INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Western countries have suggested that the coronavirus pandemic may be shifting to an endemic phase.The threat of the omicron variant is
becoming real for many of Asia's biggest countries just as it looks set to subside in some Western nations, and that's complicating
investors' search for winning share bets in the region.The problem is that Asian governments are carrying out widely diverging coronavirus
policies, with strategies ranging from China's pursuit of Covid Zero to Australia's move to live with the virus, and almost everything
The speed of vaccinations and the strength of health-care systems also vary greatly in the region.It's another example of how Covid is
forcing investors to face new challenges, though many remain positive about Asia's ability to weather the storm as its best-performing
nations kept deaths from the pandemic at levels far lower than elsewhere
Asian stocks have done better than their European and United States counterparts so far this year, after underperforming both of them in
points to Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, China and Malaysia as potential winners, with India, Thailand and the Philippines just starting to
Consumer discretionary, autos and banks are among the sectors to bet on, he said.Western countries from Switzerland to Spain and the U.K
have suggested that the coronavirus pandemic may be shifting to an endemic phase
In Asia, the omicron variant wave is starting to pounce, with cases surging in Australia, a jump in Tokyo infections prompting authorities
have largely eschewed a return to onerous curbs
For some, China's proven success in stamping out the virus when found means investors there have little to worry about from
Morgan Stanley cut estimates for Hong Kong's economy as the city again turns to strict curbs, likely delaying a re-opening with the
2020, but under the administration of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Covid policy has grown more cautious despite 80% of the country having
manager at Comgest Asset Management Japan Ltd., which oversees about $10 billion in Japanese equities
year, Japan's blue-chip index Nikkei 225 has underperformed the Asia benchmark by about three percentage points.
