
Hong Kong Machine Learning Season 7 Episode 3
10.07.2025 - Hong Kong Machine Learning - ~2 Minutes
When?
- Thursday, July 10, 2025 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (Hong Kong Time)
Where?
- This HKML Meetup is hosted at HKU iCube by HKU Business School, Two Exchange Square, Central, in Hong Kong.
The page of the event on Meetup: HKML S7E3.
This event was organised by Vahid Asghari, with the support of HKDAS.
Programme:
Talk 1: Monetary Policy and Hedge Funds' Reaching for Beta
Abstract: Hedge funds adjust equity exposure based on prior-month monetary policy, decreasing (increasing) after expansionary (contractionary) moves. Funds with stronger responses yield higher returns, and skilled funds react more decisively. This aligns with the Fed Information Effect, suggesting funds use FOMC announcements to predict market trends, ruling out alternative explanations.
Short bio: Botao Wu is an Assistant Professor of Finance at CUHK Business School PhD from NYU Stern School of Business Research interests: Market liquidity, asset pricing and macro finance. Invited as a panelist at the IOSCO/OECD Conference on Corporate Bond Markets.
Paper (SSRN): Monetary Policy and Hedge Funds' Reaching for Beta
Talk 2: Why Asian Frontier Markets Should Not Be Ignored
Abstract: Asian frontier markets like Iraq. Kazakhstan, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have been among the world’s best performing stock markets in the last few years. Furthermore, Asian frontier markets like Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam have very favourable demographics backed by a young and growing population which is positive for future consumption and economic growth. The Asian frontier universe is going through a period of reforms which has not been seen before, and this bodes well for their future economic outlook.
Short bio: Ruchir Desai has been the Fund Manager of the award-winning AFC Asia Frontier Fund (Best Emerging Markets Equity Fund, Asian Investor Awards 2025) at Asia Frontier Capital since 2013. He specializes in frontier markets such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Kazakhstan. Previously, he worked at Mumbai-based HandsOn Ventures LLC, a private equity firm focused on business services. He holds an MBA in Finance from CUHK Business School (with a fellowship at Duke University’s Fuqua School) and received his CFA charter in 2015. His expertise includes managing equity funds, frontier markets and private equity, combining academic rigor with practical investment experience.