Emerging markets

China is increasingly focused on greater alignment with her Eastern neighbours and the allure of Russia's resource-rich economy and the demise of US power have caused China to recalibrate foreign policy.

The IMA has changed its Global Emerging Markets sector definition, which will now be based on FTSE or MSCI GEMs indices rather than World Bank definitions.

Franklin Templeton Investments is to open its offshore Emerging Markets Bond fund to UK retail investors for the first time.

Last week's news that the Chinese economy continued to power through the global economic crisis, with growth of 10.7%, adds weight to those who argue for a greater weighting to the country and emerging markets in general.

After a memorable 2009, when emerging markets rose like a phoenix from the ashes of the economic downturn, Templeton's Mark Mobius forecasts the year ahead for the sector and the opportunities that can be found in the Chinese year of the tiger

Investor keenness in sector pushes prices up sharply but long-term case remains intact

Launched in February 2008, the £127m Jupiter India fund has significantly outperformed its peers in the IMA Specialist sector over the past year, up 100.4% to January 11, compared to the sector average of 40.4%.

With some justification, investors took an increasingly positive view of the prospects for most Asian markets last year.

Martin Currie is to launch a UK domiciled open-ended China fund to be run by James Chong on 10 March.

As 2008 rolled into 2009, global investors were still recovering from the most traumatic of years, felt most acutely perhaps in emerging markets.