MCIS Insurance Bhd – more widely known as “MCIS Life” – has demonstrated resilience and strategic growth with a skillful management of its investment team and fund managers.
Amid a myriad of global economic fluctuations in its past financial year, the company has navigated with agility and proficiency, thus ensuring stability and progress.
It’s investment team’s expertise in navigating volatile markets has enabled the life insurer’s funds to post commendable results while highlighting MCIS Life’s adaptability and firm commitment to protecting the financial well-being of its clients.
In essence, the company’s investment strategy carefully considers economic factors that impact performance with emphasis on long-term growth and stability, according to its chief investment officer (CIO) Wan Mohd Fakruddin Razi.
“MCIS Investment’s portfolio is designed to accommodate market volatility, ensuring consistently good value for our clients,” he pointed out in a media release.
“Given our consistent record of outperforming benchmarks in recent years, we maintain a positive outlook on the market. We are confident that the performance of MCIS Investment will continue to be favourable. Our investment focus will target sectors poised to benefit from economic recovery by aiming to secure positive capital appreciation for our investments.”
Fakruddin further contended that sustainable investing with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors remains a key priority. “In line with our commitment to sustainability, investments in non-ESG compliant assets will not exceed 10% of our total investments,” he added.
Below are how funds in the MCIS Life’s stable performed during the FY2023 ended Dec 31, 2023:
- Its three local-based asset funds – MCIS Life Dividend Fund, MCIS Life Equity Fund and MCIS Life Jati Fund – managed to outperform the FBM KLCI benchmark for the three-year and five-year periods under review. The outperformance was mainly due to low exposure of underperforming stocks.
- The MCIS Life AsiaPac Fund which invests in the Singapore-listed Principal S&P Ethical Asia Pacific Dividend ETF has also managed to outperform the benchmark KLCI for the three-year and five-year periods by 750 basis points (bps) and 537bps respectively.
- The MCIS Life Global Yakin Fund, a feeder fund that invests in Aberdeen Islamic World Equity Fund, has managed to outperform the benchmark index for a three-year period by 32bps.
- The MCIS Life Titan Fund which invests in MyETF Dow Jones U.S. Titans 50 managed to outperform the benchmark by 177bps for the three-year period.
Moving forward, MCIS Life is anticipating a positive recovery in 2024 on the back of improved corporate earnings and a resilient domestic economy.
Even globally, market sentiment is expected to improve with the tail-end of global monetary policy tightening and the US presidential election which historically translates into a positive year for the US market.
“External risk factors continue to weigh on the local market, mainly due to the on-going Russia-Ukraine and the Middle East conflicts. As such, we will keep looking to buy on dips of corporate bonds if the opportunity arises,” justified Wan.
Elsewhere, MCIS Life is also actively incorporating ESG principles across all facets of its operations.
“MCIS Life actively engages in various impactful ESG initiatives such as reducing our carbon footprint, fostering greener workplaces, supporting community programmes and ensuring transparent governance,” enthused Wan.
“These initiatives are aimed at creating long-term value for the business, the MCIS Life ecosystem, our customers and the wider community.” – Aug 27, 2024
