Non-Japan Asia set for further growth

By Steven Barton, fund manager at Abbey National Asset Managers Since the begining of the year the Pacific ex-Japan index has risen 9.5% compared to a fall of 2.1% for the FT All World. Looking forward, we remain confident non-Japan Asia will continue to be an outperforming asset class. Debate on exact strength and timing notwithstanding, global economic recovery remains the consensus among investors for 2002. Such an environment benefits Asian economies disproportionately because of their heavy exposure to the production and export of a wide range of goods to the West. This struct...