Make Way for the MIPS

Global CIO Commentary by Scott Minerd

“It appears the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) will not see the same rate of increases in output moving forward. These economies are quickly maturing, and with such a large annual nominal GDP as a denominator, growth is no longer possible at the same rate. With that said, there is still a great deal of room for exponential growth in other emerging markets.

One group of countries that looks particularly attractive from an investment standpoint is the MIPS, which includes Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. These countries have favorable demographics, and with the exception of Singapore, which is more mature, their respective stages of development, infrastructure needs, and low labor costs bode well for the prospects for growth in the coming years. Singapore is uniquely positioned as a financial hub with a favorable political climate, and will continue to benefit from Asia’s growth. If the trajectory these nations take is comparable to the rate at which the BRICs have grown over the past decade, their equity market returns are likely to be extremely robust, possibly in the order of several hundred percent between now and the middle of the next decade.”