Stockholm (HedgeNordic) Visio Asset Management Ltd. of Finland continued its upward surge in May, reporting increases in net asset value of 2.9% for its Allocator Fund, and 1.5% for its Emerging Markets Multi Strategy B Fund. These were by comparison to the 2.5% increase in the Euro Stoxx 50 total return index and an appreciation of an estimated 0.72% in the Nordic Hedge Index Composite (NHX).
Allocator, Visio’s multi-strategy fund focusing on Nordic equity markets, listed its best performing positions as being in fundamental equity positions, REITs and thematic investments. It increased its exposure to the banking sector from 7% to 16% by investing in Nordea, Handelsbanken, ING and UBS. Conversely, it closed its positions in Schneider Electric, Volvo and Smurfit Kappa, thereby reducing its exposure in cyclical companies. In its monthly report, Antti Aalto, the fund’s PM, suggests that low equity market volatility and trading volumes are a result of investor caution prior to the Brexit vote on June 23. Allocator’s immediate focus is to find attractive long positions, in the event market movements provide good buy opportunities.
Emerging Markets Multi Strategy B, Visio’s multi-strategy fund focusing on emerging markets and Western companies with emerging market exposure, saw its 1.5% increase against a 1.0% decrease in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Its best performing positions in May were in banks, Asia-investing funds and telecoms, with its worst positions being in consumer staples, automotive companies and funds investing in frontier markets. The fund increased its exposure to the banking sector in May, while reducing its exposure in cyclical companies and investing in Facebook and (Swedish holding company) Investor.
Mr Aalto, who is also EM Multi Strategy B’s PM, says the fund maintains a relatively low allocation to emerging markets at the present time, finding better returns potential in Western equities and frontier markets. Its largest sector exposures are in financials (16%) and technology (10%), with its largest regional exposures being in the Nordics and frontier markets.
Visio’s Allocator was distinguished at the Nordic Hedge Awards on April 27th in Stockholm, coming in a strong second only to Nektar as the “Best Nordic Multi Strategy Hedge Fund 2015.”
Picture: (c) SergeyP—shutterstock.com
