The year 2023 was full of surprises, some good and some, not so. On the bright side, the global economy performed better than expected. Inflation showed signs of slowing down and the US markets performed well. The S&P 500 Index hit an all-time-high, led by tech stocks, thanks to the widespread application of artificial intelligence (AI).

Winners list

While 2023 was another volatile year for investors, the local fund management industry performed well. The winners of the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards were able to cut through the noise and navigate the uncertainties to deliver good returns to investors.

Of surprises,  agility & resilience

Criteria (Cumulative)


	Funds registered for sale in the respective country as at the end of the calendar year of the respective evaluation year.
	At least 36 months of performance history as at the end of the calendar year of the res...

LSEG Lipper Fund Awards Methodology 2024

The global fund industry experienced a harvest year in 2023, said Xav Feng at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024, which was held on March 8 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Kuala Lumpur. Feng, LSEG Lipper Asia Pacific head of research, pointed out that global funds received net inflows of US$1.24 trillion (RM5.81 trillion).

A harvest year for the global fund industry

Manulife Investment Management (M) Bhd was again the biggest group award winner at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024, where it took home three group awards for the second year in a row. It won the awards for Best Equity Group (Malaysia), Best Equity Group (Islamic) and Best Mixed Assets Group (Provident).

Manulife returns as biggest winner of group awards

KAF Investment Funds Bhd emerged as one of the biggest winners at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024. It clinched the Best Equity (Provident) Group award and 10 individual awards.

KAF Investment Funds shines

Maybank Asset Management Sdn Bhd (MAM) has emerged as a big winner at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024, taking the Best Bond Group (Islamic) award and seven individual awards.

Maybank clinches one group and seven individual awards at LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024

AmFunds Management Bhd clinched a group award and two individual awards at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024. It was the winner of the Best Bond Group (Malaysia) award.

AmFunds wins two awards in bond category

UOB Asset Management (M) Bhd (UOBAM) won the Best Mixed Asset (Malaysia) Group Award at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024. This is the second consecutive year that it has won the accolade.

UOB Asset Management takes home group award

Despite the challenges and risks of financial market volatility due to persistently high inflation in 2023, Public Mutual Bhd bagged 21 fund awards at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024.

Public Mutual a top winner with 21 individual awards

Principal Asset Management Bhd walked away with five awards at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024, once again emerging as a big winner in the regional and global space.

Principal wins big in regional and global category

PMB Investment Bhd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Pelaburan Mara Bhd, clinched four fund awards at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024 and maintained its winning streak with the PMB Shariah Equity Fund and PMB Shariah Tactical Fund.

PMB Investment outperforms partly through under-the-radar small-cap stocks

Hong Leong Asset Management (HLAM) won five awards at the LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024. Its Hong Leong Dana Makmur Fund won Best Equity Malaysia (Islamic) in the 10-year category while the Hong Leong Dana Maa’rof Fund won Best Mixed Asset MYR Balanced-Malaysia (Islamic) and Best Mixed Asset MYR Balanced-Malaysia (Provident) in the five- and 10-year categories.

Hong Leong Asset Management bags five awards with Dana Maa’rof and Dana Makmur

RHB Asset Management Sdn Bhd and its wholly owned subsidiary RHB Islamic International Asset Management Bhd won five awards in the bond and equity space and across three universes.

RHB Asset Management clinches five awards

Johnson & Johnson, fresh off a US$14.6 billion (RM65.38 billion) deal to buy neurological drugmaker Intra-Cellular, reported fourth-quarter (4Q) revenues and profit above Wall Street estimates on Wednesday, driven by strong sales of its cancer treatments.

J&J has been on an acquisition spree to boost its drugs and device businesses after spinning off its consumer unit in 2023.

J&J beats quarterly sales and profit estimates on cancer drug sales

The ceasefire agreement that paused the war between Israel and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon will likely be extended when it expires next week, according to several people familiar with the matter.

The Iran-backed group and the Israelis are unlikely to resume full-scale fighting despite needing more time to implement the original terms of the truce, which started in late November, according to Lebanese, Israeli and French government officials involved in ongoing talks.

Israel-Hezbollah ceasefire set to be extended beyond next week

Türkiye has detained 11 people as part of an investigation into a fire that killed 76 people and injured dozens at a ski resort in the Bolu mountains, Justice Minister Yilmaz Tunc said on Wednesday.

A deputy mayor of the northwestern Bolu province, the head of the municipality's fire department, the owner and the manager of the hotel were among those detained, Tunc said on X.

Türkiye detains 11 over ski resort hotel fire that killed 76

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Russia "and other participating countries" with taxes, tariffs and sanctions if a deal to end the war in Ukraine is not struck soon.

Without a deal, Trump said in a post on Truth Social, "I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries."

Trump threatens Russia, others with sanctions if Ukraine deal not reached

Amazon.com Inc will shut down all warehouses and lay off employees in the French-speaking Canadian province of Quebec.

“Following a recent review of our Quebec operations, we’ve seen that returning to a third-party delivery model supported by local small businesses, similar to what we had until 2020, will allow us to provide the same great service and even more savings to our customers over the long run,” said Amazon spokesperson Barbara Agrait in an emailed statement.

Amazon to close warehouses in Quebec, slashing 1,900 jobs

Gold prices soared to near three-month highs on Wednesday, trading below its record peak, fuelled by a soft dollar and lack of clarity around US President Donald Trump's policy plans, which investors fear could trigger trade wars and elevate market volatility.

Spot gold added 0.3% to US$2,753.79 per ounce as of 9.45am ET (1445 GMT). Prices were at their highest since Oct 31 when they hit their all-time-high of US$2,790.15.

Trump uncertainties push safe-haven gold to near all-time highs

Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (EXIM Bank) has filed a lawsuit against instant coffee manufacturer Power Root Bhd (KL:PWROOT), seeking RM7.39 million over insurance claim payout dispute. 

According to Power Root’s filing with Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, EXIM Bank is demanding repayment of RM675,509.22 disbursed to its subsidiaries, namely Power Root (M) Sdn Bhd (PRM), Power Root Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PRMFG), and Power Root ME Free Zone Company (PRME).

Power Root sued by EXIM Bank over insurance claim payout 

Asean is progressing cautiously on Myanmar as it is critical to secure peace in the country, said Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said Asean’s approach is not about enforcing a particular system but ensuring inclusivity and peace as well as the importance of participatory democracy.

Asean takes cautious approach on Myanmar, critical to secure peace — Anwar

Sustainability can sometimes be seen as a concept only achievable by those with resources, but it can also be practised by smallholders and bring about financial benefits, according to the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

According to RSPO, 85% of oil palm plantation owners ar...

Agriculture: Sustainable palm oil practices in Surat Thani province

KPMG International’s Survey of Sustainability Reporting 2024, published in December, highlights that sustainability reporting has become a routine part of business operations for nearly all of the top 100 companies in each country. Notably, Malaysia is among seven countries where all top 100 companies report on their sustainability efforts.

Top global companies make sustainability reporting part of core practice

Arina, Sime Darby Property Bhd’s (KL:SIMEPROP) first single-storey linked homes in Bandar Ainsdale, achieved full take-up of all 118 units within hours of its launch on Saturday, Jan 18.

Sime Darby Property’s Arina single-storey homes in Bandar Ainsdale fully taken up within hours of launch

Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Bhd (EXIM Bank) has filed a lawsuit against instant coffee manufacturer Power Root Bhd (KL:PWROOT), seeking RM7.39 million over insurance claim payout dispute.&nbsp;

According to Power Root’s filing with Bursa Malaysia on Wednesday, EXIM Bank is demanding repayment of RM675,509.22 disbursed to its subsidiaries, namely Power Root (M) Sdn Bhd (PRM), Power Root Manufacturing Sdn Bhd (PRMFG), and Power Root ME Free Zone Company (PRME).

HSBC Bank Malaysia Bhd has officially opened its flagship wealth centre in&nbsp;Menara IQ at the Tun Razak Exchange (TRX), Malaysia’s international financial hub,&nbsp;to serve its high-net-worth clients.

HSBC Malaysia opens flagship wealth centre at TRX to serve high-net-worth clients

A fugitive banker accused of orchestrating a US$1 billion (RM4.45 billion) fraud in Moldova appears to be helping Russian lenders and businesses to continue conducting foreign trade amid payment problems caused by sanctions.

Fugitive banker may be helping Russian firms beat US sanctions

SRC International Sdn Bhd’s former director Datuk Suboh Md Yasin told the High Court on Wednesday that he signed four blank cheques that led to RM19.5 million going to Umno and Umno Selangor.

Former SRC director says he signed blank cheques, didn’t know payments were to Umno

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) on Wednesday kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged as widely expected, comfortable with its outlook for sustained economic growth and manageable inflation.

BNM keeps OPR steady, takes comfort in sustained growth

The public portion of ACE Market-bound Northern Solar Holdings Bhd’s initial public offering (IPO) has been oversubscribed by 73.2&nbsp;times.&nbsp;

Northern Solar's IPO oversubscribed by 73.2 times

Datuk Seri Najib Razak denies seeking royalties from the Middle East to help stepson Riza Aziz over his alleged entanglement with 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds, the court heard on Wednesday.

Najib says stepson was already servicing loan from Emerati prince, phone call only to formalise agreement

The&nbsp;industrial subsector&nbsp;is expected to continue&nbsp;its positive trend&nbsp;in 2025,&nbsp;according to&nbsp;Henry Butcher Malaysia&nbsp;chief operating officer Tang Chee Meng. The Henry Butcher Perspective — Malaysia Property Outlook 2025 report, which was&nbsp;launched&nbsp;on Wednesday, noted that&nbsp;the&nbsp;volume of industrial transactions in the first nine months of 2024 (9M2024)&nbsp;increased by 6.5%, while the value rose 22.8%.

Henry Butcher: Malaysia's industrial subsector to continue strong performance

Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak claimed that he was being prosecuted for "being transparent" on how he spent the purported donation from the Middle East.

The now-imprisoned 71-year-old, said that he could have easily utilised the donation monies in the form of cash but did not do so and specifically used cheques because he knew it would be documented.

1MDB-Tanore trial: Najib denies abusing funds, says used cheques to be 'transparent'

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): Mah Sing Group Bhd’s (KL:MAHSING) proposed acquisition of land in Sentul, its first deal of the year, is being done at fair and attractive&nbsp;valuations, analysts said.

Mah Sing's first land deal in 2025 is fair and attractive, analysts say

Malaysia’s international reserves fell by US$700 million by mid-January this year, from a fortnight earlier, according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

BNM: Malaysia’s international reserves down to US$115.5b as at mid-January

Investors looking for opportunities in Malaysia are recommended to look beyond data centre-related stocks and proxies to artificial intelligence (AI), amid the US restriction on AI chip exports, said Manulife Investment Management (Manulife IM).

Look beyond Malaysian proxies of data centres, says Manulife IM

Here is a brief recap of some business news and corporate announcements that made the headlines on Wednesday

Sunway, CapitaLand Malaysia Trust, Sentral REIT, AME REIT, Jentayu, Power Root 

Datuk Seri Najib Razak said he did not interfere with the attorney general’s (AG) prosecutorial discretion while he was prime minister.&nbsp;

Najib claims he was mindful not to interfere in AG's prosecutions 

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): The risk of overbuilding of residential properties would become more apparent in the coming years, particularly in high-growth cities, according to JLL Appraisal &amp; Property Services Sdn Bhd (JLL Malaysia).

JLL Malaysia: Risk of overbuilding as market sentiment improves

Malaysia’s inflation is expected to reverse its current downtrend&nbsp;and gradually rise from mid-2025, driven by subsidy rationalisation, tax adjustments, and wage increases, according to economists.

Economists warn of short-lived inflation downtrend, predict gradual rebound by mid-2025

Jentayu Sustainables Bhd (KL:JSB) said the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) has denied the building material and renewable energy (RE) group’s bid for an extension of time to complete its acquisition of three RE firms proposed in 2021.

Jentayu was informed of the regulator’s decision not to approve its application seeking an extension up to March 26, 2025, via a letter on Wednesday, according to the company’s bourse filing.

SC denies Jentayu’s extension bid to complete acquisitions of RE firms

CapitaLand Malaysia Trust (KL:CLMT) posted a 15% year-on-year increase in its fourth quarter net property income (NPI) on higher revenue contribution from the majority of CLMT’s properties, supported by stronger retail sentiment.

CapitaLand Malaysia Trust posts record net property income of RM264 mil in FY2024

TechStore Bhd, an enterprise information technology (IT) services provider set to make its debut on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on Feb 18, intends to collaborate with industry players as part of its strategy to secure larger and more complex projects.

LSEG Lipper Fund Awards 2024

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