Fund Objective

To achieve long term capital growth by investing mainly in Japanese and other Far Eastern companies. The Halifax Far Eastern Life and Pension funds invest directly into the Halifax Far Eastern OEIC.

View on Past Performance

Asian markets exposed the myth of economic decoupling, as the FTSE All-World Asia Pacific ex Japan index lost 14.7% in sterling, total return terms as commodity-reliant regions struggled after prices slid. Stocks plunged as September closed, after a deal to shore up the ailing US financial sector was unexpectedly voted down.The rejection of the rescue plan deepened concerns that more economies will fall into recession, with China's economic outlook clearly weaker than it had been for some time. Money-market rates and corporate bond risk rose, while regulators in South Korea and Taiwan tightened curbs on short selling to help stem market declines.Banking stocks had earlier come under severe pressure, while commodity-related stocks also declined, after oil prices fell markedly on speculation over the health of the global economy. Japanese equities joined the general decline, having reached their lowest level in nearly four years at one point, before the FTSE Japan index ended 8.9% down in sterling, total return terms.

Fund Details