• SJP has increased exposure to Japanese equities across its multi-asset portfolios to enhance diversification and improve resilience through different market conditions.
  • A new active, systematic approach has been introduced within European equities, complementing existing active management and broadening sources of potential returns.

  • Changes reflect SJP’s ongoing long-term portfolio review process and commitment to disciplined portfolio construction.

     

St. James’s Place (SJP) has implemented a series of portfolio adjustments across its Polaris, Polaris Multi-Index and InRetirement fund ranges. The changes form part of SJP’s regular portfolio review process and are not a response to specific market events. Instead, they reflect the investment team’s ongoing commitment to long-term investing, portfolio resilience and disciplined portfolio construction.

 

Increased allocation to Japanese equities
SJP has modestly increased exposure to Japanese equities, with allocations increasing by approximately £940 million. The increase was funded by reducing exposure to European equities.

Japanese equities offer attractive diversification benefits, having historically demonstrated resilience during market downturns and different performance characteristics to other developed markets. Ongoing corporate reforms and fiscal support also provide a differentiated source of growth.

 

New systematic approach for European equities
Within European equities, SJP has introduced an active systematic investment approach, using rules-based signals to identify opportunities. The new allocation complements existing active managers and is designed to provide an additional source of returns in a low-cost, liquid and risk-controlled way.

 

Commenting on the changes, Robin Ellis, Director of Multi‑Asset Portfolio Management at St. James’s Place, said: “We are constantly assessing how different investments contribute to overall portfolio outcomes. Increasing our exposure to Japanese equities and introducing a systematic approach within European equities broadens the range of return drivers in portfolios and reflects our commitment to evidence-based portfolio construction.”