BlackRock has launched a fund investing across asset classes in emerging and frontier markets, including in alternative strategies like long/short.
The asset manager says its new BlackRock Strategic Funds Emerging Market Allocation product is constructed to deliver equity-like returns but without the volatility commonly associated with emerging markets.
To achieve this, the manager, Jeff Shen, who also heads the emerging markets team, aims to optimise the weighting of each component for a smooth long-term performance while tactically varying the portfolio according to market conditions.
Shen will be supported by portfolio managers Seanna Kim and Rodolfo Martell.
“It is becoming harder to talk about emerging markets as a group, with increasing country differentiation making it important to monitor countries on a fundamental basis,” Shen says, adding that the fund can move swiftly to seize the best opportunities for growth, but also reduce risk at times of market stress.
©2014 funds europe
