Aberdeen Asian Local Currency Bond Fund

Aberdeen has added the Asian Local Currency Short-Duration Bond fund to its offshore range, to be managed by its Singapore-based Asian fixed income team.

It will invest largely in sovereign bonds in up to ten Asia ex-Japan countries with a duration of less than 1.65 years.

Minimum investment:
£1,000

Initial charge:
4.25 per cent

Annual management charge:
1 per cent

Contact:
www.aberdeen-asset.co.uk

Simon Brett is head of investment at Parmenion Fund Research

Simon Brett says:
"The Aberdeen Asian Local Currency Bond fund is the renamed Asian Bond fund and will certainly attract some attention owing to the length of its name.

Despite its title the idea behind the fund is simple, to benefit from the expected currency appreciation of Asian currencies against the dollar, sterling and the euro.

The fund will invest in short duration sovereign bonds across ten Asian countries excluding Japan. The duration of 1.65 years should result in lower performance volatility from the bond holdings and hence provide a low risk route to benefit from the appreciating currencies.

Why should Asian currencies appreciate? In the short term many central banks across the region have been raising interest rates to control inflation. As interest rates have not yet risen in the UK for example, demand for Asian currencies will increase and appreciate.

Looking at the longer term, the trend of stronger Asian currencies is likely to continue as their economic potential is fully realised, raising incomes and productivity.

In conclusion the fund is an interesting way to play the Asian growth theme, albeit via just one asset class, namely currency.

Fund rating:
3 stars (from a possible 5)