S&P DJI hosted the 9th Annual Japan Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) Conference in Tokyo to explore the continued growth and evolution of the Asian ETF landscape. The conference helped provide a deeper understanding of the innovations driving access to regional markets, helping to expand our local presence in global markets and ultimately, increasing company growth.
The 2nd floor of main building of hotel was reserved for the venue, consisting of main speakers room, breakout sessions room and Lunch/Dinner networking room. Total number of speakers were about 50 and the attendees with advanced registration reached record high of over 800 including ETF related professionals from Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian countries.
The following photographs show the state of the conference.
【9:00】 Opening Remarks
Alex Matturri, Chief Executive Officer, S&P Dow Jones Indices
【9:05】 Keynote Speech
Koichiro Miyahara, President & CEO, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
Session 1: A Closer Look at the Global ETP Market
【09:15】 An Analysis of Global and Local ETP Markets
John Davies, Global Head of Exchange Traded Products, S&P Dow Jones Indices
【09:30】 John Davies, Global Head of Exchange Traded Products, S&P Dow Jones Indices
≪Panelists≫
Pony Bo-Li Huang, Senior Vice President, Corporate Planning and Strategy Department, Taiwan Stock Exchange (TWSE)
Kyung-hak, Kim, Director General of Securitized Products Market Department, KOSPI Market, Korea Exchange(KRX)
Brian Roberts, Senior Vice President, Head of ETFs, HKEX
Ryo Takagi, Senior Vice President, New Listings Department, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
≪Moderator≫
Yoshiyuki Makino, Head of Japan Office, S&P Dow Jones Indices
Session 2: ETPs as Tools for Capturing Trends
【10:15】 Special Presentation
Kazutoshi Inano, Chairman & CEO, Japan Securities Dealers Association
【10:45】 Lessons from Abroad: The Important Role of Independent Financial Advisors in the U.S.
Michael Jones, Chairman and CIO, Riverfront Investment Group
【11:00】 Beyond ETFs: From Products to Solution
Jesper Koll, Chief Executive Officer of WisdomTree Japan Inc.
【11:15】 Panel Discussion 2: How is the Advisory Business Changing Today to Prepare for Tomorrow?
≪Panelists≫
Nobuhiko Masaki, Department Manager, Investment Management Business Unit, Asset Solution Division, Rakuten Securities, Inc.
Keiichi Ohara, President, Monex-Saison-Vanguard Investment Partners, Inc.
Osamu Okuyama, Head of Index Products, Senior Product Manager, Investment and Research Div., Nomura Asset Management Co., LTD
≪Moderator≫
Motomi Hiratsuka, Senior Vice President, Neuberger Berman
Session 3: The Evolution of Asset Management
【12:55】Use of ETFs in Households’ Stable Asset Building and Challenges (Discussions of the Working Group on Financial Markets under the Financial System Council)
Junichi Nakajima, Deputy director-General of Planning and Coordination Bureau, Financial Services Agency
【13:15】 Using ETF for strategic portfolio
Sammy Yip, Head of Product Management, Asia, Vanguard Investments Hong Kong Limited
【13:30】 Panel discussion 3: Asset Management Practices in Today’s Markets and a Look at What’s on the Horizon
≪Panelists≫
Koei Imai, Head of ETF Center, Head of ETF Development Department, Head of ETF Promotion Department, Nikko Asset Management
Yoshihiro Hamada, Product Div. / Product Strategy Planning Group / Head of Product Strategy Planning Group, Asset Management One
Kohei Sasaki, Institutional Investor Sales Division, Senior Manager, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management
≪Moderator≫
Tetsuro Ii, President and CEO, Commons Asset Management, Inc.
【14:20】 Building Today’s Multi-Asset Portfolio with Index Products
Kensuke Niihara, Head of Investment Solutions Group and Currency, Managing Director, State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd.
Session 4: The Expanding Role of Indices and Passive Management
【14:45】The Rise of Passive Investing
David Blitzer, Chairman of Index Committee, S&P Dow Jones Indices
【15:00】Panel discussion 4: Innovation Watch: What Could Be Next for Indices and ETFs
≪Panelists≫
Junichi Honda, Head of Investment Solutions Division, Head of ETF Department Executive Director, UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd.
Motohiro Maeda, Investment Div. / Passive Investment Group / Head of Passive Investment Group, Asset Management One
Yoshiyuki Masuda, Associate General Manager of Trust Assets Planning Division and Asset Management Division, Mitsubishi UFJ Trust and Banking Corporation
≪Moderator≫
Yasuyuki Kato, Ph.D. Professor, Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University, Japan
【15:50】15:50 Panel discussion 5: Global Investor Spotlight: How Is Demand Driving Diversified Products?
≪Panelists≫
Drew Blackburn, Managing Director and Head of Asia, Direxion Investments
Christopher Friese, Head of Asia, Lyxor ETF, Société Générale
Priscilla Luk, Managing Director & Head of Asia Pacific, Global Research & Design, S&P Dow Jones Indices
Marco Montanari, Managing Director, Head of Passive Asset Management, Asia Pacific, Deutsche Asset Management
≪Moderator≫
Rob Ivanoff, Founder of the ETF Business Review and FPR
Session 5: A Shifting Trading Landscape
【16:50】 Panel Discussion 6: An Inside Look at ETF Trading
≪Panelists≫
Kei Okazaki, Manager of Strategic Planning Group, Equities Department, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
Viktor Östebo, Head of Institutional Trading, Flow Traders
Curtis Tai, Director, Asia-Pacific ETF Sales & Trading, Jane Street
≪Moderator≫
Makoto Shiota, Managing Director, Head of ETF Business Promotion, Nomura Securities
Session 6: The Rise of ETPs as Institutional Tools
【17:35】 ETFs: A Global View
Jason Miller, Managing Director, Head of iShares Business, BlackRock Japan Co., Ltd.
【17:50】 Panel Discussion 7: Looking Back to Move Ahead: An Institutional Perspective of the Past, Present, and Possible Future of Japan’s ETF Market
≪Panelists≫
Yasuyuki Kato, Ph.D. Professor, Graduate School of Management, Kyoto University
Yasuyuki Konuma, Senior Executive Officer, Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc.
Makoto Shiota, Managing Director, Head of ETF Business Promotion, Nomura Securities
≪Moderator≫
Yoshiyuki Makino, Head of Tokyo Office, S&P Dow Jones Indices
The sponsor companies booths in exhibition hall were crowded especially during break time by many visitors. 。
The breakout sessions were also held by sponsor companies throughout the day. The program was as follows:
【9:30-10:00】Japan ETF evolution in the ultra low and negative interest rate environment
Koei Imai, Head of ETF Center, Head of ETF Development Department, Head of ETF Promotion Department, http://www.nikkoam.com/
【10:15-10:45】How to capture the opportunities in China in the age of reform and transform?
Vania Pang, Capital Markets and Investment Solutions, Index and Quantitative Investment, ICBC Credit Suisse Asset Management(International) Company Limited
【11:00-11:30】Alpha, Beta & the Blend: The Latest Trends of Portfolio Solutions Using ETFs
Yoko Arai, iShares Investment Strategist, Director, iShares Business, BlackRock Japan
【13:15-13:45】WisdomTree’s view on Global Investors’ Trends & Investment themes
Jesper Koll, Chief Executive Officer of WisdomTree Japan Inc.
Masafumi Watanabe, ETF Strategist, WisdomTree Japan Inc.
【14:00-14:30】Smart Beta and ESG Indices
Tinayin Cheng, Strategy Indices, Associate Director, S&P Dow Jones Indices
【14:45-15:15】Future of Factor Allocation ; Single to Multi-asset Solutions
Junji Kawahara, CIO of Multi-asset Strategies and Co-CIO of Investment Solutions, Nomura Asset Management
【15:50-16:20】New Trend of ETF
Kohei Sasaki, Institutional Investor Sales Division, Senior Manager, Mitsubishi UFJ Kokusai Asset Management
【16:50-17:20】Portfolio Construction under the “New Abnormal” World
Masaki Sugihara, Vice President, Exchange Traded Funds, State Street Global Advisors (Japan) Co., Ltd.
【17:35-18:05】Could growing ESG/SRI investment be a new growth factor for ETF market?
Junichi Honda, Head of Investment Solutions Division, Head of ETF Department Executive Director, UBS Securities Japan Co., Ltd.
After successful completion of the conference, Mr. Yoshiaki Makino, Head of Tokyo Office, S&P Dow Jones Indices, made closing remarks.
The appetite for education is evident as both the Japanese and global markets continue its trend toward passive investments. Over the last four years, attendance numbers at the conference have grown over 20% each year, and this year was no different, with an incredible 780 attendees participating in the conference. Furthermore, 13% of this year’s attendees had flown in from outside of Japan, establishing S&P DJI’s position as a thought leader for the region.
(photo by S& P Dow Jones Indices / article edited & published by Kiyoshi Shibata, GoodWay)
