{
  "id": 3896058,
  "title": "Marshall Wace joins hedge fund peers in planning Japan office",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/marshall-wace-joins-hedge-fund-peers-in-planning-japan-office",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-28T05:12:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/business/2026/08/28/companies/marshall-wace-japan-office/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Marshall Wace, a $90 billion U.K. money manager, intends to establish a Japan office in 2027, following the footsteps of other hedge funds establishing a presence in the country, according to sources familiar with the matter. The Tokyo office is expected to be modest at first, primarily housing investment staff, one source said, declining to be identified due to the sensitive information. Once approved by regulators, the office could open in the latter half of 2027.\n\nMarshall Wace has previously traded in Asia, with Japan being a significant market. It established a Hong Kong office in 2006, implementing its unique systematic TOPS market-neutral strategy that derives insights from equity salespeople. The firm still manages a Japan-focused strategy. As of late October last year, over 100 of its approximately 750 employees were stationed in Asia, implementing diverse regional and global strategies. Currently, all of its Japan-focused investment staff, including Partner Daisuke Iwasaki, are based in Hong Kong.\n\nThe firm also operates offices in Shanghai and Singapore, according to its website. Global hedge funds have been seeking ways to strengthen their foothold in Japan, as improved corporate governance and rising inflation have expanded equity and macro trading opportunities in the market. Similar to Marshall Wace, peers such as Brevan Howard Asset Management, Polymer Capital Management, Millennium Management, and Point72 Asset Management have expanding operations in Tokyo. However, many experienced Japan investment professionals have traditionally been based in other locations, like Singapore and Hong Kong, due to factors such as taxation.\n\nExecutives from various hedge fund firms have voiced frustration over the challenge of recruiting such personnel, both from Japan and abroad, citing cultural and language barriers as contributing to the supply-demand imbalance as global investors rekindle interest in the country. Tokyo's efforts to attract more asset managers are now facing additional obstacles, as both Hong Kong and Singapore have proposed tax incentives to entice them.",
  "summary": "Global hedge funds have been looking for ways to boost their Japan presence and investments.",
  "key_points": [
    "Marshall Wace plans to open Japan office in 2027",
    "Firm follows peers like Brevan Howard, Polymer Capital",
    "Current Japan staff based in Hong Kong"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Marshall Wace's planned Japan office reflects a broader trend of global hedge funds strengthening their foothold in the country, driven by improved corporate governance and expanded trading opportunities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hedgeweek",
        "title": "Marshall Wace plans Tokyo office",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/marshall-wace-plans-tokyo-office",
        "published": "2026-08-28T09:20:35.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}