Source: Zurich, 21 July 2020

Diversifying investment is key to remain resilient, more so in the current market situation. Zurich Takaful Malaysia Berhad (“Zurich Takaful”)’s new Shariah Global Edge Fund provides this opportunity to every Malaysian at a new fund offer price of RM0.501 per unit. This is a multi-sector Exchange Traded Fund (“ETF”) where the underlying fund is managed by a leading global asset management firm, BlackRock.
Zurich Takaful Chief Executive Officer Mukesh Dhawan said, “We have two firsts here – a new fund offer as an opportunity to recover your savings value in current times and a Global Shariah Fund in collaboration with BlackRock which has a USD 7.32 trillion (RM 31.19 trillion) in assets on behalf of investors worldwide. This combination is Shariah certified, hence provides both transparency and resilience to consumers in Malaysia.

It is our responsibility to be responsive to the current situation and market needs
to create value for them.” BlackRock’s Head of iShares Asia Pacific Distribution Geir Espeskog said: “Market volatility in the first quarter of 2020 have accelerated investor appetite for broad indexes that consist of high quality companies with strong balance sheets. Technology and healthcare sectors comprise of more than 40% of the MSCI World Islamic Index, and these types of companies are key beneficiaries from the stay-at-home economy. Investors will continue to diversify and search for growth opportunities across regions and sectors amidst uncertainty, and develop a preference towards companies that score highly on environmental, social, and governance.”

The Shariah Global Edge Fund is ideal for investors who understand their investment strategy, risk appetite, and seek to diversify their portfolio with foreign exposure to manage volatility for long term growth. The fund is available through Zurich Takaful investment-linked products which are accessible via approximately 6,000 wealth planners nationwide.