Asian equities have moved into a position few anticipated. The region is not just holding its ground but drawing capital in ways that suggest an undercurrent of confidence taking shape beneath the surface.
The MSCI Asia Pacific Index has risen 22%, outpacing the S&P 500 by about eight percentage points. That margin makes 2025 the strongest relative showing for Asia since 2017.
Asia trades at around 16 times forward earnings, compared with the S&P 500 at 23. Even within the technology sector, where the Hang Seng Tech Index now sits at a four-year high, multiples hover at 21, still well below the Nasdaq 100’s 27.
The Federal Reserve’s rate cuts have weighed on the dollar, a move that has widened the scope for Asian central banks to ease further. Options markets reflect this, with traders paying up for protection against continued strength in regional currencies.
Fidelity Asian Values Plc (LON:FAS) provides shareholders with a differentiated equity exposure to Asian Markets. Asia is the world’s fastest-growing economic region and the trust looks to capitalise on this by finding good businesses, run by good people and buying them at a good price.