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Premia Insights
Premia Insights
Our perspectives on trends & issues that are reshaping the industry and the investment community

featured insights & webinar

Investing in the China of Tomorrow...Today.
insightInvesting in the China of Tomorrow...Today.

Most investors agree that EM economy drivers are shifting from financials and energy to technology, consumption, healthcare, education and sustainable growth. Yet when we actually invest in EM, and onshore China, we simply focus on the largest listed stocks, i.e. yesterday’s drivers. One size does not fit all in China beta and today we dive into a new economy approach for A-shares that is a must for the long-term.

Oct 18, 2017

Why today’s A-share beta strategies just don’t cut it and what we’re doing about it
insightWhy today’s A-share beta strategies just don’t cut it and what we’re doing about it

We are modernizing the Asian beta landscape and lowering costs as well.  For those reading our past posts, you’ll know we are planning to list new A-share beta strategies, improving on what exists today in both design and cost.  We are finally at our destination, with HKEx listing scheduled for Oct 24 subject to final regulatory approvals. 

Oct 13, 2017

Why bother with A-shares if you own BATs and offshore Chinese stocks?
insightWhy bother with A-shares if you own BATs and offshore Chinese stocks?

A-shares are a deeper, broader, cheaper and less correlated market than offshore Chinese equities. Investors should review their portfolios given the benefits of A-shares to overall asset allocation.

Sep 28, 2017

Are A-share small caps liquid enough for a beta approach?
insightAre A-share small caps liquid enough for a beta approach?

Size works in A-shares, but for this article we'll put that aside and focus on implementation feasibility.

Aug 01, 2017

China governance - should you take the plunge?
insightChina governance - should you take the plunge?

Without any screening or selection, solely investing in all SOEs or the largest market cap SOEs may not be optimal strategies. What is important for investors is how to capture the current contributors and engines for future growth of China economy regardless whether the underlying stocks are SOEs or non-SOEs.

Jul 04, 2017

China is in! Sort of. Why you can't wait or think only active vs. passive?
insightChina is in! Sort of. Why you can't wait or think only active vs. passive?

A quick review of what MSCI did and didn't do, its impact, why it matters and how investors should approach China going forward.

Jun 23, 2017

Average human tendencies are precisely the wrong thing to do!
insightAverage human tendencies are precisely the wrong thing to do!

Our advisor, Dr. Jason Hsu, recently did a podcast with Meb Faber (co-founder and CIO of Cambria Investment Management) on China opportunities, investors' preference for complexity over simplicity, and key takeaways for investors implementing smart beta strategies in China.

Jun 08, 2017

Not all China exposures are created equal
insightNot all China exposures are created equal

This morning Bloomberg ran a story about LeEco, a Chinese technology conglomerate that has been growing rapidly until recently.

May 24, 2017

It's relatively easy to beat the market (or, why not all smart betas are created equal)!
insightIt's relatively easy to beat the market (or, why not all smart betas are created equal)!

Are all smart beta products smart? This is a question I've asked a few times over the last few years but always got a "nuanced" answer depending on the product being marketed.

May 15, 2017

Can you trust the numbers in China?
insightCan you trust the numbers in China?

Can you trust the numbers reported by all Chinese listed corporations? Absolutely not. But that doesn't mean smart beta can't generate alpha. With help from our friends at Rayliant, we dive into a factor metric that allows us to deprioritize earnings manipulators and to generate alpha from their efforts.

Jan 17, 2017

Chart Of the Week

US Floating Rate Notes offer exceptional stability
  • Alex Chu

    Alex Chu

The macroeconomic landscape is shifting rapidly, driving a brutal global bond selloff that has pushed yields to nearly two-decade highs. Rising oil prices and firmer-than-expected July PCE data—featuring a rebound in core goods that points to underlying inflation of around 3%—are reigniting inflation concerns. This has triggered a retreat across sovereign debt markets, from Japan and Australia to US Treasuries, where the 10-year yield recently hit its highest level since January of last year. Against this backdrop, monetary policy is becoming a source of volatility rather than clarity. While Fed Chair Kevin Warsh delivered a hawkish message at Jackson Hole hinting at potential rate hikes, bond investors remain deeply skeptical. Given Warsh’s history of mixed signals, markets are actively hedging against the risk that the Fed ultimately keeps rates steady. Compounding this policy uncertainty is a resurgence in equity turbulence driven by protectionist trade measures, including impending semiconductor tariffs and bans on foreign energy grid equipment. This volatile combination of unpredictable central bank action, equity turbulence, and a severe selloff at the long end of the yield curve makes the stability of Floating Rate Notes (FRNs) exceptionally appealing. FRNs structurally insulate portfolios from the duration risk currently punishing traditional bonds, while retaining the flexibility to capture higher yields if the Fed does hike. Even if rates simply remain steady, FRNs provide a reliable, premium income stream. For efficient, liquid access to this defensive strategy, the Premia US Treasury Floating ETF (available in Distributing and Accumulating Unit Classes) offers a targeted solution to navigate today's complex market dynamics.

Sep 07, 2026

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