NYSCRF says Asia II’s strategy differs from other Asia-focused funds. : New York State Common Retirement Fund (NYSCRF) has approved a $225m (€198m) commitment to ARA Asset Management’s latest Asia-focused property fund. The $213bn pension fund said it will invest in ARA Real Estate Partners Asia II, managed by the ARA Private Fund Platform. NYSCRF said Asia is projected to “grow faster” than either North America or Europe, driven primarily by a “rising middle class and increasing intraregional trade”.