Taiwan pension fund external managers are set to receive additional mandates as the Public Service Pension Fund seeks greater exposure to international equity markets. The USD49bn fund could allocate approximately USD200m each to several external managers providing access to overseas markets, according to people familiar with the plans. The final allocation and investment strategies have yet to be determined. Options being considered include passive and index-enhanced investm

The Singapore 2026 GDP outlook has been raised sharply after stronger-than-expected second-quarter growth and continued artificial intelligence-related investment improved the economic picture. The trade ministry now expects the economy to expand between 4.5% and 5.5% this year, compared with its previous forecast of 2% to 4%. GDP grew 5.9% year on year during the second quarter, taking first-half growth to 6.1%. The ministry said the global surge in AI investment had exceede

China offshore trust tax changes are prompting wealthy mainland families and their advisers to review Singapore-based structures as Beijing strengthens scrutiny of overseas wealth. Rules announced on July 24 reinforce China's ability to tax offshore structures according to an individual's tax residence rather than simply the jurisdiction where assets are held, according to lawyers. Advisers have subsequently received enquiries from high-net-worth families, private banks, trus

Private credit fund liquidity is facing increased scrutiny after several major asset managers restricted investor withdrawals following a surge in redemption requests. Apollo Global Management limited withdrawals from its USD26bn Apollo Debt Solutions vehicle to 5% after redemption requests reached almost 17%, or USD2.4bn. Ares Management also capped withdrawals from its USD23bn Strategic Income Fund after requests reached 14.4%. BlackRock, Blackstone and Blue Owl have simila

The Global-Asia Family Office Summit 2026 – Partners Forum will be held in Singapore on Oct. 6, bringing together family principals, investors, entrepreneurs and industry specialists to examine priorities shaping family capital. The event at the Grand Hyatt Singapore will focus on investment strategies, wealth governance and approaches to managing capital across generations. Organisers said participants will hear directly from family principals and practitioners with experien

China market regulator chief Luo Wen has formally left the State Administration for Market Regulation following his appointment as Communist Party chief of Hebei province. China's human resources ministry confirmed Luo's removal from the regulatory position after the 61-year-old was named Hebei's top official on July 31, replacing Ni Yuefeng. Hebei surrounds Beijing and forms an important part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic region, making its provincial leadership an i

Singapore wealth management fees reached record levels at the country's three largest banks during the second quarter as continued inflows from affluent clients supported higher fee income. DBS Group's wealth management fees jumped 42% to SGD919m (USD716m), while fees at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation increased 44% and United Overseas Bank recorded growth of more than 29%. The results highlight Singapore's continued attraction of regional and international wealth as the

South Korea investor leverage is unlikely to return to levels seen during the Kospi's first-half rally even if equities resume their advance, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Rena Kwok. Investors who borrowed heavily to pursue stock-market gains are reassessing their tolerance for risk following sharp market corrections and substantial losses, Kwok said. Regulators have tightened controls covering leveraged exchange-traded funds, while brokerages, banks and insuran

A proposed Hang Seng Tech Index expansion would increase the Hong Kong technology benchmark to 50 constituents from 30 and introduce revenue growth as an additional selection criterion. Hang Seng Indexes Company has proposed a dual-selection framework under which the 40 largest eligible companies by market capitalisation would qualify, while another 10 constituents would be selected according to revenue growth. The index compiler said the changes would improve representation

Asia millionaire migration is increasing demand for second passports and overseas residency as wealthy families incorporate geographic diversification into broader wealth and succession strategies. An estimated 165,000 millionaires could relocate globally in 2026, compared with a record 142,000 expected in 2025, according to private wealth migration estimates. Singapore has become a major destination for internationally mobile wealth, supported by its private banking, asset m

Hong Kong & Dubai climate finance cooperation will deepen when financial regulators from the two centres hold their third Joint Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong on Sept. 10. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will bring together corporate leaders, investors and policymakers to discuss partnerships, financing solutions and innovations supporting the transition towards lower-carbon economies. HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Y

China US tariffs are expected to increase by the end of 2026, according to more than half of Chinese corporate executives surveyed by UBS, while 40% anticipate tariff reductions. The UBS China C-Suite survey, conducted from May to mid-June, found that 57% of respondents expected bilateral relations to deteriorate, compared with only 12% anticipating improvement. Despite trade concerns, exporters reported improving demand. A net 14% said orders had strengthened from a year ear

Hong Kong shareholding concentration is attracting increased regulatory scrutiny as the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) warns that highly concentrated ownership can expose small- and mid-cap stocks to sharp price movements. The SFC had flagged 13 cases by August, compared with 15 during all of 2025 and just one in 2023. The regulator warns that when controlling shareholders and a small number of investors hold most of a company's issued shares, relatively small transa

New China offshore insurance tax enforcement is increasing pressure on Hong Kong financial institutions serving mainland Chinese customers. Chinese tax authorities have begun imposing a 20% personal income tax on returns generated by offshore insurance policies, including dividends and interest earned on prepaid premiums, according to Caixin. The enforcement relies on information exchanged through the Common Reporting Standard, which gives mainland authorities access to overs

Asia-Pacific CFO resilience remains strong despite growing geopolitical and economic risks, with finance leaders investing in digital transformation, artificial intelligence and operational efficiency. A Deloitte Taiwan survey found that chief financial officers were more optimistic about their own organisations than about the global economy, reflecting confidence in their ability to withstand external shocks. Companies are prioritising cash-flow management, supply-chain resi

The South Korea stock market remains supported by solid economic fundamentals despite a sharp recent sell-off, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said. Koo cited resilient economic growth, strong exports, manageable inflation and improving consumer and business confidence while pledging additional measures to deepen capital markets and support emerging industries. His comments followed a Bloomberg Opinion column describing South Korea as increasingly “uninvestable” because of ext

The AllianzGI UOB Asset Management transaction will expand Allianz Global Investors’ presence across Southeast Asia and strengthen its investment capabilities in several high-growth Asian markets. AllianzGI has agreed to acquire UOB Asset Management from Singapore’s UOB Group for SGD555m (USD433m), subject to regulatory approval. The transaction is expected to close in 2027 and includes a long-term distribution agreement enabling AllianzGI to offer investment products through

The proposed South Korea T+1 settlement transition may be too rapid for international financial institutions to implement safely, according to foreign investment banks consulted by regulators. South Korea is considering shortening its equity settlement cycle from two business days after execution to one, with an implementation period of only eight to nine months. Foreign banks said comparable transitions generally require at least 18 months of preparation. The Financial Servi

Rising Singapore business costs have become the leading concern for local companies as global uncertainty, weaker demand and supply-chain disruption weigh on profitability. A Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey of 540 businesses found that 80% were concerned about higher operating expenses, up from 65% a year earlier. Although 78% expected to remain profitable in 2026, 56% anticipated lower earnings than in the current year. Companies said they were resp

Indonesia Q2 growth slowed from the previous quarter but remained stronger than economists expected, supported by government expenditure and stimulus measures. Gross domestic product expanded 5.29% year on year during the April-to-June period, exceeding the 5.1% median forecast in a Reuters poll but easing from 5.61% in the first quarter. Government spending increased 15.97%, partly because of expenditure on civil servants, although this was slower than the 21.81% rise record