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Wei Xu

Wei Xu

Executive Director, MSCI Research

Wei Xu focuses on China research, thematic investing, and asset allocation as part of MSCI’s Index Solutions Research team. He previously served as a portfolio manager in China Investment Corp.’s asset-allocation department. Wei holds a master’s degree in finance from the University of Hong Kong and a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Toronto. He holds the GARP designation of financial risk manager.

Research and Insights

Articles by Wei Xu

    China’s Role in Supply-Chain Strategies

    5 mins read Blog | Jan 8, 2024 | Wei Xu, Manish Shakdwipee

    Are parts of the global supply chain more reliant on China than other parts? We explore which industries and themes may be more dependent on China from a manufacturing-ecosystem and raw-resources perspective.  

    Dispersion in China’s Onshore Equity Market

    2 mins read Quick Take | Jun 19, 2023 | Wei Xu

    Small-cap stocks in the China onshore market historically were much riskier than larger stocks, but as of the end of April, they had similar levels of volatility as the mega- and large-cap segments.  

    The Integration of China Onshore and Offshore Equities

    2 mins read Quick Take | Jan 12, 2023 | Wei Xu

    China’s equity market is segregated into different listing locations resulting in many share types. With this in mind, we examine the potential efficacy of an integrated China equity opportunity set that includes both onshore and offshore equities.

    Semiconductors: The Warren Buffett Effect?

    2 mins read Quick Take | Dec 8, 2022 | Wei Xu

    The rebuilding of a semiconductor supply chain may generate risks as well as opportunities. With this in mind, we analyze the potential impact of the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 on building more resilient U.S. semiconductor supply chains.

    Diversification for Home-Biased China Investors

    4 mins read Blog | Nov 7, 2022 | Wei Xu, Shuo Xu

    The U.S. and China represent two of the largest and complementary global-equity markets. We detail whether home-biased investors in China may be neglecting long-term growth and diversification opportunities.

    Drivers of China Equities’ Sell-Off

    6 mins read Blog | Apr 20, 2022 | Wei Xu, Shuo Xu

    Following the recent sell-off in Chinese equities, global investors may have some concerns and questions about their China exposure. Have fundamentals changed? What role did the Russia-Ukraine war play? Which factors are important to keep an eye on?

    How Modern Wars Affected Market Performance and Volatility

    2 mins read Quick Take | Mar 4, 2022 | Peter Zangari

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was followed by a marked increase in stock-market volatility. The Cboe Volatility Index® (VIX) spiked from 28 on Feb. 23 to 37.5 the next day.

    Foundations of Dedicated China Allocations: Part 3

    Research Report | Nov 4, 2021 | Shuo Xu, Wei Xu, Wei Zhen

    We present a framework to analyze market-capitalization-weighted indexes’ role in setting equity-risk-premium and capital-market expectations. It breaks return drivers into dividend yield, sales-per-share growth, profit margin and valuation change.

    The Impact of China’s New Regulations: A Thematic Lens

    5 mins read Blog | Sep 15, 2021 | Wei Xu

    Regulatory changes in China have investors wondering how different industries could be affected. Evaluating the changes through a thematic lens can provide insight into the growth and crowding levels of megatrends, as industries react and evolve.

    Foundations of Dedicated China Allocations: Part 1

    Research Report | Feb 19, 2021 | Shuo Xu, Wei Xu, Zhen Wei

    China’s rise in economic influence, market size, improved market accessibility and inclusion in global indexes have led more investors to consider a dedicated China allocation. In the first of our “Foundations of Dedicated China Allocations” series, we discuss investment policy and asset allocation as investors think through setting up such a program.

    China Tech Investing: An Indexed Approach

    5 mins read Blog | Dec 2, 2020 | Wei Xu, Kumar Neeraj, Devika Ghate

    China’s emergence as a tech leader holds great potential. But its technology value chain isn’t limited to IT firms. Opportunity lies across sectors, from electric vehicles to medical devices. How does one effectively gain exposure?  

    Asset allocation and index futures during market crises

    Blog | Mar 25, 2020 | Shuo Xu, Wei Xu, Zhen Wei

    During market crises, institutional investors have employed derivatives contracts to hedge market risks or express views on certain performance/risk characteristics. We explore prior use of futures for exposure management and tactical asset allocation.