Higher return for EPF expected after August!

EPF members can buy unit trust with up to 30% foreign portfolio from August

By DALJIT DHESI

 

KUALA LUMPUR: Effective Aug 1, funds that have higher consistent returns for at least three years and those with a foreign portfolio component of up to 30% would be made available for sale to Employees Provident Fund (EPF) members.

This meant that funds with less than three years track record and newly launched ones would not be sold to EPF members.

Federation of Investment Managers Malaysia (FIMM) president Tunku Ya’acob Tunku Abdullah said the move would further instill trust and confidence in unit trust investment and enhance investment options.

To achieve the above objective, FIMM would introduce a performance focus methodology to measure funds under the EPF Members Investment Scheme annually.

From Left: Tunku Datuk Ya'acob Tan Sri Abdullah and Lee Siew Hong on Friday. - Starpic by Low Lay Phon

"Funds that consistently have higher performance relative to its peers in the same category will be made available for sale to EPF members. Those that generate returns but not as high as their peers and do not meet a certain criteria, will be suspended for sale.

"These funds can be re-instated when they eventually meet the criteria. The evaluation methodology for sale of funds as well as those with foreign exposure are expected to be implemented in August," he said at a press briefing.

 

EPF TO FURTHER INVEST OVERSEAS

EPF TO FURTHER INVEST OVERSEAS

To hasten divestment of equity holdings in GLCs

Ee Ann Nee

Monday, March 29th, 2010 12:52:00

KUALA LUMPUR: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has invested six per cent of its fund size on overseas equities and efforts to invest in countries abroad will continue in the next few years.

Its chief executive officer Tan Sri Azlan Zainol told reporters this morning that although the government has directed the EPF to hasten the divestment of its equity holdings in government-linked companies (GLCs) to make the capital market more attractive to foreign fund managers, the move cannot be done in a rush.

"Our investment is portfolio management where we look at the best interest of our members to get the best returns for them. The sellout has to be done properly," he said, adding that there is no timeframe for the move.

Azlan, who was speaking at the opening ceremony of the technical seminar "High Performance in Social Security by Innovation, Change Management and Risk Management, said EPF will be looking at investing 10 per cent of its shareholding stake in public-listed GLCs in the United States, Europe, Australia and Southeast Asia.

It was reported last week that the government directed Khazanah Nasional Bhd and EPF to hasten the divestment of their equity holdings in GLCs to make the capital market more attractive to foreign fund managers.

Analysts said the continuous move to reduce government holdings would attract more international investors who can bring added value to corporate shareholdings as well as make Bursa Malaysia more attractive to foreign fund managers.

It will also increase private sector driven liquidity on the bourse through less government participation and in the process increase shareholder diversity particularly from foreign funds.

On a different note, EPF's chairman, Tan Sri Samsudin Osman, said that Malaysia has yet to fall under the category of an aged nation, the process of aging has already begun.

"Although it is forecasted to take place in 10 years' time, Malaysia should prepare itself for the effects of an aged nation," Samsudin said this morning.

The percentage of the elderly, currently at 4.6 per cent, is expected to increase to 11.2 per cent by year 2020, the year Malaysia aims to become a developed nation, Samsudin said.

"The challenge faced by policymakers and social security organisations is to draw an innovative blueprint on social protection for the less privileged and the elderly. The plan should possess global appeals given the background of regional economic integration and the mobility of professionals and workers," he added.

(http://www.mmail.com.my/content/31701-epf-further-invest-overseas)

More funds will be added to the list?

In Public Mutual, would PSSF and PISSF out of the list in August? I am looking forward PITTIKAL, PAGF and PSF to be in the list.

Public Mutual declares distributions for 11 funds - May 2010

Public Mutual declares distributions for 11 funds

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declared distributions for eleven funds totalling over RM440 million. The gross distributions declared for the respective funds for the financial year ended 31 May 2010 are as follow: Fund Gross Distribution / Unit Public Dividend Select Fund 3.00 sen per unit Public Ittikal Fund 8.00 sen per unit Public Islamic Equity Fund 1.75 sen per unit Public Islamic Select Treasures Fund 1.25 sen per unit Public Far-East Select Fund 1.75 sen per unit Public Regional Sector Fund 1.75 sen per unit Public Global Select Fund 0.75 sen per unit Public China Titans Fund 1.50 sen per unit PB ASEAN Dividend Fund 1.50 sen per unit Public Balanced Fund 7.00 sen per unit Public Select Bond Fund 4.50 sen per unit Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said Public Dividend Select Fund has generated a one-year return of 28.91% for the period ended 14 May 2010, according to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 24 May 2010. Meanwhile, Public Ittikal Fund and Public Islamic Equity Fund have generated one-year returns of 21.78% and 23.97% respectively for the period ended 14 May 2010. Public Ittikal Fund, which was launched in 1997, is an award winning fund, having received a total of 20 awards in its category from The Edge-Lipper Malaysia Fund Awards and The Star/Standard & Poor’s Investment Fund Awards Malaysia. Public Islamic Select Treasures Fund, which was launched in 2008, has generated a one-year return of 21.54% for the period ended 14 May 2010. This fund is open for EPF Members Investment Scheme. As for our regional and global funds, Public Far-East Select Fund and Public Regional Sector Fund have generated one-year returns of 19.21% and 16.37% respectively for the same period. Both funds were ranked Top 2 out of 267 funds globally, under the Equity Asia Pacific 3-year returns as at December 31, 2009 by Lipper Global Classification. Meanwhile, Public Global Select Fund, Public China Titans Fund and PB ASEAN Dividend Fund have generated one-year returns of 14.22%, 6.17% and 39.23% respectively for the period ended 14 May 2010. At the same time, Public Balanced Fund, which was launched in 1995, recorded a one-year return of 19.72% for the period ended 14 May 2010, according to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 24 May 2010. As for our bond fund, Public Select Bond Fund recorded a one-year return of 5.87% for the period ended 14 May 2010. All of these funds are distributed by Public Mutual unit trust consultants, with the exception of PB ASEAN Dividend Fund which is distributed via Public Bank branches nationwide. Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 77 funds under management. It has over 2,320,000 accountholders and as at 30 April 2010, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM37 billion.

 

Public Mutual declares distributions for 5 funds - Apr 2010

Public Mutual declares distributions for 5 funds

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declared distributions for five funds. The total gross distributions declared for the financial year ended 30 April 2010 are as follows: Fund Gross Distribution / Unit Public Far-East Telco & Infrastructure Fund 2.50 Public Islamic Dividend Fund 1.25 Publis Islamic Asia Dividend Fund 0.75 Public Far-East Balanced Fund 1.50 Public Global Balanced Fund 0.50 Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said Public Far-East Telco & Infrastructure Fund has generated one-year returns of 31.01% for the period ended 9 April 2010, according to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 19 April 2010. “This fund has outperformed its benchmark for the same period,” she added. Meanwhile, Public Islamic Dividend Fund and Public Islamic Asia Dividend Fund have generated one-year returns of 34.43% and 35.27% respectively for the same period. Public Islamic Dividend Fund is open for EPF Members Investment Scheme. As for Public Far-East Balanced Fund and Public Global Balanced Fund, they have generated one-year returns of 25.03% and 19.69% respectively for the period ended 9 April 2010, according to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 19 April 2010. These funds have also outperformed their benchmarks for the repective periods. Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 75 funds under management. It has over 2,320,000 accountholders and as at 31 March 2010, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM36.6 billion.

 

Public Mutual declares distributions for 2 funds - Mar 2010

Public Mutual declares distributions for 2 funds

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declared distributions for two of its funds. The total gross distributions declared for the financial year ended 31 March 2010 are as follows: Fund Gross Distribution / Unit Public Aggressive Growth Fund 8.00 sen per unit Public Regular Savings Fund 4.50 sen per unit Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said both funds have outperformed their respective benchmarks and managed to deliver respectable double digit returns for the period ended 5 March 2010. According to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 15 March 2010, Public Aggressive Growth Fund and Public Regular Savings Fund generated one-year returns of 53.74% and 52.38% respectively for the period ended 5 March 2010. Meanwhile, the benchmarks for Public Aggressive Growth Fund and Public Regular Savings Fund recorded one-year returns of 49.53% and 49.63% respectively within the same period. Public Aggressive Growth Fund aims to achieve high capital growth over the medium- to long-term period through investments in situational and high growth stocks. Meanwhile, Public Regular Savings Fund, which is open for EPF Members Investment Scheme, aims to achieve consistent capital growth with a steady growth of income over the medium- to long-term. Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 74 funds under management. It has over 2,300,000 accountholders and as at 25 February 2010, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM35.2 billion.

 

Public Mutual declares distributions for 3 funds - Dec 2009

Public Mutual declares distributions for 3 funds

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declared distributions for three of its funds. The total gross distributions declared for the financial year ended 31 December 2009 are as follows: Fund Gross Distribution / Unit Public Savings Fund 8.00 sen per unit Public Focus Select Fund 0.75 sen per unit Public Islamic Enhanced Bond Fund 2.00 sen per unit Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said Public Savings Fund, which was launched in 1981, is the company’s maiden fund. The fund aims to achieve long-term capital appreciation while at the same time producing a reasonable level of income. “According to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 14 December 2009, Public Savings Fund generated a one-year return of 46.08% for the period ended 4 December 2009,” she said. Public Focus Select Fund, which was launched in 2004, generated a one-year return of 45.49% for the period ended 4 December 2009. This fund aims to achieve capital growth through investments in medium-sized companies in term of market capitalisation from diversified economic sectors. Meanwhile, Public Islamic Enhanced Bond Fund was launched in 2006 and recorded a one-year return of 10.26% for the same period. As a Shariah-based bond fund, it aims to provide a combination of annual income and modest capital growth primarily through a portfolio allocation across Islamic debt securities and equities that comply with Shariah requirements. Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 72 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders and as at 30 November 2009, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM34.7 billion.

 

Public Mutual declares distributions for 5 funds - Jan 2010

Public Mutual declares distributions for 5 funds

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declared distributions for five of its funds. The total gross distributions declared for the financial year / period ended 31 January 2010 are as follows: Fund Gross Distribution / Unit Public Index Fund 5.00 sen per unit Public Far-East Property & Resorts Fund 0.50 sen per unit Public Islamic Optimal Growth Fund 0.50 sen per unit Public Enhanced Bond Fund 2.00 sen per unit Public Money Market Fund 2.50 sen per unit Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said Public Index Fund and Public Far-East Property & Resorts Fund have generated one-year returns of 45.43% and 92.41% respectively for the period ended 8 January 2010, according to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 18 January 2010. While Public Islamic Optimal Growth Fund, which is a EPF approved fund has generated a one-year return of 35.38% for the same period. As for Public Enhanced Bond Fund, it has generated a one-year return of 10.99% for the period ended 8 January 2010. Public Money Market Fund, on the other hand, has generated a one-year return of 2.14% for the period ended 8 January 2010. Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 73 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders and as at 31 December 2009, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM35.6 billion. .

 

Public Mutual declares distributions for 4 funds - Nov 2009

Public Mutual declares distributions for 4 funds

Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual, declares distributions for four of its funds. The total gross distributions declared for the financial year ended 30 November 2009 are as follows: Fund Gross Distribution / Unit Public Far-East Dividend Fund 0.25 sen per unit Public Select Alpha-30 Fund 0.75 sen per unit Public Islamic Sector Select Fund 0.50 sen per unit Public Islamic Balanced Fund 0.25 sen per unit Public Mutual Chief Executive Officer Ms. Yeoh Kim Hong said that the above funds have performed well and managed to deliver respectable double digits returns for the period ended 6 November 2009. According to The Edge-Lipper Fund Table dated 16 November 2009, Public Far-East Dividend Fund generated a one-year return of 45.53% for the period ended 6 November 2009. At the same period, Public Select Alpha-30 Fund, which was launched in April this year, generated a six-month return of 24.27%. Public Islamic Sector Select Fund, which was launched in November 2007, generated a one-year return of 33.70% for the period ended 6 November 2009. This fund is open for EPF Members Investment Scheme. Meanwhile, Public Islamic Balanced Fund recorded a one-year return of 21.45% for the period ended 6 November 2009. Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 72 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders and as at 31 October 2009, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM34.3 billion.