TD Ameritrade’s Asia region clients have increased their US market exposure in March, based on the online brokerage firm’s Asia Investor Movement Index (IMX) which increased 9.1% m-o-m for March to 7.55 from 6.92.
The IMX, TD Ameritrade’s proprietary, behaviour-based index, aggregates Main Street investor positions and activity.
In a media release dated April 8, TD Ameritrade says that the higher Asia IMX indicates that its Asia client population is taking on more exposure to US markets m-o-m.
The total IMX for all TD Ameritrade clients measured 8.21 for March, up 8.74% m-o-m.
TD Ameritrade notes that trading activity varied significantly between its Asia client population and its overall client population, with Asian clients buying Taiwan Semiconductor, Unity Software, Teladoc Healthcare, Sea Limited and Costco.
Some of the names the Asia client population sold during the period included Nokia, AMC Entertainment, Bank of America, Intel and Blackberry.
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But overall, TD Ameritrade says that Asian clients net bought equities and were net buyers overall during the period, similar to its general client population.
Popular names net bought by both populations include Apple Inc, Nvidia Corp, and Square Inc, while popular names net sold include Facebook Inc, Wells Fargo Inc, and Citigroup.
Chris Brankin, CEO of TD Ameritrade Singapore, says that 1Q2021 saw clients globally seize buying opportunities as volatility struck early in March.
“With the Covid-19 vaccine rollout well underway, investors in the US and across the globe are thinking about what comes next, selling in areas like financials that have outperformed, and buying names that might tie in well with a long-term recovery,” he says.
TD Ameritrade notes that the S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average both reached all-time highs, increasing by 4.3% and 6.9% respectively as the US Federal Reserve vowed to maintain its easy monetary policy until the country’s economy recovers further
While the tech sector struggled, with the Nasdaq Composite decreasing by 0.4%, the US$1.9 trillion ($2.54 trillion) stimulus package passed by the US Congress should boost household spending, which decreased 1% in February. Jobless claims in the US also reached their lowest level of the pandemic, indicating the economy is ramping up one year after the pandemic’s official start in the region.
