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abrdn Islamic World Equity Fund marks its 10-year anniversary

Shariah-compliant fund offers diversity, sustained growth and stability to face dynamic market conditions

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach – 9 March 2023 – abrdn today marked the 10th anniversary of abrdn Islamic World Equity Fund. The fund is well diversified across multiple sectors and countries, providing investors with a combination of growth and stability in sectors such as IT, communications, consumer discretionary and health care.

Gerald Ambrose, CEO for abrdn Islamic Malaysia Sdn Bhd, said: “Amid increasing geopolitical tension and economic uncertainty, we believe that it is important to invest in a globally diversified portfolio which can ride market volatility and capture growth potential. With compound growth of 7.2% per annum over the past 10 years, abrdn Islamic World Equity Fund has delivered sustained growth for Malaysian investors and allowed them to achieve long-term savings goals. I am confident that our award-winning team will continue to bring value for investors through all conditions for many decades more.”

Launched in February 2013, the Malaysia-domiciled global Islamic fund seeks to achieve long-term capital appreciation through investments in Shariah-compliant equities and equity-related securities. The MYR 577 million strategy[1] has dedicated resources in place including a Shariah compliance officer, plus Shariah screening and monitoring by an independent Shariah Adviser. Shariah-compliant companies typically have less debt compared with conventional firms, and companies that have less debt, particularly during downturns, can focus on their businesses with fewer concerns about their cash flows, hence are better positioned to offer steady growth for investors.

abrdn’s bottom-up stock-picking approach allows the fund to invest in high quality companies that produce less volatile earnings streams, have greater margins of safety and can better navigate an uncertain future. This is achieved by drawing on the Group’s expertise of a 120+ strong equity investment team operating across 13 markets worldwide [2], combining local insights with global perspectives. Research is fundamental to our investment process and the significant majority of our fundamental stock research is produced by our own investment professionals.

Martin Connaghan, co-manager of abrdn Islamic World Equity Fund and Investment Director of Global Equities, said: “As we continue to face a challenging backdrop globally, we seek to maintain a diversified portfolio focused on businesses best positioned to manage financial pressures through to times of greater market stability. We believe periods of market weakness represent an opportunity for the long-term investor. Therefore, we reiterate the importance of a diversified portfolio with a bottom-up investment approach focused on quality characteristics. Come rain or shine, the portfolio aims to offer sustainable growth and stability when it matters most. Market downturns are unavoidable, however we embrace a team-based approach in an effort to capture the best Shariah-compliant investment opportunities for our clients, regardless of the external environment.”

abrdn opened its Kuala Lumpur office in 2005 and has over a decade of experience in managing global, regional and domestic Shariah portfolios, reaching an AUM of USD 800 million[3] .


[1] abrdn. As of 31 January 2023
[2] abrdn. As of 31 December 2022
[3] abrdn. As of 31 December 2022

Hashtag: #abrdn

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About abrdn

At abrdn, we enable our clients to plan, save and invest for their futures.

We structure our business into three areas – and together they reflect our focus on enabling our clients to be better investors:

  • Investments: We work with clients to create solutions across asset classes, regions and markets globally – combining multi-layered research and market insights with technology and diverse thinking.
  • Adviser: We offer market-leading platform technology and tools that enable UK wealth managers and financial advisers to create more opportunity for their business and their clients.
  • Personal: We help people throughout the UK plan for their financial futures – through our financial planning business and our digital investing services.

Across our investments, adviser and personal businesses we manage and administer £500 billion of assets for our clients, and abrdn plc has over 1 million shareholders. (Figures as at 31 December 2022)

abrdn.com

Disclaimer

Investors should read and understand the master prospectus dated 25 April 2022 in respect of abrdn Islamic World Equity Fund (collectively, “Master Prospectus”) as well as the Product Highlights Sheet in respect of AIWEF which can be obtained at our office or from any of our approved distributors, or seek relevant professional investment advice, before making any investment decision. A copy of the Master Prospectus has been registered with the Securities Commission of Malaysia (“the SC”). Investors should consider the fees and charges involved before investing. Investments in the unit trusts are not deposits in, obligations of, or guaranteed or insured by abrdn Islamic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (the “Manager”), and are subject to investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested. Unit values and income therefrom may fall or rise. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Units will only be issued on receipt of the application form referred to in and accompanying the Master Prospectus, subject to the terms and conditions therein. Investors are advised to read and understand the contents of the unit trust loan financing risk statement before deciding to borrow/seek financing facility to purchase units.

The information herein shall not be disclosed, used or disseminated, in whole or part, and shall not be reproduced, copied or made available to others. The Manager reserves the right to make changes and corrections to the information, including any opinions or forecasts expressed herein at any time, without notice.

The registration of the Master Prospectus dated 25 April 2022 with the SC does not indicate that the SC recommended or endorsed the product and service. This document has not been reviewed by the SC.

abrdn Islamic Malaysia Sdn. Bhd.
Registration Number: 200801026015 (827342-W)

Okta Appoints Clarence Cheah as Head of Growth Strategies, APJ

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach – 9 March 2023 – Okta, the leading independent identity provider, today announced that it has appointed IT and security industry veteran Clarence Cheah as Head of Growth Strategies for Asia-Pacific and Japan (APJ).

Cheah will oversee Okta’s strategic growth initiatives and drive regional business development and expansion.

Clarence Cheah, Head of Growth Strategies, Asia Pacific & Japan, Okta
Clarence Cheah, Head of Growth Strategies, Asia Pacific & Japan, Okta

Cheah was pivotal to the successful business launch and market expansion in Japan. He has over two decades of experience in the technology industry, leading sales and engineering teams and executing sales strategies to foster business growth. He was most recently Identity Lead, Asia Pacific and Japan for Okta and has also held senior sales leadership and consulting positions at global IT firms, including Oracle, IBM, and Novell.

Ben Goodman, Okta’s Senior Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific, said: “Demonstrating strong business acumen and leadership skills, Cheah has been pivotal to Okta’s expansion in APJ over the years. His deep understanding of the industry, technology, and customers’ identity needs puts him in a prime position to help launch Okta on its next phase of hyper-growth.”

“In today’s fast-evolving digital environment, the need for innovative, robust, and dependable identity solutions has never been greater,” said Cheah. “I am proud to be at the forefront of Okta’s efforts to help customers turn their identity investments into a business asset that can truly deliver impact to their bottom lines.”

Hashtag: #Okta

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Okta

Okta is the World’s Identity Company. As the leading independent Identity partner, we free everyone to safely use any technology—anywhere, on any device or app. The most trusted brands trust Okta to enable secure access, authentication, and automation. With flexibility and neutrality at the core of our Okta Workforce Identity and Customer Identity Clouds, business leaders and developers can focus on innovation and accelerate digital transformation thanks to customizable solutions and more than 7,000 pre-built integrations. We’re building a world where Identity belongs to you. Learn more at .

With the launch of a low transaction threshold virtual asset dealing service starting from March 2023, Victory Securities is making virtual asset investment easier for investors

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 9 March 2023 – Victory Securities (Stock Code: 8540.HK) recently announced the launch of virtual asset dealing services starting in March 2023, making it the latest player in this field. To facilitate investors’ entry into virtual asset dealing, Victory Securities has set a low entry investment amount of US$100 and is offering at most up to 50% commission fee reduction during the promotional period.

Apart from offering virtual asset dealing services, Victory Securities can also provide professional investors with virtual asset private fund subscription services, while retail clients can purchase virtual asset exchange traded funds (EFTs) to allocate virtual asset to their investment portfolios. A dedicated virtual asset dealing hotline + 852 2175 0998 has also been established by Victory Securities, which is available to investors for 20 hours per day during bank working hours (09:00am – 05:00am).

Victory Securities’ research team has consistently affirmed the value of virtual asset in the future. In addition to strengthening investor education with the ” HONG KONG’S FIRST VIRTUAL ASSET RESEARCH CONFERENCE ” held in January 2023, Victory Fintech Company Limited (“VFCL”), an associate of Victory Securities, has submitted a license application to the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission for Type 1 (dealing in securities) and Type 7 (providing automated trading services) regulated activities. This will further strengthen Victory Securities’ virtual asset business scopes. Executive Director of Victory Securities, Kennix Chan, believes that Victory Fintech Company Limited ‘s operation of a virtual asset trading platform, given with the regulatory approval in the coming future, will enhance the range of services to be provided to investors and bring synergies to the group’s various business lines, as well as build up new clients and market.

Rooted in Hong Kong for over 50 years, Victory Securities (stock code: 8540. HK) offers comprehensive and licensed financial services. It is licensed by the SFC to conduct Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 2 (dealing in futures contracts), Type 4 (advising on securities), Type 6 (advising on corporate finance) and Type 9 (asset management) regulated activities in Hong Kong. With Victory Securities, investors can take advantage of a comprehensive range of financial services, including Hong Kong and Global securities trading, primary and secondary securities financing, corporate finance(ECM&DCM), asset management, and fund management. The launch of virtual asset dealing services is not only an important move for Victory Securities to expand its business territory, but is also in response to investors’ demand for a diversified investment portfolio. Virtual assets have recently received increasing attention from investors as an emerging investment product. In addition to offering dealing services on mainstream virtual assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, Victory Securities also offers professional investment advice and risk management solutions to help investors better understand the virtual asset market and mitigate risk.

As a regulated, diversified, and security-oriented licensed corporation, Victory Securities is dedicated to promote the popularity of virtual asset. It is Victory Securities’ goal to continue to provide professional services to investors and increase their investment value by investing more resources in investor education, risk management, and trading convenience.

Hashtag: #VictorySecurities

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Cyber-Threat Detections Hit a Record-Breaking 146 billion in 2022

Trend Micro annual roundup report warns of exponentially expanding attack surface

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 9 March 2023 – Trend Micro (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cybersecurity leader, today announced a massive 55% increase in overall threat detections in 2022 and a 242% surge in blocked malicious files, as threat actors indiscriminately targeted consumers and organizations across all sectors.

To read a full copy of the report, Rethinking Tactics: 2022 Annual Cybersecurity Report, please visit: https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/hk/security/research-and-analysis/threat-reports/roundup/rethinking-tactics-annual-cybersecurity-roundup-2022

Jon Clay, VP of threat intelligence at Trend Micro: “The unrivaled breadth of Trend Micro threat intelligence* reveals 2022 as a year when threat actors went ‘all-in’ to boost profits. A surge in backdoor detections is particularly concerning in showing us their success in making landfall inside networks. To manage risk effectively across a rapidly expanding attack surface, stretched security teams need a more streamlined, platform-based approach.”

The roundup report reveals several interesting trends for 2022 and beyond:

The top three MITRE ATT&CK techniques show us that threat actors are gaining initial access through remote services, then expanding their footprint within the environment through credential dumping to utilize valid accounts.

An 86% increase in backdoor malware detections reveals threat actors trying to maintain their presence inside networks for a future attack. These backdoors primarily targeted web server platform vulnerabilities.

A record number of Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) advisories (1,706) for the third year in a row is the result of a rapidly expanding corporate attack surface and researcher investment in automated analysis tools, which are finding more bugs. The number of critical vulnerabilities doubled in 2022. Two out of the top three CVEs reported in 2022 were related to Log4j.

The ZDI observed an increase in failed patches and confusing advisories, adding extra time and money to corporate remediation efforts and exposing organizations to unnecessary cyber risk.

Webshells were the top-detected malware of the year, surging 103% on 2021 figures. Emotet detections were second after undergoing something of a resurgence. LockBit and BlackCat were the top ransomware families of 2022.

Ransomware groups rebranded and diversified in a bid to address declining profits. In the future, we expect these groups to move into adjacent areas that monetize initial access, such as stock fraud, business email compromise (BEC), money laundering, and cryptocurrency theft.

Trend Micro recommends that organizations adopt a platform-based approach to managing the cyber-attack surface, mitigate security skills shortages and coverage gaps, and minimize the costs associated with point solutions. This should cover the following:

  • Asset management. Examine assets and determine their criticality, any potential vulnerabilities, the level of threat activity, and how much threat intelligence is being gathered from the asset.
  • Cloud security. Ensure that cloud infrastructure is configured with security in mind to prevent attackers from capitalizing on known gaps and vulnerabilities.
  • Proper security protocols. Prioritize updating software as soon as possible to minimize the exploitation of vulnerabilities. Options such as virtual patching can help organizations until vendors provide official security updates.
  • Attack surface visibility. Monitor disparate technologies and networks within the organization, as well as any security system that protects them. It may be difficult to correlate different data points from siloed sources.

* It covers endpoints (Android & iOS, IoT, IIoT, PCs, Macs, Linux, servers), email, web and network layers, OT networks, cloud, home networks, vulnerabilities, consumers, businesses, and governments globally.

Hashtag: #TrendMicro

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro, a global cybersecurity leader, helps make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Fueled by decades of security expertise, global threat research, and continuous innovation, Trend Micro’s cybersecurity platform protects hundreds of thousands of organizations and millions of individuals across clouds, networks, devices, and endpoints. As a leader in cloud and enterprise cybersecurity, the platform delivers a powerful range of advanced threat defense techniques optimized for environments like AWS, Microsoft, and Google, and central visibility for better, faster detection and response. With 7,000 employees across 65 countries, Trend Micro enables organizations to simplify and secure their connected world.

Two Thais Arrested While Trying to Smuggle 47 Macaques to China Through Laos

Two Arrested after Attempting to Smuggle 47 Monkeys to China Through Laos
One of the rescued monkeys from the smuggling (photo: thebangkoktimes)

Police in the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, nabbed two men on a pickup truck who were attempting to smuggle 47 macaques into China through Laos on Monday.

Xaysomboun Shopkeeper Apprehended After Tying up Child

Shop Owner Apologizes for Tying up Child After Social Media Backlash
An artist's impression of the boy tied to a motorbike (M Godem Kmy)

A shopkeeper who roped a 9-year-old boy to a motorcycle as punishment for theft this week has been apprehended by police and has issued a public apology for the incident.

Lao Airlines Plane Returns After Aircraft Collision in South Korea

The Airbus A320 aircraft from Lao Airlines that collided in South Korea in December. (Photo: Sengphet.D, AeroLaos).

A passenger plane from Lao Airlines flew back to Vientiane on Wednesday following a collision with a Korean airplane at Incheon International Airport three months ago.

Global C-Pop Artist and Fashion Icon Tia Lee to Celebrate International Women’s Day 2023 and the Success of the #EmpowerHer Campaign

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 9 March 2023 – Tia Lee (Lee Yu Fen), a global C-pop singer and fashion icon, expresses her love and support for the International Women’s Day 2023 theme on #EmbraceEquity and shares the success of the #EmpowerHer campaign. She launched a video on her Youtube Channel on 8 March to acknowledge the support from TikTokers across the world through #EmpowerHerDance. Tia hopes to express her blessings to women around the world. She hopes that every woman’s effort can be respected, and that they can not only be happy today but also be healthy, happy, and joyful every day. She voiced for women with her own music and performance, expressing her support and blessing to women through #EmpowerHerDance.

Last year, Tia initiated the #EmpowerHer campaign globally with the worldwide launch of the Goodbye Princess” music video to generate donations to charitable organizations worldwide in support of women empowerment. One of the highlights was the #EmpowerHerDance challenge, where 16 KOLs across 15 geographies in the world have led the charge in this dance challenge to gain the attention of more than 158m followers globally, to support and empower fellow females. With all the worldwide support, “Goodbye Princess” music video has received record-breaking 100 million views on YouTube in just 20 days.

Tia is committed to continuing the faith of inspiring #EmpowerHer together, and #EmbraceEquity for all. Join Tia in celebrating the power of women and the importance of equity for all.

Official press materials:
Tia’s International Women’s Day Video https://youtu.be/I1Oi14yUgmA

Tia Lee Official Channels:
Instagram @leeyufen: https://www.instagram.com/leeyufen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tialeeofficial/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leeyufentialee/
Weibo: https://weibo.com/u/1396928042/

Hashtag: #TiaLee

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Tia Lee:

Tia Lee (李毓芬), is a global C-pop singer and international fashion icon. In addition to being an award-winning musician and setting the record for the fastest C-pop music video ever to achieve a 100 million views, Tia appears frequently at major fashion shows. As a trend-setter, Tia has graced the covers of fashion, beauty and lifestyle magazines such as Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and shares her beauty and fashion tips through a number of Vogue’s social media channels.