MANULIFE Investment Management and Trust Corp. has launched two new unit investment trust funds (UITFs) to start the year.

These are the Manulife Asia Short Duration Bond Feeder Fund and the Manulife Global Dynamic Leaders Equity Feeder Fund.

Manulife said the Asia Short Duration Bond Feeder Fund would invest primarily in a portfolio of mainly investment-grade short duration fixed-income securities issued by governments, agencies, supranationals and corporations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Portfolio duration will be a maximum of three years.

The Manulife Global Dynamic Leaders Equity Feeder Fund, meanwhile, will invest primarily in a concentrated portfolio of equity and equity-related securities of large capitalization companies listed globally.

According to Manulife, the UITFs can be accessed in both peso and USD share classes at a minimum of P1,000 or $100, respectively.

“While global economic growth could remain challenging this year, Manulife Investment Management sees opportunities in high-quality Asian bonds as a resilient investment in the current environment. For aggressive investors, highquality global equities can offer long-term potential capital appreciation and dividends,” said Aira Gaspar, president and chief executive officer of Manulife Investment Management.

“Our two new funds further expand our differentiated suite of UITFs, providing investors with varied options including access to global and regional markets for capital growth, income generation and geographical diversification. This enables investors to access our leading investment capabilities across different geographies and asset classes to diversify their investment portfolio based on their investment objectives,” she added.

Manulife Investment Management’s credit selection process was said to be supported by a strong Asian footprint with an extensive research network and riskfocused culture, with a focus on high-quality companies with solid competitive advantages and a strong potential to deliver long-term value for investors.