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TOP NEWS

Hong Kong Financial Hub Role Secure Despite Geopolitics, HKTDC Chair Says

Hong Kong’s role as an international financial and regional business hub will continue strengthening despite geopolitical tensions, according to Hong Kong Trade Development Council chairman Frederick Ma. The Hong Kong financial hub outlook remains supported by the city’s free flow of information and its mature banking, capital markets, accounting and legal ecosystem, Ma said during a public event. He added that foreign companies still largely prefer Hong Kong as a location fo

ECONOMY

31 minutes ago

Succession Planning as the Ultimate Test of Governance

In This Issue: Why succession planning is fundamentally a governance challenge rather than a financial one. The critical needs that define modern succession frameworks. How leading family offices are putting these principles into practice across generations. Governance is the Cornerstone of Succession Planning Succession planning is fundamentally an issue of family office governance. During periods of generational wealth transition, the absence of an effective, controllable g

FOCUS

7 days ago

China Private Equity Interest Returns, but Exit Concerns Linger

China private equity activity is recovering, although investors remain increasingly selective and focused on exit opportunities, industry executives said during DealStreetAsia’s Asia Private Equity Leadership Summit in Hong Kong. The China private equity recovery follows a prolonged market reset triggered by the US-China trade war, the pandemic and domestic policy changes. Gary Chan of Sun Hung Kai & Co said fundraising activity had improved during the past 12 to 18 months, a

PRIVATE EQUITY

32 minutes ago

Morgan Stanley Bankers Told to Carry Separate Phones for China Travel

Morgan Stanley has instructed its Hong Kong-based bankers to carry separate iPhones and iPads for business trips to mainland China as global financial institutions strengthen controls over cross-border data security. The Morgan Stanley China travel policy was introduced in recent months and applies specifically to travel involving mainland China, according to reports citing a source familiar with the matter. The Wall Street bank declined to comment publicly on the policy. The

REGULATION

33 minutes ago

Vietnam Proposes Updated Rules for Online Securities Trading

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed updated regulations for electronic stock market transactions as authorities seek to modernise the framework governing online securities trading. The Vietnam online securities trading reforms would replace rules introduced in 2017 and later amended in 2020. The draft circular introduces provisions covering electronic know-your-customer verification, electronic contracts, transaction authentication and API-based connectivity between se

REGULATION

34 minutes ago

Standard Chartered Raises Taiwan 2026 GDP Forecast to 9.5%

Standard Chartered has raised its 2026 growth forecast for Taiwan to 9.5% from 7.6%, citing stronger-than-expected first-quarter expansion and surging artificial intelligence demand that is boosting exports, semiconductor production and investment. The Taiwan AI economy outlook follows first-quarter GDP growth of 13.7% year on year, marking the fastest quarterly expansion in nearly four decades. The bank said exports surged 35.3% during the quarter as global demand for AI-rel

ECONOMY

3 days ago

Malaysia Tightens Rules for Digital Asset Exchanges

Malaysia’s Securities Commission has tightened rules for digital asset exchanges as regulators seek to speed up product approvals while strengthening investor protection, governance and operational resilience standards. The Malaysia digital asset exchanges reforms took effect on May 20 under revised Guidelines on Recognized Markets. The updated framework introduces stronger safeguards for client assets together with higher standards covering financial stability, ownership str

REGULATION

3 days ago

Hong Kong Targets July Launch for New Gold-Clearing System

Hong Kong plans to launch a government-owned gold-clearing system by July as the city seeks to strengthen its role as a global bullion trading hub and diversify financial market infrastructure. The Hong Kong gold clearing system will reportedly mirror London’s bullion-market model by allowing settlement through unallocated accounts, enabling faster and more scalable trading without assigning specific numbered bars. People familiar with the matter said trial operations are exp

ASSET MANAGEMENT

3 days ago

Hong Kong Finance Chief Courts Asset Managers on Europe Trip

Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan has begun a five-day European tour aimed at attracting global capital and strengthening the city’s role as an international financial hub. The Hong Kong asset managers outreach programme began in Paris, where Chan met representatives of French asset management association AFG and think tank Asia Centre. According to the South China Morning Post, the trip forms part of Hong Kong’s broader push to expand its wealth management industry, wi

ASSET MANAGEMENT

4 days ago

Bain Capital Raises USD10.5bn for Latest Asia Private Equity Fund

Bain Capital has closed its sixth Asia-focused private equity fund at USD10.5bn, exceeding its original USD7bn target, highlighting continuing institutional appetite for large-scale Asia private equity strategies. Bain Capital Asia Fund VI received approximately USD9.1bn from external investors, with the balance committed by the firm’s partners, employees and related entities. The Bain Capital Asia Fund VI vehicle will invest across sectors including technology, industrials,

PRIVATE EQUITY

4 days ago

Japan Q1 GDP Beats Forecasts Despite Energy Concerns

Japan’s economy grew an annualised 2.1% in the first quarter, outperforming market expectations and extending the country’s recovery before rising Middle East energy prices clouded the outlook. The Japan Q1 GDP figures showed real gross domestic product rose 0.5% from the previous quarter, exceeding forecasts for a 0.4% increase. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan’s economy, rose 0.3%, while capital expenditure also increased 0.3%. Net external de

ECONOMY

4 days ago

Philippines Must Cut Business Costs to Boost Investment, World Bank Says

The World Bank said the Philippines must improve conditions for businesses to invest, expand and innovate if it wants to become ASEAN’s next growth engine, warning that weak investment could constrain productivity and job creation. The Philippines investment climate remains challenged by delays in permits, port congestion, complex paperwork and inefficient border procedures, according to World Bank country director Zafer Mustafaoğlu. He noted that business registration in the

ECONOMY

4 days ago

OCBC to Boost Hong Kong Wealth Team as Q1 Profit Jumps

OCBC plans to increase its relationship managers in Hong Kong by more than 30% this year as Singapore’s second-largest bank accelerates expansion of its wealth management operations in the city. The OCBC Hong Kong wealth strategy will see the lender add between 30 and 50 relationship managers during 2026 alongside branch modernisation initiatives. The bank said Hong Kong remains a core growth market under its broader next-frontier strategy focused on wealth management and aff

WEALTH MANAGEMENT

5 days ago

China and US Agree to Set Up Trade Councils After Tariff War

China and the United States have agreed to establish trade and investment councils as both countries seek to stabilise economic ties following last year’s tariff war, according to China’s commerce ministry. The China US trade councils agreement will include discussions covering reciprocal tariff reductions on selected products and wider trade cooperation. Beijing said the two sides made progress on agricultural trade and aircraft purchases, including reductions in non-tariff

ECONOMY

5 days ago

VIDEO RECAP
w/e

22nd May 2026

EVENTS

INSIGHTS

INTERVIEW: Shield Xiao Dun | 17EdTech

Wealth Office

PEOPLE MOVES

Howden Names New Hong Kong CEO as Asia Expansion Continues

7 days ago

Singapore Reappoints Gan Kim Yong as MAS Chairman

May 15

LGT Appoints Ex-Stanchart Thailand CEO to Expand Wealth Management for Thai Families

May 15

South Korea Keeps BIS Board Seat as Shin Begins Three-Year Term

May 14

HKMA Reshuffles Five Executive Director Roles in Leadership Planning

May 12

UBS Reshuffles Southeast Asia Wealth Management Leadership Team

May 11

Banks Strengthen Hong Kong Corporate Banking Leadership

May 6

Southeast Asia Private Banking Expansion Strengthens as Lombard Odier Hires DBS Veteran

May 1

Family Office Advisory Demand Rises as Bank of Singapore Expands Team

Apr 30

Asia Investment Banking Expansion Continues as Citi Adds Senior Bankers

Apr 29

Thailand Targets 7,000 Business Rules in Competitiveness Push

Thailand plans to overhaul more than 7,000 business regulations as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government seeks to reduce bureaucracy and attract more foreign and domestic investment. The Thailand business reform programme aims to improve the country’s competitiveness as regional rivals including Vietnam and Indonesia intensify efforts to attract global capital and supply-chain relocations. Authorities are proposing a “super licence” system designed to consolidate mu

ECONOMY

6 days ago

Japan Eyes Regional Industry Clusters to Revive Local Economies

Japan has presented a draft plan to create specialised industry clusters across 10 regions, focusing on semiconductors, clean energy and other strategic sectors as part of efforts to revive regional economies and attract corporate investment. The Japan industry clusters strategy is expected to become part of a broader regional future growth plan as early as June. Hokkaido, Kyushu, Hokuriku and Chubu are being considered as semiconductor manufacturing and technology hubs, whil

ECONOMY

6 days ago

Fasset Raises USD51m to Expand Stablecoin Banking Across Asia

US-based fintech Fasset has raised USD51m in a Series B funding round to accelerate expansion of its stablecoin-powered banking and financial infrastructure platform across Asia and other emerging markets. The stablecoin banking Asia funding round included investors such as SBI Group, Investcorp, Arz Portföy and several family offices, reflecting growing institutional interest in regulated digital payments infrastructure. Fasset said it plans to expand regulated banking infra

FAMILY OFFICES

6 days ago

Family Offices Shift to Multi-Hub Wealth Models as Hong Kong Reasserts Role

Family offices and independent advisers are increasingly adopting multi-hub wealth strategies as ultra-high-net-worth families seek greater resilience across booking centres, custodians, currencies and jurisdictions, industry executives said at the Hubbis Independent Wealth Management Forum in Hong Kong. The multi-hub wealth strategies trend reflects growing demand among wealthy families for diversified operational structures capable of managing geopolitical, tax, mobility an

FAMILY OFFICES

7 days ago

Howden Names New Hong Kong CEO as Asia Expansion Continues

Howden has appointed Alaric Lee as chief executive officer for Hong Kong, succeeding Alfred Sham, who will relocate to Singapore as chief strategy officer for Asia, the global insurance intermediary group said. The Howden Hong Kong CEO appointment remains subject to regulatory approval. Lee currently serves as chief commercial officer for Asia and brings extensive industry experience including more than a decade working in Hong Kong’s insurance sector. Sham led Howden’s Hong

PEOPLE MOVES

7 days ago

Over 80% of Hong Kong Firms Plan AI Adoption Within 12 Months

More than 80% of surveyed enterprises plan to adopt artificial intelligence either immediately or within the next 12 months as companies accelerate the shift from pilot projects towards large-scale deployment, according to Cherrypicks. The Hong Kong AI adoption trend reflects rising demand for automation, process intelligence and human-machine collaboration across corporate operations. The Hong Kong-based technology company, a unit of NetDragon Websoft, said firms are increas

ECONOMY

May 18

ALL NEWS

TOP NEWS

Hong Kong Financial Hub Role Secure Despite Geopolitics, HKTDC Chair Says

Succession Planning as the Ultimate Test of Governance

China Private Equity Interest Returns, but Exit Concerns Linger

Morgan Stanley Bankers Told to Carry Separate Phones for China Travel

Vietnam Proposes Updated Rules for Online Securities Trading

Standard Chartered Raises Taiwan 2026 GDP Forecast to 9.5%

Malaysia Tightens Rules for Digital Asset Exchanges

Hong Kong Targets July Launch for New Gold-Clearing System

Hong Kong Finance Chief Courts Asset Managers on Europe Trip

Bain Capital Raises USD10.5bn for Latest Asia Private Equity Fund

Japan Q1 GDP Beats Forecasts Despite Energy Concerns

Philippines Must Cut Business Costs to Boost Investment, World Bank Says

OCBC to Boost Hong Kong Wealth Team as Q1 Profit Jumps

China and US Agree to Set Up Trade Councils After Tariff War

VIDEO RECAP w/e

22nd May 2026

EVENTS

INSIGHTS

PEOPLE MOVES

Howden Names New Hong Kong CEO as Asia Expansion Continues

Singapore Reappoints Gan Kim Yong as MAS Chairman

LGT Appoints Ex-Stanchart Thailand CEO to Expand Wealth Management for Thai Families

South Korea Keeps BIS Board Seat as Shin Begins Three-Year Term

HKMA Reshuffles Five Executive Director Roles in Leadership Planning

UBS Reshuffles Southeast Asia Wealth Management Leadership Team

Banks Strengthen Hong Kong Corporate Banking Leadership

Southeast Asia Private Banking Expansion Strengthens as Lombard Odier Hires DBS Veteran

Family Office Advisory Demand Rises as Bank of Singapore Expands Team

Asia Investment Banking Expansion Continues as Citi Adds Senior Bankers

Thailand Targets 7,000 Business Rules in Competitiveness Push

Japan Eyes Regional Industry Clusters to Revive Local Economies

Fasset Raises USD51m to Expand Stablecoin Banking Across Asia

Family Offices Shift to Multi-Hub Wealth Models as Hong Kong Reasserts Role

Howden Names New Hong Kong CEO as Asia Expansion Continues

Over 80% of Hong Kong Firms Plan AI Adoption Within 12 Months

VIDEO RECAP
w/e