BlackRock to Launch Quant Fund Trading Singapore Stocks

BlackRock Inc. plans to launch a fund next month focused on large Southeast Asian stocks, according to people familiar with the matter, a move supporting Singapore’s drive to boost liquidity in the local market.

The actively managed fund, with at least S$500 million ($387 million) in assets, will allocate 50% or more to Singapore at the start, the people said, declining to be identified discussing non-public information. It will also have an underweight position in Indonesia in the beginning, they said.