Aberdeen converts Asian Bond fund

Aberdeen is converting one of its Asian bond funds into a short duration product due to rising demand for the strategy.

The £13m Asian Bond fund, which sits under the Aberdeen Global umbrella, domiciled in Luxembourg, will become the Asian Local Currency Short Duration Bond fund on 1 March.

It will invest mostly in sovereign bonds across Asia, with an expected initial duration of less than 1.65 years, which Aberdeen said makes it relatively insulated from inflation threats.

Anthony Michael, head of fixed income in the Asia Pacific region, will run the fund supported by a team of 14. He said it may appeal to those looking for lower risk exposure to the Asian growth story and diversification away from developed bond markets.

He said: “Asian fixed income is at last gaining the recognition it deserves. The same macro drivers that have pulled investors towards regional equities make Asia’s fixed income and currency markets attractive too.

“China is often singled out but at any given moment other countries’ currencies may be appreciating faster. China’s currency return against the US dollar was one of Asia’s weakest performers in 2010; so it makes perfect sense to spread one’s exposure more broadly across the region.”

The annual management fee is 1% and minimum investment is £1,000.