International investment firm Baring Asset Management (BAM) is "bullish'' about future investment opportunities around the world.

And investment experts from the firm will give their reasons for this aggressive optimism this evening at a seminar hosted by local investment firm Kast Investment Management Limited (KIML).

London-based Investment Management Group Director Nicholas Davidson, Product Specialists Director Richard Graham, and Assistant Director for Sales, Business Development and Client Services Ross Anderson will speak along with Boston-based Vice President for North American Equities Christopher Lees.

"Tomorrow we will be highlighting what we see as exciting opportunities in the US, Europe and emerging equities,'' said Mr. Graham yesterday.

"We will be talking about areas that we feel positive about,'' said Mr.

Davidson.

Added Mr. Graham: "The message is ... Baring is bullish.

"The main summary of why Baring is bullish basically rests on our positive outlook for world markets against a backdrop of strong growth and very little visible inflation.

"There are a number of good reasons why investors around the world should be fully invested. Now is not the time to be cashing in.'' KIML president Anne Kast noted: "You cannot make money in the market unless you are in it.'' Mr. Graham added that the seminar would also point investors at one or two very exciting paradoxes occurring in the investment world presently.

For instance "interest rates are rising but small cap stocks are doing well'', he said. "Normally, when interests rates rise, small cap stocks get hammered.'' Other paradoxes include the presence of little inflation coupled with rising interest rates and oil price hikes having no impact on consumer price indices.

Following an introduction from Mr. Davidson, Mr. Lees will address the topic of North American Equities. Mr. Graham will then speak on the subjects of European Equities and Global Fixed Income before Mr. Anderson wraps up the seminar with a presentation on Global Emerging Markets.

The seminar is open to KIML clients and the public at large and will start at 5.30 p.m. at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.

Ms Kast said: "This marks the eighth Kast/Baring presentation in Bermuda.

These presentations give people the opportunity to hear what fund managers have to say.'' KIML clients invest "quite heavily'' in BAM's fixed interest products and its bond and equity funds, she added.

Just under 30 percent of KIML's business is with BAM and this comes from about one-fifth of the firm's client base, said Ms Kast.

Mr. Graham noted: "We think we are a natural partner for the Bermudian investor. We are not very big but we are very international.

"We believe we have the range of funds to solve all Kast Investment Management's clients' needs.'' Mr. Anderson, who is responsible for business development in Bermuda, noted BAM held its first joint presentation with KIML here in 1992 and was very keen on continuing to support the local market.

BAM is part of the massive Dutch firm Internationale Nederlanden Groep NV (ING).

At the end of 1999, it had just under $56 billion in assets under management with a further $66 billion on its custody and administration side, noted Mr.

Davidson.

BAM focuses on niche market business and concentrates on the investment management side while developing contacts through third party brokerage firms like KIML.

KIML specialises in investment in offshore mutual funds and is in its ninth year of business.

It has around $200 million under management and some 500 clients world wide.

All of its business is referral.