Desk Quant

Cardian Asset Management has launched its first target return fund, the "Cardian K-TOP Target Return 15", which invests in domestically listed South Korean stocks and redeems when achieving a 15% return. The fund will be distributed through Korea Investment & Securities. The fund employs a two-stage risk management approach: at 10% returns, it rebalances away from volatile small and mid-cap stocks towards stable large-cap stocks with strong dividends and cash flows. The portfolio will hold approximately 20 stocks, combining core leading companies with growth-oriented small and medium enterprises, whilst limiting sector concentration to below 50%. Cardian Asset Management will focus on national strategic industries including semiconductors, artificial intelligence, defence and energy. The fund launched on 18th of the month following the company's name change last year.

Acadian Asset Management's Emerging Markets Equity UCITS fund wins Gold at 2026 FSA Fund Awards Singapore. Singapore, 12 February 2026 - Acadian Asset Management LLC ("Acadian"), a global leader in systematic and quantitative investing, is pleased to announce that its Emerging Markets Equity UCITS fund has been awarded 'Gold' at Fund Selector Asia's ("FSA") 2026 FSA Fund Awards Singapore, in the Global Emerging Markets Equity category. The awards recognise excellence among actively managed funds registered in Singapore for accredited investors. Funds are assessed through a rigorous quantitative screening process conducted by FE fundinfo, followed by qualitative evaluation by an independent panel of senior Asian fund selectors. The judges selected the funds they thought would outperform in the next 12 months. The investment objective of Acadian Emerging Markets Equity UCITS is to achieve long-term capital appreciation by investing primarily in a diversified portfolio of equity securities of emerging markets issuers in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe. The fund is actively managed using an objective, disciplined, and systematic process designed to exploit mispricings within these markets. Acadian Emerging Markets Equity UCITS utilises analytical models to determine stock and country selection, with companies and countries being selected from a proprietary database covering over 40,000 securities and more than 40 equity markets worldwide. The investment approach identifies and exploits market inefficiencies through disciplined quantitative stock selection across a broad set of signals spanning valuation, quality, earnings, and price. The process emphasises an expansive opportunity set and rigorous risk management to deliver consistent, risk-adjusted returns across evolving market environments, while maintaining controlled volatility relative to its benchmark. Francis Seah, Managing Director at Acadian Asset Management Singapore, said, "We are honoured to receive Gold in the Global Emerging Market Equity category at this year's FSA Fund Awards Singapore. This recognition reflects the strength of our systematic research framework and our team's long-standing expertise in emerging markets. We believe a disciplined, data-driven approach is particularly well suited to navigating the complexity and opportunity set within emerging equities." Acadian has four decades of experience in systematic investing and continues to deepen its presence in Asia-Pacific, with Singapore serving as a key regional hub for trading, operations, and client engagement. The firm remains focused on delivering differentiated, repeatable investment outcomes for institutional and wholesale clients globally. About Acadian Asset Management Acadian Asset Management is among the largest systematic specialist managers in the world. With four decades of experience, Acadian is a pioneer in investing with machine learning, natural language processing, and alternative data. The firm is headquartered in Boston, with affiliates in Singapore, Sydney, and London and a 25-year history in the APAC region. Acadian invests on behalf of sophisticated institutional investors, private wealth, and financial intermediaries, with US$178 billion in assets under management globally as of December 31, 2025. Don't miss the next Acadian insight. Recommended reading. March 2026 February 2026