A sharp appreciation in the Japanese Yen and the unwinding of crowded risk assets positioning is setting off significant global market volatility. Once the best performing equity market in 2024, the Nikkei 225 Index has sharply corrected more than 20% in a matter of weeks. The rally in the dominant technology sector appears to be losing momentum alongside waning US dollar strength, while safe havens such as US Treasuries catch a firm bid. At the same time, rising uncertainties relating to US recession risks and the US Presidential election, and a reality check on AI’s potential are coming to the forefront. How do we see the recent turbulence in markets unfolding, and is the global outlook intact? How should investors be positioned amid these complex forces?
Chief Investment Officer, Nomura Asset Management
Mr. Yuichi Murao is Nomura Asset Management’s Chief Investment Officer, starting in the position in April 2024. Prior to that, he was CIO of the firm’s active Japanese equity strategies. He started his career with Nomura in 1990 as a portfolio manager in charge of domestic pension funds and has since extended coverage to international institutional investors.
Previously, he has also been chairman of Nomura Asset Management’s Japanese Stock Selection Committee as well as Japanese Equity Investment Strategy Committee.
Mr. Murao holds an MBA from London Business School and a B.A. in Economics from Hitotsubashi University. He is a CFA charterholder.
Global Chief Investment Officer, Bank of Singapore
Jean Chia is Bank of Singapore’s Global CIO, responsible for the house view across Macroeconomics, Investment Strategy, FX, Equity & Fixed Income Research, as well as Discretionary Portfolio Management (DPM), Advisory Portfolio Management (APM) and Funds Selection teams at Bank of Singapore. She is a member of the board of directors for BOS International Funds, Luxembourg and a member of the OCBC Wealth Panel.
Jean has over 20 years of experience in Private Banking and Asset Management. Prior to her current role, she was previously Head, Equities Advisory & Sales, responsible for the equities and derivatives business at Bank of Singapore, and Head of Client Advisory Services for Equities, Investment Products & Services at UBS Wealth Management, Singapore.
Prior to UBS, she was Vice President, Head of Grassroots Research at Allianz Dresdner Asset Management (now known as Allianz Global Investors).
Jean graduated with an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from University of Oxford, UK. She holds a Sustainable Finance certification from Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership (CISL).
Jean is currently a Financial Women’s Association of Singapore (FWA) Female Champion and an Institute of Banking and Finance (IBF) Fellow for Private Banking and Wealth Management.
Chief Investment Strategist, Bank of Singapore
Eli Lee is the Chief Investment Strategist at Bank of Singapore and he plays a central role in developing asset allocation and thematic strategies across global asset classes for the Bank.
He is a key member of Bank of Singapore’s investment committee, which determines the Group’s overall investment strategy and direction, and serves as a member of the OCBC Group Wealth Panel.
He also previously led the Special Situations Research team at OCBC Investment Research.
As an investment thought leader, Eli’s independent perspectives are often sought after by international media, including the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and CNBC.
With close to two decades of industry experience, Eli began his investment career at the Wellington Management Company in Boston.
Chief Economist, Bank of Singapore
Mansoor is a macroeconomist and financial market strategist with two decades experience covering institutional investors around the world. Mansoor speaks to policymakers and central bankers and maintains links with think-tanks in Washington and Beijing. He appears on CNBC and Bloomberg Television, his work features in The Economist and he has written for the Financial Times.
Mansoor was most recently at the Royal Bank of Scotland’s investment arm, NatWest Markets, where he was the Asia region's Macro Strategist and previously the bank’s Global Head of FX Strategy. Prior to joining RBS, Mansoor spent 17 years at UBS in London, Zurich and Singapore where he was also Global Head of FX Strategy from 2002 to 2014.
Mansoor holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Economics from the London School of Economics.
He was tutored by Professor Charles Goodhart, a former Chief Adviser at the
Bank of England.
Currency Strategist, Bank of Singapore
Sim Moh Siong is Currency Strategist for Bank of Singapore, where he is responsible for analysing and forecasting currency trends, as well as being a key member of the investment committee. He joined Bank of Singapore in 2009. Moh Siong brings with him almost two decades of experience in macro and financial research on Asia. Previously a regional economist and financial market strategist with Citibank. Moh Siong holds a Master and BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.
Investment Strategist, Bank of Singapore
Joseph is a Senior Investment Strategist within the highly regarded Chief Investment Office in Bank of Singapore. Joseph provides thought leadership on a host of cross-asset investment topics, with a particular emphasis on global equities. Throughout his time in the bank, Joseph has been known for his timely calls and deep insights, and has been frequently interviewed and quoted by various media outlets.
Joseph also covers the Global Technology sector for the bank, and has experience navigating a range of topical issues pertaining to the internet, cloud, and the impact of geopolitics on technology. In his earlier career, Joseph has also spent time on the sell-side in the area of real estate within Singapore and China.
Joseph graduated with a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and holds a MSc in Management from the London Business School. Joseph is also a CFA® charterholder.