KUALA LUMPUR, 29th September 2009 – Differing opinions from renowned investment gurus on whether there is a real improvement in the global economy or if the rallies were purely sentiment driven have made it difficult for investors to form a definitive strategy. Amid the conflicting market, HwangDBS Investment Management Berhad ("HwangDBS IM" or "the Company") today launched the HwangDBS Global Growth Allocation Fund ("GGA" or "the Fund") – a fund that may serve as a foundation for every investor’s portfolio.

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of HwangDBS IM, Teng Chee Wai said, "One should always keep in mind that investing should be a lifelong process and not about chasing market fads. There is a lack of such a product within our local investors’ portfolio as Unit Trust holders tend to treat their investments like stocks and wait for the ‘right time’ to buy or sell only to find out that they have already missed the boat. Others jump onto the bandwagon of ‘hot’ investment tips that have already seen a marked increase in value, without fully understanding the nature and risks behind the investment. As such, investors should build a foundation in their investment portfolio, which grows with their changing needs, as well as market trends. With GGA, an investor is able to take advantage of this unique proposition."

"Moving forward, the fund management industry will start evolving their product to focus on providing consistent returns and managing volatility. One of the methods to achieve consistent returns and low volatility is through diversification. This can be done via an innovative financial tool, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). Through Unit Trust funds like the GGA, investments are pooled to offer investors a cost efficient access to ETFs, which provides them the exposure to a myriad of regions, asset classes, sectors, markets and themes," he added.

This innovative tool has seen explosive growth, with the total value of global ETF assets stood at US$658 billion. On the home front, the Securities Commission Malaysia’s liberalisation effort to enhance the depth and breadth of the capital market in the financial industry enables ETFs from recognised jurisdictions to be cross-listed on Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. These positive endorsements point to the fact that ETFs are seen to be one of the versatile tools that can provide investors with a cost efficient diversification method.

Teng highlighted an interesting fact – studies show that more than 90 per cent of investment returns is attributable to the right asset allocation and management model. As such, the Fund offers investors the strength of professional oversight from HwangDBS IM to ensure constant monitoring in each sector, the right blend of asset allocation model to manage volatility and frequent rebalancing to provide consistent positive returns.

In closing, Teng said, "Most investors are keen to tap into the exciting opportunities available in the global markets. However, with thousands of stocks spread over different geographical locations, asset classes and sectors, resources become a scarcity. Through GGA, investors can take advantage of a collective pool of investments to gain access into a well-researched broad spectrum of assets with professional oversight, at a lower cost."

Fund Facts:

GGA is an equity fund aims to provide medium to long-term capital appreciation for investors with aggressive risk profile. The Fund strives to achieve its objective by allocating a maximum of 100 per cent of the Fund’s NAV in collective investment schemes and a maximum 20 per cent of the Fund’s NAV in other securities. The minimum initial investment of the Fund is RM 1,000 and the minimum additional investment is RM100. GGA is made available through HwangDBS IM sales offices and its banking distributor, Standard Chartered Bank (Malaysia) Bhd, and its respective branches nationwide.