With increasing investment uncertainty on the domestic and external fronts, Thai investors are advised to diversify their portfolios to global markets, with digital technology and healthcare as themes, says Tisco Asset Management (TISCOAM).
Mr Saharat says TGHDIGI will invest in 40 to 60 medium-sized and small firms.
Technology and healthcare are segments poised to generate long-term growth opportunities because technology has been ingrained into daily lives and incorporated into medical and healthcare services.
Innovative technology and sophisticated medical equipment also serve well-being treatment and a greying demography.
Healthcare expenditure has been rising globally. Changes in the US economy from 1960 to 2010 indicate that wage growth increased by 16% and GDP rose by 168%, but national health expenditure surged by 818%, TISCOAM said.
Saharat Chusuwan, head of marketing, wealth advisory, mutual fund and private fund business at TISCOAM, said the Tisco Global Digital Health equity fund (TGHDIGI) has an investment risk level of 7.
"TGHDIGI will be the first fund in Thailand's capital market with a policy of investing in technology and healthcare," Mr Saharat said. "Investors will have an opportunity to generate high returns if those companies successfully create new innovations for the healthcare business."
The fund will invest in the Credit Suisse (Lux) Global Digital Health equity fund, a master fund that focuses on investment in the digital health business. The master fund was set up in 2017, with return on investment of 3.28% in 2018 versus a -8.71% MSCI World total return.
The master fund has a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.6, with one-year growth in earnings per share of 40%.
The healthcare sector has sustainable profits despite the economic slowdown, Mr Saharat said.
TISCOAM's existing healthcare fund recorded a negative investment return of 2-3% last year, but year-to-date return has grown by 6-7%.
The fund is classified as a high-risk investment whose potential losses could be considerable.
Mr Saharat said TGHDIGI will invest in 40 to 60 medium-sized and small companies projected to have high revenue growth, with revenue derived from technology making up more than 50% of total revenue.
The top four investment stocks in the fund include Teladoc, BioTelemetry, Medidata Solutions and Dexcom.
The new fund will be distributed from Feb 14 to 28.
