to supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the Reference Index in relation to the strike price of the HSCEI Call Options, the actual or perceived volatility of the Reference Index and the time remaining until the expiration date. The Fund’s ability to utilise HSCEI Call Options successfully will depend on the ability of the Manager to correctly predict future price fluctuations, which cannot be assured and are subject to market behaviour or unexpected events.
- If a HSCEI Call Option expires and if there is a decline in the market value of the Reference Index during the option period, the premiums received by the Fund from writing the HSCEI Call Options may not be sufficient to offset the loss realised.
- The Fund may write HSCEI Call Options over an exchange or in the OTC market. The HSCEI Call Options in the OTC markets may not be as liquid as exchange-listed options. There may be a limited number of counterparties which are willing to enter into HSCEI Call Options as purchasers or the Fund may find the terms of such counterparties to be less favorable than the terms available for listed options. Moreover, the SEHK may suspend the trading of options in volatile markets. If trading is suspended, the Fund may not be able to write HSCEI Call Options at times that may be desirable or advantageous to do so.
- The use of futures contracts involves risks that are potentially greater than the risks of investing directly in securities and other more traditional assets. The risks include but not limited to market risk, volatility risk, leverage risk and negative roll yields and “contango” risk.
- Investing in HSCEI Futures and writing HSCEI Call Options generally involve the posting of margin. Additional funds may need to be posted as margin to meet margin calls based upon daily marking to market of the HSCEI Futures and the HSCEI Call Options. Increases in the amount of margin or similar payments may result in the need for the Fund to liquidate its investments at unfavourable prices in order to meet margin calls. If the Fund is unable to meet its investment objective as a result of margin requirements imposed by the HKFE, the Fund may experience significant losses.
- HSCEI Futures and HSCEI Call Options are registered, cleared and guaranteed by the HKFE Clearing Corporation. In the event of the bankruptcy of the clearing house, the Fund could be exposed to a risk of loss with respect to its assets that are posted as margin.
- The Fund is subject to concentration risk as a result of tracking the performance of a single geographical region or country (Mainland China). The Fund may likely be more volatile than a broad-based fund, such as a global equity fund, as it is more susceptible to fluctuations resulting from adverse conditions in Mainland China. In addition, to the extent that the constituent securities of the Reference Index are concentrated in Hong Kong listed Mainland securities of a particular sector or market, the investments of the Fund may be similarly concentrated. The value of the Fund may be more volatile than that of a fund having a more diverse portfolio of investments. The value of the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse conditions in such particular market/sector.
- The borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund may as a result suffer from a loss or delay when recovering the securities lent out. This may restrict the Fund’s ability in meeting delivery or payment obligations from redemption requests. As part of the securities lending transactions, there is a risk of shortfall of collateral value due to inaccurate pricing of the securities lent or change of value of securities lent. This may cause significant losses to the Fund.
- The base currency of the Fund is HKD but the class currencies of the Shares are in HKD, RMB and USD. The Net Asset Value of the Fund and its performance may be affected unfavourably by fluctuations in the exchange rates between these currencies and the base currency and by changes in exchange rate controls.
- Payments of distributions out of capital or effectively 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. Any such distributions may result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Share of the Fund and will reduce the capital available for future investment.
- The trading price of the Fund unit (the “Unit”) on the SEHK is driven by market factors such as demand and supply of the Unit. Therefore, the Units may trade at a substantial premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value.
- Global X HSI Components Covered Call Active ETF (the “Fund”) aims to generate income by primarily investing in constituent equity securities in the Hang Seng Index (the “Reference Index” or the “HSI”) and selling (i.e. “writing”) call options on the Reference Index to receive payments of money from the purchaser of call options (i.e. “premium”).
- The objective of adopting a covered call strategy is to generate income and reduce potential loss against the downward market. Each time the Fund writes a HSI Call Option, the Fund receives a premium. If the value of the securities relating to the Reference Index held by the Fund declines, the premium that the Fund received for writing the HSI Call Option may reduce such loss to some extent. However, the downside of adopting a covered call strategy is that the Fund’s opportunity to profit from an increase in the level of the Reference Index is limited to the strike price of the HSI Call Options written, plus the premium received.
- The Fund is an ETF which adopts a covered call strategy by (i) investing in constituent equity securities in the Reference Index and the HSI ETF and long positions of HSI Futures, and (ii) writing call options on the Reference Index. The Fund is one of the first covered call ETFs in Hong Kong. Such novelty makes the Fund riskier than traditional ETFs investing in equity securities.
- The Fund employs an actively managed investment strategy. In addition to seeking to obtain exposure to the constituent equity securities in the Reference Index in substantially the same weightings as these securities have in the Reference Index through investing directly in constituent equity securities of the Reference Index and HSI ETF and long positions of HSI Futures, the Fund also writes call options on the Reference Index. The Fund may fail to meet its objective as a result of the implementation of investment process which may cause the Fund to underperform as compared to direct investments in the constituent equity securities of the Reference Index.
- The market value of a HSI Call Option may be affected by an array of factors including but not limited to supply and demand, interest rates, the current market price of the Reference Index in relation to the strike price of the HSI Call Options, the actual or perceived volatility of the Reference Index and the time remaining until the expiration date. The Fund’s ability to utilise HSI Call Options successfully will depend on the ability of the Manager to correctly predict future price fluctuations, which cannot be assured and are subject to market behaviour or unexpected events.
- If a HSI Call Option expires and if there is a decline in the market value of the Reference Index during the option period, the premiums received by the Fund from writing the HSI Call Options may not be sufficient to offset the loss realised.
- The Fund may write HSI Call Options over an exchange or in the OTC market. The HSI Call Options in the OTC markets may not be as liquid as exchange-listed options. There may be a limited number of counterparties which are willing to enter into HSI Call Options as purchasers or the Fund may find the terms of such counterparties to be less favorable than the terms available for listed options. Moreover, the SEHK may suspend the trading of options in volatile markets. If trading is suspended, the Fund may not be able to write HSI Call Options at times that may be desirable or advantageous to do so.
- The use of futures contracts involves risks that are potentially greater than the risks of investing directly in securities and other more traditional assets. The risks include but not limited to market risk, volatility risk, leverage risk and negative roll yields and “contango” risk.
- Investing in HSI Futures and writing HSI Call Options generally involve the posting of margin. Additional funds may need to be posted as margin to meet margin calls based upon daily marking to market of the HSI Futures and the HSI Call Options. Increases in the amount of margin or similar payments may result in the need for the Fund to liquidate its investments at unfavourable prices in order to meet margin calls. If the Fund is unable to meet its investment objective as a result of margin requirements imposed by the HKFE, the Fund may experience significant losses.
- HSI Futures and HSI Call Options are registered, cleared and guaranteed by the HKFE Clearing Corporation. In the event of the bankruptcy of the clearing house, the Fund could be exposed to a risk of loss with respect to its assets that are posted as margin.
- To the extent that the constituent securities of the Reference Index are concentrated in Hong Kong listed securities of a particular sector or market, the investments of the Fund may be similarly concentrated. The value of the Fund may be more volatile than that of a fund having a more diverse portfolio of investments. The value of the Fund may be more susceptible to adverse conditions in such particular market/sector.
- The borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund may as a result suffer from a loss or delay when recovering the securities lent out. This may restrict the Fund’s ability in meeting delivery or payment obligations from redemption requests. As part of the securities lending transactions, there is a risk of shortfall of collateral value due to inaccurate pricing of the securities lent or change of value of securities lent. This may cause significant losses to the Fund.
- The base currency of the Fund is HKD but the class currencies of the Shares are in HKD, RMB and USD. The Net Asset Value of the Fund and its performance may be affected unfavourably by fluctuations in the exchange rates between these currencies and the base currency and by changes in exchange rate controls.
- Payments of distributions out of capital or effectively 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. Any such distributions may result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Share of the Fund and will reduce the capital available for future investment.
- The trading price of the Fund unit (the “Unit”) on the SEHK is driven by market factors such as demand and supply of the Unit. Therefore, the Units may trade at a substantial premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value.
- Global X Hang Seng High Dividend Yield ETF’s (the “Fund’s”) investment in equity securities is subject to general market risks, whose value may fluctuate due to various factors, such as changes in investment sentiment, political and economic conditions and issuer specific factors.
- There is no assurance that dividends will be declared and paid in respect of the securities comprising the Hang Seng High Dividend Yield Index (the “Index”). Dividend payment rates in respect of such securities will depend on the performance of the companies or REITs of the constituent securities of the Index as well as factors beyond the control of the Manager including but not limited to, the dividend distribution policy of these companies or REITs.
- Whether or not distributions will be made by the Fund is at the discretion of the Manager taking into account various factors and its own distribution policy. There can be no assurance that the distribution yield of the Fund is the same as that of the Index.
- The Manager may at its discretion pay dividend out of the capital or gross income of the fund. Payment of dividends out of capital to a return or withdrawal of part of an investor’s original investment or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment. Any distributions involving payment of dividends out of the Fund’s capital may result in an immediate reduction of the Net Asset Value per Unit.
- The trading price of the Fund’s unit (the “Unit”) on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong is driven by market factors such as demand and supply of the Unit. Therefore, the Units may trade at a substantial premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value.
- As part of the securities lending transactions, there is a risk of shortfall of collateral value due to inaccurate pricing of the securities lent or change of value of securities lent. This may cause significant losses to the Fund. The borrower may fail to return the securities in a timely manner or at all. The Fund may suffer from a loss or delay when recovering the securities lent out. This may restrict the Fund’s ability in meeting delivery or payment obligations from realisation requests.
- The investment objective of Global X US Treasury 3-5 Year ETF (the “Fund”) is to provide investment results that, before deduction of fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the Mirae Asset US Treasury 3-5 Year Index (the “Underlying Index”).
- The Fund is exposed to the Credit/Default risk of issuers of the debt securities that the Fund may invest in; the Credit Rating risk that the credit ratings assigned by rating agencies are subject to limitations and do not guarantee the creditworthiness of the security and/or issuer at all times; the Downgrading risk that the Manager may or may not be able to dispose of the debt securities that are being downgraded; the Interest rate risk that the prices of debt securities rise when interest rates fall, whilst their prices fall when interest rates rise; the Policy risk that the changes in macro-economic policies in the US may have an influence over the US’ capital markets and affect the pricing of the bonds in the Fund’s portfolio, which may in turn adversely affect the return of the Fund; the Sovereign debt risk that the Fund’s investment in US Treasury securities may be exposed to political, social and economic risks that the Fund may suffer significant losses when there is a default of the US Treasury; the valuation risk that the valuation of the Fund’s instruments may involve uncertainties and judgmental determinations. If such valuation turns out to be incorrect, this may affect the Net Asset Value calculation of the Fund.
- The Underlying Index is a new index. The Underlying Index has minimal operating history by which investors can evaluate its previous performance. There can be no assurance as to the performance of the Underlying Index. The Fund may be riskier than other exchange traded funds tracking more established indices with longer operating history.
- The Underlying Index is subject to concentration risk as a result of tracking the performance of a single geographical region, namely the US, and is concentrated in debt securities of a single issuer, namely the US Treasury. The Fund’s value may be more volatile than that of a fund having a more diverse portfolio and may be more susceptible to adverse economic, political, policy, foreign exchange, liquidity, tax, legal or regulatory event affecting the US market.
- The base currency of the Fund is USD but the trading currency of the Fund is in HKD. The Net Asset Value of the Fund and its performance may be affected unfavourably by fluctuations in the exchange rates between these currencies and the base currency and by changes in exchange rate controls.
- The borrower may fail to return the securities lent out in a timely manner or at all. The Fund may as a result suffer from a loss or delay when recovering the securities lent out. This may restrict the Fund’s ability in meeting delivery or payment obligations from realisation requests. As part of the securities lending transactions, there is a risk of shortfall of collateral value due to inaccurate pricing of the collateral, adverse market movements in the collateral value or change of value of securities lent. This may cause significant losses to the Fund.
- The trading price of the Units on the SEHK is driven by market factors such as the demand and supply of the Units. Therefore, the Units may trade at a substantial premium or discount to the Fund’s Net Asset Value.
- Payments of distributions out of capital and/or effectively 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. Any such distributions involving payment of distributions out of capital or effectively out of capital of the Fund may result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Unit of the Fund and will reduce the capital available for future investment.
- Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF (the “Fund”) aims to provide investment results that, before deduction of fees and expenses, closely correspond to the performance of the Bloomberg MSCI Asia ex Japan USD Green Bond Index (the “Underlying Index”).
- The Fund’s investments maybe concentrated in Green Bonds. The value of the Fund may be more volatile than that of a fund having a more diverse portfolio of investments. The use of the GBP-based selection criteria in the construction of the Index and the adoption of the Green Bond investment strategy of the Sub-Fund may result in the Sub-Fund foregoing opportunities to buy certain securities when it might otherwise be advantageous to do so, and/or selling securities when it might be disadvantageous to do so. This may adversely affect the Sub-Fund’s investment performance and, as such, the Sub-Fund may perform differently compared to similar funds that do not use such criteria.
- There is no assurance that dividends will be declared and paid in respect of the securities comprising the Underlying Index.
- Whether or not distributions will be made by the Fund is at the discretion of the Manager, taking into account various factors and its own distribution policy. There can be no assurance that the distribution yield of the Fund is the same as that of the Underlying Index.
- Dividends may be paid from capital or effectively out of capital of the Fund, which may amount to a return or withdrawal of part of an investor’s original investment or from any capital gains attributable to that original investment and result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Unit of the Fund.
- The Underlying Index is a new index. It has minimal operating history by which investors can evaluate its previous performance. There can be no assurance as to the performance of the Underlying Index. The Fund may be riskier than other exchange traded funds tracking more established indices with longer operating history.
- The Fund invests in emerging markets which may involve increased risks and special considerations not typically associated with investment in more developed markets, such as liquidity risk, currency risks/control, political and economic uncertainties, legal and taxation risks, settlement risks, custody risk and the likelihood of a high degree of volatility.
- The trading price of the Fund unit (the “Unit”) on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong is driven by market factors such as demand and supply of the Unit. Therefore, the Units may trade at a substantial premium or discount to the Fund’s net asset value.
Monthly Commentary
Income ETFs – Jan 2025
Distribution is not guaranteed. Distribution may be made out of capital. Positive yield does not mean positive return. Payments of distributions out of capital or effectively 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. Any such distributions may result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Share of the Fund and will reduce the capital available for future investment.
Global X HSCEI Components Covered Call Active ETF (3416)
- Monthly Distribution Paid in Dec: The ETF distributed HK$0.15 per share on 5 December 2024.
- Monthly Distribution Announcement in Dec: The ETF announced monthly distribution of HK$0.15 per share on 11 December 2024, to be distributed on 7 January 2025.
- Premium Earned in Dec: Premium earned by selling index call options for the HSCEI edged down to 1.94% in Dec due to the decrease in market volatility.
- Total Return: The total return at the end of Dec (assuming buying this ETF on its launch date of 29 February 2024) would be 22.5% (including 16.6% distribution return and 5.9% capital appreciation), as of 31 Dec.3
Source: Bloomberg, Mirae Asset, January 2025. 3416 HK inception date: 28 Februrary 2024. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. The computation basis of the performance is based on price, with dividend reinvested. Performance data has been calculated in local currency. Where no past performance is shown there was insufficient data available in that year to provide performance.
Monthly Option Premium and Distribution History1
Source: Bloomberg, Mirae Asset, January 2025. 1. Distribution is not guaranteed. Distribution may be made out of capital. Positive yield does not mean positive return. Payments of distributions out of capital or effectively 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. Any such distributions may result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Share of the Fund and will reduce the capital available for future investment. Total return is calculated based on price, with dividend reinvested. The computation basis of the performance is based on the calendar year end, NAV-to-NAV, with dividend reinvested. 2. Monthly Distributed Yield is calculated by Monthly Distribution/NAV Per Share at the end of the month. Monthly Option Premium Yield is calculated by Monthly Option Premium Income/NAV Per Share at the end of the month. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. Performance data has been calculated in HKD including ongoing charges and excluding trading costs on HKEX you might have to pay. Fund inception date: 28 February 2024.
Global X HSI Components Covered Call Active ETF (3419)
Update
Monthly Distribution Paid in Dec: The ETF distributed HK$0.12 per share on 5 December 2024.
Monthly Distribution Announcement in Dec: The ETF announced monthly distribution of HK$0.12 per share on 11 December 2024, to be distributed on 7 January 2025.
Premium Earned in Dec: Premium earned by selling index call options for the HSI edged down to 1.78% in Nov due to the decrease in market volatility.
Total Return: The total return at the end of Dec (assuming buying this ETF on its launch date of 29 February 2024) would be 17.0% (including 12.9% distribution return and 4.1% capital appreciation), as of 31 Dec.3
Source: Bloomberg, Mirae Asset, January 2025. 3416 HK inception date: 28 Februrary 2024. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. The computation basis of the performance is based on price, with dividend reinvested. Performance data has been calculated in local currency. Where no past performance is shown there was insufficient data available in that year to provide performance.
Monthly Option Premium and Distribution History1
Source: Bloomberg, Mirae Asset, January 2025. 1. Distribution is not guaranteed. Distribution may be made out of capital. Positive yield does not mean positive return. Payments of distributions out of capital or effectively 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. Any such distributions may result in an immediate reduction in the Net Asset Value per Share of the Fund and will reduce the capital available for future investment. Total return is calculated based on price, with dividend reinvested. The computation basis of the performance is based on the calendar year end, NAV-to-NAV, with dividend reinvested. 2. Monthly Distributed Yield is calculated by Monthly Distribution/NAV Per Share at the end of the month. Monthly Option Premium Yield is calculated by Monthly Option Premium Income/NAV Per Share at the end of the month. Past performance information is not indicative of future performance. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. Performance data has been calculated in HKD including ongoing charges and excluding trading costs on HKEX you might have to pay. Fund inception date: 28 February 2024.
Global X Hang Seng High Dividend Yield ETF(3110)
Market Update
Hang Seng High Dividend Yield Index recorded 6% return in December. As market enter into a volatile period after a series of volatile political and economic events, we believe high dividend strategy should remain attractive thanks to solid dividend yields and lower volatility. PBOC’s recently announced and implemented Rmb300bn relending program should drive an increase in corporate share repurchase and enhance overall shareholder returns. In addition, there are potential incremental fund flows from household savings currently deposited in the bank to seek higher yield, as savings rates are falling.
Stock Comments
ICBC recorded 14% gain in December, a key contributor to the ETF. China’s 4 largest banks gain strong traction towards end of 2024, as investors seek attractive dividend yields amidst rapidly falling bond yields in China. In addition, rational monetary and fiscal policies to support economies, and efforts to contain local government bond and property market risks all support bank stock performance.
CRRC recorded 10% gain in December, a contributor to the ETF. The company reported in-line 3Q24 results. Longer-term demand growth for Multiple Units (MU) remain intact, driven by robust high-speed rail expansion and rising aftermarket needs. CRRC’s business is relatively immune to tariffs and trade tensions due to its minimal overseas revenue exposure, particularly in developed markets such as the US.
Preview
Hang Seng High Dividend Yield Index is well positioned to benefit from increasing allocation from global investors amid global market volatility, and the potential dividend tax removal for southbound investors. Notably, this Index consists of over 55%4 of its constituents in State Owned Enterprises. Supportive policies across consumption, property, and technology sectors, as well as the ongoing capital market reforms are key drivers for market rebound. The concept of the Valuation System with Chinese Characteristics (“VCC”) is back in the spotlight again in light of recent developments. The primary objective of VCC is to enhance the quality and investment value of listed companies, especially SOEs. By investing in the Hang Seng High Dividend Yield Index, investors can gain exposure to high dividend-paying and low-volatility companies while also benefiting from the accelerated implementation of VCC.
Global X US Treasury 3-5 Year ETF (3450/9450)
During the first week of December, the intermediate US Treasury yields experienced a decline, influenced by weaker than expected November service PMI and ISM. The yields retraced higher in the following week, with the release of robust CPI and flash PMI. As of 17 Dec, the Mirae Asset US Treasury 3-5 Year Index yield climbed to 4.26%, returning to levels seen in July 2024. The bearish steepening trend persisted after FOMC meeting, where the Fed implemented the anticipated 25 bps ease, lowering rates to 4.25%-4.5%. The accompanying press release stated that “In considering the extent and timing of additional adjustments to the target range for the federal funds rate, the Committee will carefully assess incoming data, the evolving outlook, and the balance of risks”5, scaling back expectations for further rate cuts in 2025. Additionally, the dot plot revealed a more hawkish stance than anticipated, with the median projections indicating only two rate cuts in 2025.
By the end of the month, intermediate yields increased by 20 to 35 bps compared to November levels, resulting in a 0.55% loss of Mirae Asset US Treasury 3-5 Year Index.
Preview
The year 2024 was expected to be a year of aggressive easing. However, a series of stronger-than-expected economic indicators, coupled with the political landscape under Trump’s presidency, led the market to price in “shallow cutting cycles”. By the end of Dec 2024, the 3-5 year US Treasury yield stood at 4.36%, around 30 bps higher than the Jan 2024 level. While it remains challenging to predict the trajectory of intermediate U.S. Treasury yields, we believe this presents a favorable entry point to capitalize on high yields.
Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF (3059/83059)
Market Update
The Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF recorded a loss of 0.43% in December, outperformed it’s US IG and EM IG peers amid the post-FOMC bearish steepening. Positive returns came from Singapore (0.51%) and China (0.09%), while South Korea (-0.54%) and Indonesia (-1.47%) lagged behind.
Korea delivered negative performance due to political uncertainty. On 3 December 2024, the martial law was declared by South Korea’s president to protect the country from “anti-state” forces. The law was revoked just hours later, but the easing of political uncertainty in Korea may persist for serveral months, contingent on the Constitutional Court’s ruling regarding President Yoon’s impeachment. Despite the prolonged political uncertainty, we believe the impact is limited. According to S&P, “the negative impact on market sentiments as being contained within Korea’s current credit metrics and unlikely to trigger a rating change in the next year or two. The developments overnight likely undermined perceptions of political stability among investors. Nevertheless, the swift revocation of the martial law order and the return to relative stability without serious violence showed that checks and balance in the political system are functioning.”6
Preview
In 2024, IG bonds continued the spread tightening trend globally. By the end of the year, Asia Ex Japan Green Bond Index spread stood at 66.46 bps, in line with 67.6 bps spread as of end 2023, and tightening around 40 bps from 105.01 bps as of end 2022.7 Looking ahead, we expect the spread to widen in 2025. Although Asia IG will not be fully immune to the US credit cycle, we expect Global X Bloomberg MSCI Asia Ex Japan Green Bond ETF to continue outperforming its US IG and EM IG peers given it low beta characteristic.