HSBC customers in Qatar were introduced to the unique investment opportunities that exist in the Russian market at an event held recently. The HSBC global asset management team presented an audience of retail and private banking customers with a wide range of products including equity, fixed income and alternative products. The Russian market has proved to deliver returns far superior to other markets because of the extra risks involved with the country. Russian equities are currently trading on attractive valuations, at both a discount to other emerging and developed markets and also relative to its own history. Over the past decade, Russia’s relative wealth has grown strongly with respect to its BRIC peers. Furthermore, the IMF predicts this trend will continue strongly going forward.“As a leader in the emerging markets with a strong on-the-ground presence, we are already among the world’s largest emerging markets global asset management businesses, offering a distinctive strength in both domestic and cross-border capabilities. Our aim is to build on this strength and to meet more of the wealth management needs of our retail customers,” said Shahzad Waraich from HSBC global asset management. “Our capabilities are supported by 200 dedicated emerging markets investment professionals in 14 key locations and give us access to unique local market knowledge, local companies and investment opportunities in over 54 emerging market countries,” said Hussain al-Abdullah, head (retail banking and wealth management), HSBC, in Qatar.