In QuotedData’s morning briefing 9 April 2024:
- Scottish Oriental Smaller Companies Trust (SST) announced its results for the six months to 29 February 2024. NAV total return was 8.3%, while the MSCI AC Asia ex Japan Small Cap Index increased by 6.8% on the same basis. The company’s share price increased by 3.8 per cent in total return terms. The biggest contributors to performance were Scottish Oriental’s holdings in India and Taiwan. The exposure to Indonesia and Hong Kong were the biggest detractors from performance. The company’s shares traded at a discount ranging from 8.6 % to 16.5%. The discount to NAV stood at 15.5% on 29 February 2024.
- Fidelity Asian Values (FAS) has released its interim report for the six months to January 31 2024. During the period, FAS reported a NAV total return of -2.4% and a share price total return of -2.5%. The comparative index, the MSCI All Countries ex Japan Small Cap Index, returned +3.6%. Whilst the company’s discount was 5.7% at the reporting period end, it widened to around 10% at the end of March, however, it was trading narrower than its peer group. China and Hong Kong continue to underperform and have dragged down the company’s relative returns compared to the index in the period under review.