US hedge fund firm Garda Capital Partners has expanded its yen rates trading capability with the appointment of JPMorgan Chase & Co Managing Director Yoichi Takemura as a Portfolio Manager in the firm's Singapore office, according to a report by Bloomberg.

The report cites an unnamed source with knowledge of the matter in confirming the move, which comes as the return of inflation in Japan is creating investment opportunities after a two-year lull.

According to Bloomberg's source, Takemura will be one of the company's most senior hires in Asia.

Minnesota-based Garda manages more than $10bn of assets and focuses on relative-value trading involving developed markets interest rates, commodities and equities.