ASEAN Systematic Active Equity Strategy
At BlackRock, we are proud to introduce our Advantage ASEAN Equity strategy - a long-only, benchmark-aware strategy that gives investors a smarter way to access some of Asia’s most dynamic equity markets.
First, the strategy is ASEAN focused, and benchmarked against the ASEAN Investable Market Index (IMI). Across ASEAN, high dispersion between countries and sectors offers sufficient breadth for the strategy to capture alpha at scale. The IMI benchmark is well balanced between developed markets like Singapore and emerging markets. It also extends beyond the region’s largest companies, covering a universe of about 350 stocks, including small- and mid-cap names across both emerging and developed markets.
Next, the strategy is managed by BlackRock’s systematic active equities team, built on over 40 years of quantitative research and innovation.
Our data-driven process combines fundamentals, market sentiment, and macro themes at scale—including local data sources and local language information—to capture country specific nuances across ASEAN.
That said, systematic investing at BlackRock is not a black box. AI and machine learning are used to support stock level insights, with experienced human judgment layered on top. The strategy aims to move broadly in line with the ASEAN equity market, without persistent style bias.
Lastly, the strategy adopts a liquidity‑aware approach, with portfolio positions rebalanced regularly over time. We target an annual turnover of around 100 to 250 percent, with every trade made net of expected transaction costs.
In ASEAN, liquidity matters. This approach allows us to sustain broad‑based activity, manage risk dynamically, and achieve scalability, which is an important consideration for clients looking to allocate to the region.
By combining our systematic investment process, a broad ASEAN focus anchored in Singapore, and a liquidity-aware approach, the Advantage ASEAN Equity strategy brings a disciplined, scalable approach to investing in one of the world’s most dynamic equity regions.
BlackRock’s Advantage ASEAN Equity Fund is a long-only, benchmark-aware approach designed to provide scalable access to one of the world’s most dynamic equity regions.
Built to capture opportunities across ASEAN, the strategy combines data-driven insights with a liquidity-aware approach to navigate diverse and fast-evolving markets.
Backed by BlackRock’s systematic investing platform
The strategy is managed by BlackRock’s Systematic Active Equities (SAE) team, supported by a global platform with deep expertise across markets and asset classes:
$394
billion USD AUM across equities, fixed income and alternatives
Increase40
Year track record of innovation in systematic investing
Increase200
professionals including investment experts and technologists
BlackRock Systematic, as of 12/31/2025. For illustrative purposes only.
What makes ASEAN such a compelling investment region today?
Answer:
ASEAN stands out for its scale, diversity, and long-term growth potential. Spanning 10 diverse economies across both developed and fast-growing markets, the region has a combined GDP of over US$4 trillion1, making it one of the most dynamic growth engines globally. At the heart of this opportunity sits Singapore, a pivotal financial hub and strategic gateway to the region. For those who call Singapore home, it’s also a chance to invest locally and be part of ASEAN’s next phase of growth.
What does it take to invest successfully in markets like ASEAN?
Answer:
Investing successfully in a dynamic region like ASEAN requires consistency, discipline, and the ability to adapt. Technology helps us process data at scale, reduce behavioural bias, and filter out short-term noise, while human expertise guides how insights are interpreted and applied. We call this approach systematic investing.
How does a systematic investment approach help uncover opportunities?
Answer:
Local markets require local insights. Our systematic approach draws on vast, unstructured and alternative datasets, including local language information, to capture market nuances and evaluate opportunities consistently. This breadth of research and depth of insights helps us uncover alpha opportunities and respond to potential risks at scale, in real time.
What does a global investment manager bring to markets like ASEAN?
Answer:
Scale and experience matter when investing in markets like ASEAN. At BlackRock, our global investment platform gives us the ability to operate at great scale and speed, uncover deeper insights, and navigate regional complexities with greater confidence.
1International Monetary Fund, October 2025
A broader perspective on ASEAN investing
ASEAN, with a combined GDP over over US$4 trillion1, stands out as one of the most dynamic growth engines globally. However, ASEAN’s diversity and complexity require more than a single investment lens. From understanding local market dynamics to processing large volumes of data, investing across the region demands both scale and adaptability.
Aligned with the development of Singapore’s equity market
BlackRock has been appointed as an asset manager under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Equity Market Development Programme (EQDP), an initiative aimed at strengthening liquidity and increasing investor participation in Singapore’s equities market.
BlackRock’s Advantage ASEAN Equity Fund is aligned with these objectives, with an emphasis on Singapore equities and a design that supports sustained market activity and capital formation. Through this, the strategy contributes to broader efforts to enhance the depth and resilience of Singapore’s equity ecosystem.
