Asian family offices institutional investing is becoming more sophisticated as wealthy families strengthen governance, expand direct investments and involve a broader range of family members, according to Citi Private Bank. Citi brought together more than 150 family office principals, next-generation leaders and investors in Hong Kong for its annual Asia Pacific Family Office Executive Forum. Held under the theme “The Intelligence Decade: AI, Capital and the New Asian Order”,

GXBank IFC MSME financing could support up to USD110m in lending to Malaysian businesses under a risk-sharing partnership designed to expand credit to underserved companies. The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank Group’s private-sector investment arm, will provide up to USD4.95m in unfunded first-loss coverage, according to GXBank. The facility will allow the Malaysian digital bank to increase lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, including comp

The Hong Kong business outlook remains broadly positive, with 63% of companies surveyed expecting positive or very positive conditions over the next 12 to 18 months, according to DBS Bank. The survey of 250 business owners and senior decision-makers found that product and service innovation was the leading strategic priority for the next three to five years, cited by 53% of respondents. Cost optimisation and improved efficiency followed at 46%, while 31% identified customer e

Citi China institutional sales will be led by veteran banker Sophia Wang as the US financial group seeks to expand its mainland capital-markets business despite continuing geopolitical tensions. Wang has been appointed managing director and head of China financial-institutional sales and senior relationship management and will be based in Shanghai, according to an internal staff memo. She will oversee institutional sales covering rates, spread products, foreign exchange, comm

Asia family office OCIO demand is growing as wealthy families seek investment partners that complement their internal expertise rather than take complete control of their portfolios. Franklin Templeton head of OCIO Rich Nuzum said Asian family offices often retain sophisticated investment capabilities internally while using outsourced chief investment officer providers for investment ideas, specialist capabilities and independent challenges to their existing thinking. In a Li

The UBS Shenzhen wealth unit covering fund distribution and the WE.UBS digital platform will close later this month as the Swiss bank adjusts its strategy for wealthy Chinese clients, Reuters reported. UBS confirmed the closure but said WE.UBS is expected to be renamed and integrated into its Chinese securities business. The bank’s other wealth management platforms in China will continue operating. Launched in October 2022, WE.UBS struggled to attract sufficient investors in

Hong Kong banks generative AI investment is accelerating as financial institutions make the technology and process automation their leading technology priority through 2030. A Hong Kong Association of Banks and Deloitte survey found that 53% of respondents ranked generative AI and process automation as their top technology investment priority, indicating a move towards broader adoption. The report found 52% of banks were optimistic about the industry’s development through 203

SGX crypto perpetual futures could soon become available to US institutional investors as Singapore Exchange expands its push into regulated cryptocurrency derivatives. SGX has filed with the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission to offer its Bitcoin and Ether perpetual futures to American institutions, Bloomberg reported. The contracts could become available if the regulator raises no objection within 10 days. SGX launched the products in November and has since recorded ar

HSBC family office business capabilities are being strengthened with two senior appointments from Citi Private Bank covering global family offices and US private banking. Hannes Hofmann will join as global head of family offices in a newly created London-based role, overseeing HSBC Private Bank’s family office offering worldwide. Hofmann has more than 25 years of private banking experience and was most recently global head of Citi Private Bank’s family office group. He previo

Amundi Asia investment hub capabilities have been strengthened through five senior appointments and relocations as Europe’s largest asset manager deepens its commitment to the region. John O’Toole has been appointed Asia chief investment officer, based in Hong Kong, while retaining his global position as head and CIO of Amundi’s Solutions platform. Other senior moves include Andriy Boychuk as global deputy head of emerging markets fixed income and Ray Jian as head of fixed in

South Korea economic recovery is becoming increasingly evident, with per capita gross national income expected to exceed USD40,000 this year, according to Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol. Koo said nominal gross domestic product in Asia’s fourth-largest economy recorded its fastest second-quarter growth in 47 years. Speaking at a meeting of economy-related ministers, he said the economy was moving more clearly towards recovery and growth despite challenging external and domesti

Hong Kong insurers partnerships with technology, healthcare and professional-services companies are expanding as providers respond to changing client requirements and tighter mainland Chinese taxation of offshore investments. Prudential has partnered with Alibaba Cloud to develop an artificial intelligence underwriting tool that can help financial consultants make preliminary decisions using clients’ financial and medical information. Manulife has also signed agreements with

Raffles Family Office Africa expansion is gaining momentum with the appointment of former Rwandan government official Jean de Dieu Uwihanganye as principal for emerging markets and business development. Uwihanganye will be based in Hong Kong and report to Group CEO Chi Man Kwan as the multi-family office seeks to deepen its engagement across the Africa-Asia investment corridor. He previously served as Rwanda’s minister of state for infrastructure and as the country’s high com

Singapore family office philanthropy channelled more than USD30m to overseas causes during 2024 and 2025 under a tax incentive designed to encourage regional charitable giving. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said there are currently eight approved recipients of incentives under the Philanthropy Tax Incentive Scheme, according to a written parliamentary reply from Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong. Introduced in 2024, the scheme provides a

Thailand monetary policy should remain accommodative as the country’s economic recovery remains low and uneven, with scope for further interest-rate cuts if necessary. Minutes from the Bank of Thailand’s Aug. 26 meeting showed the monetary policy committee unanimously kept its one-day repurchase rate at 1% for a third consecutive meeting. Policymakers said further easing outside a crisis could produce limited benefits relative to potential side effects. Preserving policy spac

Asia family office global investment strategies are becoming more diversified as wealthy investors seek opportunities across regions and asset classes, according to private capital markets firm Ascentivelab Group. The New York-based firm is expanding its investor coverage into Asia, the UK and Europe as family office capital becomes increasingly international. A UBS survey cited by Ascentivelab found that 60% of family offices plan to change strategic asset allocations within

Hartono family overseas investments have reached at least USD1.4bn through nine Singapore- and London-based entities as Indonesia’s wealthiest family diversifies beyond its domestic holdings, Bloomberg reported. The Hartono family, estimated to be worth around USD30bn, has traditionally kept most of its wealth in Indonesia but is increasingly acquiring businesses overseas. Transactions include the purchase of a US specialty paper company for USD669m and an Austrian cigarette-

The Hong Kong sustainable finance taxonomy is being expanded as authorities seek to direct more private capital towards green and transition investments. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Phase 2B prototype increases the number of covered economic activities to 39 from 25, adding areas across transportation, manufacturing and waste management while introducing measures addressing climate adaptation. The taxonomy provides criteria for determining whether particular economic a

A China state bank capital injection programme worth around RMB360bn (USD54bn) is being rolled out as Beijing strengthens major financial institutions and seeks to support economic growth. Agricultural Bank of China plans to raise up to RMB160bn through a private placement, while Industrial and Commercial Bank of China is targeting up to RMB100bn. China Life Insurance is set to receive RMB35bn, while Export-Import Bank of China will receive RMB30bn. Other institutions covered

The CapitaLand Asia-Pacific credit fund platform is expanding as CapitaLand Investment seeks USD500m for its third regional private-credit programme, Bloomberg reported. The new vehicle, ACP III, will focus on senior secured and asset-backed investments and is expected to target mainly existing investors. A first close is planned by the end of 2026. The fundraising follows the USD320m close of ACP II, which added around USD600m to CapitaLand Investment’s funds under managemen