How untrodden is your GEM trail?

As the BRIC nations start to become more emerged than emerging, Castlestone's Arrash Zafari, examines the importance of having a truly diversified portfolio.

Through improved economic health, decreased political risk and significant exposure to the commodities boom,  Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) have gained stature and achieved a degree of asset allocation in retail portfolios. The recent recession and economic issues plaguing developed nations further fuel the demand for emerging market exposure within these portfolios. Global emerging market (GEM) funds should offer investors a more diversified, broad-based exposure to emerging markets. However, although these funds are global in name, their exposure to the vast range of emerging ...