00:00In a world of uncertainty and rapidly shifting markets, fund managers say information has become a key advantage for investors.
00:08At the Affin Market Outlook Conference 2026, they said timely intelligence, constant communication and discipline can help investors navigate repeated
00:17shocks.
00:18Things we knew, you know, before February are becoming completely irrelevant.
00:24Things have changed. Last year we had the tariffs and that created some kind of a chaos.
00:30And this year, again, you know, from the same source, we now have the Iran war and the crisis and
00:39the Straits of Hormuz.
00:40Now the question is, in light of this volatility, you know, how do we position ourselves?
00:48Retirement Fund Incorporated Chief Investment Officer Haasman Hilmi said uncertainty is one of the biggest challenges facing investors today.
00:56What about information side? Do you ask your fund managers to really study it further, deeper?
01:06Do you have, you know, more frequent briefings, for example?
01:10Yes, we do. So, our EFM team, be it in equity or fixed income, and even on the private side,
01:17also have a constant communication with our EFM.
01:20We always need to remind ourselves that we are a long-term investor.
01:23So, our decision is guided by our strategic asset allocation.
01:27Of course, within the SAA, we have a TA and tolerance corridor that will allow us to rebalance the portfolio,
01:33give us the sentiment.
01:34But, I would say that we don't react unnecessarily, Azeem.
01:39Haasman said KWAP does not react unnecessarily to market shocks, even as it makes short-term adjustments when needed.
01:46We can't escape from reacting to the sentiment, but by and large, we are staying disciplined.
01:53Meanwhile, MNRB Holdings Chief Investment Officer Duraini Baharuddin said,
01:58Information and stress testing are now central to portfolio management, as investors can no longer wait for crises before modeling
02:05risk.
02:06So, is volatility something that is isolated? No, it's a continuum and it's actually part of portfolio construction.
02:13Stress testing is not something that you do when there's a crisis.
02:17Stress testing is something that you do all the time when you are making portfolio decisions.
02:21OpenSpace Capital Chief Investment Officer Uday Ferdado said,
02:25Malaysia is benefiting from regional flows, but investors remain alert to domestic politics and policy shifts.
02:32As somebody who operates in the region, while we are dealing with geopolitical risk, are you concerned about political risk?
02:41Do you factor that into your investment considerations?
02:45For example, when you look at things that are happening in terms of the change of policies or the election
02:52that's coming.
02:53There's a safe haven halo, you know, around, not just Malaysia, I think we see it in Singapore as well,
02:59Sing dollar strength, similar to what's happened with Ringgit.
03:03Of course, politics always rears its head.
03:06I think the politicians may have left by now, but, you know, it's always something we would,
03:12I think the market probably hasn't fully got there yet in terms of, you know,
03:17what is the ramifications on pricing across the asset classes.
03:23I think we've had a lot of volatility around the region because of what's happened with domestic policy and politics.
03:30I think we have a leading position here, I would say, right?
03:35And that is something we need to be careful about maintaining, I would say, right?
03:42For the panel, volatility is now part of the investment landscape and information has become a key advantage.
03:51Volatility is the new norm.
03:53We probably will see bombs continue to explode.
03:56Information is power to know as much as possible so that we can preempt any shock.
04:01Donish Rajareza, FMT.
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