New Fund: CIMB Islamic Al-Azzam Equity Fund

Launched on the same day with AmMutual new fund, the CIMB Islamic Al-Azzam Equity Fund is an open-ended fund that aims to achieve consistent capital growth over the medium to long term.

The asset allocation strategy for this Fund is as follows: 

• between 70% to 98% (both inclusive) of the Fund’s NAV will be invested in Shariah-compliant Malaysian equities; and 
• up to 30% of the Fund’s NAV in other Shariah-compliant investments and Shariah-compliant liquid assets, with at least 2% of the Fund’s NAV to be maintained in Shariah-compliant liquid assets.

For this Fund, the investment into Sukuk must satisfy a minimum credit rating of “A3” or “P2” by RAM or equivalent rating by MARC; “BBB” by S&P or equivalent rating by Moody’s or Fitch. In line with its objective, the investment  strategy and policy of the Fund is to rebalance the portfolio to suit market conditions in order to reduce short-term volatility and provide consistency in capital growth.


More on Investment Strategy...

CIMB-Principal combines a top-down asset and sector allocation process with a bottom-up stock selection process. The asset allocation decision is made after a review of macroeconomic trends in Malaysia and other global economies. In particular, CIMB-Principal analyzes the direction of gross domestic  product growth, interest rates, inflation, currencies and government policies.

CIMB-Principal will then assess their impact on corporate earnings and determine if there are any predictable trends. These trends form the basis for sector selection. Stock selection is based on the growth style of equity investing. As such, the criteria for stock selection would include improving fundamentals and growth at “reasonable valuations”. Stock valuation fundamentals considered are earnings per share growth rate, return on equity, price earnings ratio and net tangible assets multiples.

Who is suitable for this Fund? They are investors who: 

• have a medium to long-term investment horizon; 
• want a portfolio of investments that adhere to the Shariah principles; 
• want a diversified portfolio that includes Shariah-compliant equities and Sukuk; and/or 
• are seeking capital appreciation over medium to long-term.

Source: CIMB-Principal Asset Management
Click here to download the fund prospectus

Was Genneva Gold Investment Scheme a Scam?

Lately, I have a long-lost friend calling me out for a drink. Without hesitation, I am more than happy to meet up with him, a successful businessman. Well, we started off with very casual conversation from politic to investment. Yes, investment is my all-time favorite topic and he knew it. Once my hot button was pressed, he share with me the Genneva Gold Investment Scheme.

With its headquarter situated at Kuchai Entrepreneurs Park, Genneva has evolved to become one of the leading and most innovative gold traders in Malaysia and neighboring countries. What I want to stress here is INNOVATIVE. Why? Please read on...

About the Scheme

Through Genneva's unique wealth sharing platform, you are not only the owner of the gold bullion in hand, you also will get 1.8-2.5% cash return (hibah) every month for 3 months under Genneva's Syariah principle-based product plan. (see picture below)

It is similar to placing your savings in Fixed Deposit. Whether the price of gold goes up or down, your capital is 100% protected with an annualized return of 21.6-30.0%. Whilst if you placed your money into fixed deposit, which only gives you around 3% per year, which one is better? In addition, at the end of each tenure (4 months), you can return the Gold Bullion at the SAME price that you bought the gold. This means a 100% capital protection and guaranteed above 20% return.

WOW. Amazing, fantastic, unbelievable, right? Wait.................................

As an investor, we always reminded that be careful on whatever schemes that promise to gives us high return. Some more, there is NO risk at all in this case. Without rushing for a deal, I search through their website and read some forums on the scheme. It was stated that the company has complied with BAFIA 1989 act and AMLA 2001 act in its website. However, forums are hot in this topic with many people commenting that it was a scam and many Genneva-friendly people refuted their claims. Which side was correct?

Here, Finance Malaysia would like to gather public opinions and comments. Whether you like it or not, it's up to you to judge and decide. For many people, they would rather refrained from entering into this scheme. Why?

1. The return is too good to be true. Minimum of 21.6% annualized return, some more it is Guaranteed!!! How Genneva going to guaranteed such attractive return?
2. Can Genneva generate better return from other investment using the capital? (Better than Warren Buffett?) If not, the business model for sure will fail and it's a scam...
3. Some said Genneva sell gold at a rate more than 20% above market price? Some claims that this is Genneva's admin and processing costs. If that's true, Genneva is making huge profit from us then giving us back the said hibah. Why invest then?
4. Yes. You can get the physical gold bullion after 4 months. But, how are you going to store it? Investors should look at the cost of holding gold bullion too. That is investment expenses which will eat into the return.
5. Who is going to certify that the gold bullion was genuine?

New Fund: ASM Syariah Capital Protected Sector Linked Fund

ASM Investment Services Bhd had recently launched its latest fund called "ASM Syariah Capital Protected Sector Linked Fund". It is a close-ended fund with limited subscription period and a maturity of 3 years.

For this Fund, it aim to provide investors with capital protection upon the maturity of the Fund as well as to give investors potential returns higher than the rate of return of the 12-month Kuala Lumpur Islamic Reference Rates (KLIRR), being the selected Fund’s performance benchmark.

Please read on for more information...

To achieve the capital protection objective, the Fund will invest not less than 88% of the Fund’s Net Asset Value (NAV) in 3-year Islamic Negotiable Instruments of Deposits (INIDs) issued by several premier financial institutions in Malaysia. This will potentially protect investors capital, including a sales charge payable by investors.

To realize the potential return objective, the fund will invest up to 12% of the Fund’s NAV in quality Shariah-compliant equities of various sectors in Bursa Malaysia. These equities have been identified as the leaders of their respective sectors under the Economic Transformation Programme (ETP). The Fund’s name thereby reflects the composition of the Fund’s portfolio consisting of INIDs and each sector’s leading equities.

Click here to download the prospectus

Source: ASM Investment Services

New Fund: Public Islamic Infrastructure Bond Fund

Public Islamic Infrastructure Bond Fund is an Islamic bond fund that seeks to provide annual income to investors through investments in sukuk of companies in the infrastructure sector.

The fund allows investors to access the sukuk market, which is usually inaccessible to the average investor as it is a market for institutions where the standard transaction lot is RM5 million. Sukuk issued by companies in the infrastructure sector are generally underpinned by predictable cash flows and stable income stream over the respective issuer's concession period. Example, companies with power plant concessionaires, telecommunication service providers, toll-road concessionaires and port operators.

The fund invests up to 98% of its NAV in a portfolio of sukuk of companies involved in the infrastructure sector and the balance of its assets in Islamic money market instruments. To achieve increased diversification, the fund may invest up to 25% of its NAV in foreign sukuk, which includes Singapore, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Hong Kong and other permitted markets.

The fund is suitable for investors seeking the stability of annual income with some safety of principal via participating in sukuk issued by companies in the infrastructure sector.

Source: Public Mutual

New Fund: Public Islamic Alpha-40 Growth Fund

Public Islamic Alpha-40 Growth Fund is an Islamic equity fund that seeks to achieve capital growth by investing up to a maximum of 40 selected Shariah-compliant blue chip stocks, index stocks and growth stocks listed primarily on Bursa Securities and regional markets.

The fund adopts a more focused investment strategy and is able to achieve potentially higher returns over the mid to long term as it concentrates its investment in a portfolio of not more than 40 stocks. Currently, 88% of securities listed on local bourse are Shariah-compliant representing about two-thirds of Bursa Malaysia's market capitalization.

The equity exposure will generally range from 75% to 98% of its NAV. To achieve increased diversification, the fund may invest up to 30% of its NAV in selected foreign markets, which include Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and other markets.

Source: Public Mutual

New Fund: AmIslamic Greater China Fund

The fund aims to grow the value of the investment in the Longer Term by investing in a portfolio of Shariah-compliant equities with exposure to the Greater China region namely in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan markets, as well as companies on Approved Equity Markets with business dealings in China.

To achieve the investment objective, the fund will invests a minimum 85% of the fund's NAV in a portfolio of Shariah-compliant equities with exposure to the Greater China region. AmIslamic is partnering with Hamon Investment Management Limited, the sub-investment manager who is responsible for the asset allocation and stock selection for the portfolio based on the following style:-

1. Performing active bottom-up stock selection
   
2. Picking securities without the constrain of market capitalization
   
3. Growth or value styles which depends on the changing economic cycles and market conditions
   

The fund is suitable for an investor seeking:-

• Investment exposure to the fast growing Greater China region
  
• Capital growth and appreciation through a portfolio of Shariah approved equities investments
  
• Long Term investment goals
  

New Fund: HwangDBS Aiiman A20 China Access

Another Syariah Compliant product, yet, A20 is first in Malaysia which have China access investment opportunity. The fund represents a superior China access product, which provides investors direct exposure to highly lucrative China A-Share Market and potential currency appreciation of Renmimbi.

Reason to invest in A20:

1. First Shariah-complian direct A-share offering in Malaysia and globally.

2. Direct, Simple and Optimal. Potential appreciation of Renmimbi.

3. Robust market dynamics & Valuations still supportive of future growth.

What is the Strategy?
The fund will invest into the 20 largest Shariah-compliant China A-share companies, in terms of their market capitalisation, listed in Shanghai or Shenzhen Stock Exchanges.

Below is some of the informations:
- Fund Category   : Structured (wholesale fund)
- Min investment   : USD 10,000
- Sales Charge      : 3.00 %
- Redemption Fee : 2.00 %

Source: HwangDBS investment management