4th ETF Asia Summit 2018 - Taipei | Asset Publishing and Research Limited | 27 June 2018 | Le Méridien Taipei, 38 SongRen Road, Xinyi District, Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan 110

As the industry marks the 25th anniversary since the launch of the first exchange-traded funds (ETF) in 1993, it has plenty of reasons to celebrate. ETFs crossed US$5 trillion in assets under management globally in January 2018 reflecting its continued attraction to investors. From being a low-cost vehicle to participate in the capital markets, ETFs are now also a tool for long-term asset allocation to achieve diversification in portfolios or as a tactical vehicle to adjust risk or as a hedge to market cyclicality.

Asia’s ETF market ended 2017 with US$430 billion of assets under management. The pace of growth is nothing to sniff at as it has more than tripled in size over the past five years. But it still lags North America and Europe with each region accounting for US$3.4 billion and US$757.5 billion, respectively. Indeed, excluding Japan’s US$275.8 billion ETF market, investors in the rest of Asia have only started to uncover what’s behind the surge of activity in the rest of the world.

Given its modest size, ETF in Asia has still some ways to go. But the slow and steady increase in its adoption could soon give way to more robust activity in the coming years. A number of factors could spur this growth.

First, regulators around the region are actively promoting the usage and offering of ETFs for domestic investors. Second, not only do ETFs provide another investment channel for a growing middle class, institutional investors in Asia are also becoming more familiar with ETFs and using them to achieve their investment objectives whether strategic or tactical. Indeed, institutional investors are likely to increase their allocation to ETFs in the coming years.

Finally, China’s opening will spur increased two-way activity with global investors looking to participate in Asia’s largest capital market while Chinese investors diversifying overseas to increase their international exposures. The launch of the ETF Connect, expected in the second half of this year, could see a bump in new ETF launches or inflows into existing ETFs that are positioned to take advantage of the easier access.

These positive factors, however, are juxtapose against the challenges ETFs faced in the past years. Beyond markets such as Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan, education is critical to see more activity especially in Southeast Asia. Other headwinds include cultural investment practices and also the commission-based distribution channels that place ETFs at a disadvantage.

The Asset Events is pleased to be organizing the 4th ETF Asia Summit in Taipei. The high-level event, which has attracted the participation of institutional investors, ETF sponsors, index providers, authorized participants, market makers, brokers, stock exchanges, distributors, fund administrator, fintechs and regulators, is the leading ETF outreach programme in the region.

This year’s Summit will have as its theme: Augmented Investing: ETFs in Asia’s capital markets. Featuring a distinguished line-up of speakers, the 4th ETF Asia Summit will tackle a variety of topics including the macro-outlook for investing in a changing interest rate environment; ETF Connect and the implications for investing in China; the role of stock exchanges and how to promote activity; thematic launches including ESG and cryptocurrencies, latest trends in smart beta and the role of fintechs and robo-advisory platforms to supplement traditional distribution channels

What to expected:
• Macro-outlook: Emerging markets and implications from a rising rates environment
• ETF Connect and access into China: what to expect and how to position ahead
• Harnessing European ETFs opportunity for Asian investors
• ETF solutions in asset allocation
• The rise of fixed income ETFs
• Smart Beta ETFs and Active ETFs
• New asset classes/themes in ETFs
• Growing affluence, new ETF channels

2018 Speakers

Daniel Yu
Editor-in-Chief, The Asset

Mark Lee
Chief Representative, Hong Kong office, Tokyo Stock Exchange

Bella Chiu
Director, Sales and Client, Singapore Exchange

Pony Huang
Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning & Strategy Department, Taiwan Stock Exchange

Jimmy Yu
Senior Fund Manager, Cathay Site

Bayani Cruz
Executive Editor, The Asset

Andy Chang
President, Cathay Site

Cindy Chen
Head of Securities Services, Citi

Christy Lee
Vice President, Tradeweb

Janette Chen
Editorial Analyst, The Asset

Dr Don Huang
Co-Founder & Head of Quantitative Research, Magnum Research Limited

Julian Liu
President & Chief Executive Officer, Yuanta Sitc

Meng Chu Lee
Director, The Yield Book and Fixed Income Indexes, Ftse Russell

David Lai
Partner, Co-Chief Investment Officer, Premia Partners

Senior representative
Yuanta Sitc

Christopher Friese
Head of Asia, Lyxor Etf, Société Générale

2018 Sponsors:

PLATINUM:
• Yuanta Funds

GOLD
• Cathay Securities Investment Trust

SILVER:
• Ftse Russell