Strategic Insight research shows Asia-based funds overall had a good, not great year in 2011, in line with the US and in contrast to Europe; but only the top managers benefited.
Emerging-market funds accounted for the bulk of worldwide equity-fund inflows last week, as investors reacted to expected dollar weakness, according to EPFR Global.
United States, Western Europe and Japan equity funds post their largest six-month combined outflows on record; Middle East and Latin America funds are the clear winners.
First quarter data from Lipper shows investors in Singapore turning more cautious with overall fund inflows declining and equity portfolios posting net outflows versus net inflows previously.
US equity funds and money market funds absorb inflows, while Asia ex-Japan funds continue to suffer from net outflows. Taiwan bucks the regional trend with eight straight weeks of net inflows.
Money market and US bond funds are benefiting from the redemptions from equity funds, but EPFR Global says recent outflows in emerging market portfolios are increasingly being seen as a signal for renewed buying.
The latest EPFR fund flows data shows investors are still putting money into funds that hold bank and US small-cap stocks despite concerns over the US economy.