JPM unveils EM currency fund

21 Feb 2011 | 10:28

Emma Dunkley
J.P. Morgan Asset Management has launched the JPM Emerging Markets Currency Alpha fund, targeting a return of EUR cash plus 8%.
The Ucits III absolute return fund will be managed by the firm's currency specialists Amit Tanna and Harry Bazzaz, while supported globally by fourteen strategists and analysts with on the ground presence in many of the markets.

Tanna says: "There is a structural case for investing in emerging markets, and currencies are a critical part of that equation. Domestic demand is likely to be an increasing contributor to growth, and this is expected to continue to attract capital flows and enhance productivity.

"These trends will likely support EM currencies from a long-term structural perspective."

The fund aims to take advantage of the divergences between the countries in terms of differing economic cycles, policy stances and valuations.

Tanna says: "Not all EM countries were created equal. Differences in fundamentals provide a significant opportunity to exploit relative value trends within emerging markets."

The firm adds returns generated from these strategies are uncorrelated with other asset classes.