Renowned Investor, Commentator Jim Rogers Lends Weight To Emerging Markets Business

Tom Burroughes

18 November 2015

Renowned investor, commentator and traveller Jim Rogers has joined the advisory board of EM, an emerging markets media and investor relations business.

Rogers is known for having co-founded the Quantum Fund in 1973 alongside hedge fund legend and political activist and philanthropist George Soros; he is also the creator of the Rogers International Commodities Index and the Rogers Global Resources Equity Index. Rogers’ books include Investment Biker, Hot Commodities, Street Smarts and A Bull in China.

“I’m very optimistic about the growth potential in both Russia and China. Things are changing in these countries and many exciting opportunities are opening up for investors. I will be pleased to share my knowledge and experience with EM as they continue to grow their business in Russia, China and other interesting emerging markets,” Rogers said.

Rogers’ own portfolio has included such Russian companies as fertiliser producer PhosAgro, where he also serves as an independent non-executive director, and Aeroflot – Russian Airlines and Moscow Exchange, EM said in a statement.

The announcement comes at what has been a difficult year in some emerging markets; recently, Goldman Sachs shut its nine-year-old BRIC Fund after sustaining heavy losses from a 2010 peak. According to MSCI Barra, the MSCI EM (Emerging Markets) is down 13.1 per cent this year (measured in dollars). The prospect of higher US interest rates, plus deceleration in China’s economy, has taken a toll, while Russia has been hit by weaker energy prices and sanctions imposed on it by the West following the country’s annexation of Crimea a year ago.

Longer term, investors such as Rogers consider these younger economies have strong potential and must remain important parts of a portfolio.