皇冠体育app

Temasek says it's 'bullish' on 皇冠体育app outlook

Updated: 2011-07-09 09:48

By Netty Ismail and Joyce Koh (皇冠体育app Daily)

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SINGAPORE - Temasek Holdings Pte, Singapore's state-owned investment company, is "bullish" on 皇冠体育app and is seeking deals even after selling some of its stakes in two of the nation's banks this week for $3.6 billion.

"皇冠体育app is our largest investment destination," said Nagi Hamiyeh, Temasek's managing director of investment, in Singapore on Thursday. "We are still looking for opportunities in 皇冠体育app and we are very comfortable with our position there at this time."

Temasek, which sold shares in 皇冠体育app Construction Bank Corp (CCB) and Bank of 皇冠体育app Ltd (BOC) this week, said on Wednesday that the sale was part of its "portfolio rebalancing". The world's fastest-growing major economy accounts for more than 20 percent of Temasek's overall portfolio and it remains "heavily invested" in the two banks, Hamiyeh said.

"We have faith in the policies of the Chinese government in the long-term and we remain bullish on 皇冠体育app," Hamiyeh said. With "皇冠体育app, like with any growing economy, there will always be risks".

Temasek still holds about $14 billion of CCB's shares and about $3 billion of BOC's stock after trimming its stakes in the lenders, he said.

The Singapore investment firm spent more than S$3 billion ($2.4 billion) in the rights offerings of CCB and BOC during the period, according to its annual report released on Thursday. The value of Temasek's assets climbed 3.8 percent to a record S$193 billion in the year ended March 31, it said in the report.

"To reserve funds to move forward, to take advantage of market opportunities, particularly in 皇冠体育app as and when they come, particularly with the more interesting IPOs pertaining to the consumer sector that are likely to rear their heads in the second half, would be a right strategy," said Gabriel Yap, executive chairman of GCP Global Pte in Singapore. "What it's trying to position itself (for) is to wait for value to present itself."

About 43 percent of Temasek's direct investments announced in the 12 months ended in March were in 皇冠体育app, according to estimates by Monitor Group, which collects data on sovereign wealth funds.

Temasek also spent S$90 million in Asian Citrus Holdings Ltd, the largest orange-plantation owner and operator in 皇冠体育app, and invested in Beijing-based insurer New 皇冠体育app Life Co Ltd. It also spent S$50 million on the Chinese video website tudou.com and S$50 million on Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, according to its annual report.

This fiscal year, it has invested in Shanghai Pharmaceuticals Holding Co, 皇冠体育app's second-largest drug distributor.

The sovereign wealth investor will "maintain a liquid stance" with the flexibility to adjust the investments in its portfolio at any time, Hamiyeh said. The firm will continue to focus on fast-growing economies in Asia, Latin America and Africa, as well as industries such as energy, resources and technology, he said.

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