UOB AM launches United Global Healthcare Fund
UOB Asset Management (Malaysia) Bhd (UOBM (Malaysia)) yesterday launched the United Global Healthcare Fund to provide retail investors opportunities for long-term capital growth through investments in global medical healthcare stocks.
The United Global Healthcare Fund, which was first launched in Singapore in 2000, is made available to Malaysian retail investors under the Asean Collective Investment Scheme (CIS) Framework.
The fund aims to achieve capital appreciation by investing in securities issued by companies in the development, manufacturing or distribution of healthcare products, equipment and/or services.
The fund is diversified across various healthcare industry sub-sectors such as medical products, health services, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. It is suitable for retail investors with a moderately aggressive risk profile.
UOB AM chief executive officer Lim Suet Ling said the growth of the global healthcare sector is being driven by rapid technological innovation and changing demographics.
“The healthcare sector is benefi ing from advances in biopharmaceutical and medical technology.
“The ageing population in many countries will also continue to drive the demand for more and be er healthcare products and services,” she said in a statement.
“Coupled with a regulatory environment that remains accommodating to new treatments and advances in healthcare, we expect continued innovation to drive growth in the sector.
“In addition, the healthcare industry is a defensive sector that typically remains resilient across market cycles as healthcare companies have strong balance sheets and demand for their services remains stable even during periods of economic slowdown.
“Historically, the healthcare industry has held up in times of market turmoil and the United Global Healthcare Fund has outperformed the Healthcare Index since its inception in 2000.”
The United Global Healthcare Fund has delivered an annualised return of 9.04 per cent since 2000 and has consistently outperformed its benchmark, the MSCI All Countries World Healthcare Index.
In recognition of its outstanding returns, the fund has won multiple awards at the Singapore Standard & Poor’s Investment Funds Awards and The Edge-Lipper Singapore Funds Awards. The United Global Healthcare Fund also received the Best-in-Class (Healthcare Sector Equity) awards at the Benchmark Fund of the Year Awards Singapore in 2016 and 2017.
The United Global Healthcare Fund is managed by UOB Asset Management Ltd and sub-managed by Wellington Management Singapore Pte Ltd. The fund is available in Malaysian Ringgit, Singapore Dollar and US Dollar with an initial minimum investment of RM1,000, S$1,000 and US$1,000 respectively. It is available at all United Overseas Bank (Malaysia) Bhd branches and other selected distributors.
The healthcare sector is benefi ing from advances in biopharmaceutical and medical technology. Lim Suet Ling