China Leads Asia in Poll of Fund Managers

China will outpace its fellow Asian countries and be the region’s fastest-growing economy in 2004, according to survey results just announced.

The poll of fund managers had China listed as either the fastest- or second-fastest growing Asian economy on 99% of the response sheets, while Thailand and India finished second and third, respectively, the Financial Times reports.

A 10% increase in both the Nikkei 225 average and Hang Seng Index was expected by 80% of respondents. Thirty countries attended the CLSA Investors’ Forum in Hong Kong, where the Financial Times conducted the poll, and a majority of those responding said they thought Japan’s economy would recover in 2004.

Interestingly, 25% said the biggest risk to Asian equities next year was the threat of a SARS occurrence, while 67% said U.S. economy imbalances would be the key hindrance. Hong Kong, 58% of the investors said, would be Asia’s best performing stock market, followed by India and Taiwan.

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The staff of Money Management Executive ("MME") has prepared these capsule summaries based on reports published by the news sources to which they are attributed. Those news sources are not associated with MME, and have not prepared, sponsored, endorsed, or approved these summaries.

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