Hong Kong financial centre advantages in liquidity and law are in focus as the city competes with rival hubs in a volatile macroenvironment. Bankers highlighted Hong Kong’s role as a fundraising hub, with the market raising HKD216bn (USD28bn) from IPOs in the first 10 months of 2025 and tipped by some to reclaim the top global listing spot, even though its stock market currently ranks only fifth worldwide by size. Speakers at a recent Financial Times conference pointed to dee

South Korea economic recovery momentum is strengthening on the back of heavy fiscal spending and firmer exports, according to finance minister Koo Yun-cheol, who pledged fresh measures to spread gains beyond Seoul. He told a meeting of economic ministers that consumer demand is improving, supported by government “consumption coupon” schemes, while 26 major public institutions plan to raise investment this year to KRW69tr (USD47bn) from an original KRW66tr budgeted for infrast

Global wealthy families are increasingly turning to Hong Kong family offices as a base to access private investments in mainland China, particularly in electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, biotech, and selectively in real estate, according to Swiss family office platform Club Estate. The Zurich-based firm, which manages about 700m Swiss francs (USD884m) and operates in Luxembourg, Singapore, and Hong Kong, said clients are also diversifying away from US dollar assets i

A sharper-than-expected Japan GDP decline of an annualised 1.8% in Q3 marked the country’s first economic contraction in six quarters, driven by slumping exports to the US under higher tariffs and weaker housing investment. The fall, though milder than predicted, showed net external demand shaving 0.2 percentage point off growth, while private consumption inched up 0.1% and capital spending rose 1%, reflecting uneven domestic momentum. Economists view the setback as temporary

More than 100 global investors from Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Europe, and the UK will convene in Ho Chi Minh City on 3–4 December for the Vietnam 2.0 investor conference, a two-day event aimed at channelling long-term foreign capital into Vietnam. Organised by Dynam Capital, Vantage Point Asset Management, and Shinec Vietnam, the event—titled “Vietnam 2.0 – Unlocking the Next Growth Phase”—will spotlight opportunities in infrastructure, energy, environment, tech

Hong Kong property valuations are under intensified scrutiny as the city’s deepest real estate downturn since the Asian financial crisis prompts the banking regulator to monitor risks more closely. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has increased its oversight of lenders’ refinancing decisions involving stressed developers such as Lai Sun Development, urging continued credit support while reviewing exposure to commercial property loans, which account for about 8% of HKD10tr (US

A sharper-than-expected Thailand GDP drop in Q3 underscored mounting economic headwinds as weaker factory output and a softer tourism recovery dragged growth to 1.2% year-on-year, below the 1.6% forecast and down from 2.8% in the previous quarter. On a quarterly basis, GDP contracted 0.6%—the first decline since late 2022 and the steepest since mid-2021—as exports, manufacturing, construction, government spending, and tourism all lost momentum amid US tariffs and a tougher gl

Vietnam’s promotion to FTSE Russell secondary emerging market status is pushing global and Asia‑based family offices to shift the country from frontier exposure to core allocation, according to Das Family Office strategist Rainer Michael Preiss. Speaking at the Hubbis Vietnam Wealth Management Forum 2025, he said Vietnam is increasingly viewed as a structural ASEAN growth market alongside China and India. Preiss urged diversified exposure across listed equities, private equit

Hong Kong has renewed the contract of Securities and Futures Commission chief executive Julia Leung Fung‑yee for a further two years to the end of 2027, ensuring continuity as the markets watchdog advances regulatory and market reforms. Leung, who joined the SFC in 2015 and became CEO in January 2023 after serving as deputy CEO, previously held senior roles at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and as Under Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury. The government said

Revenue in Singapore’s accountancy sector rose 7.5% to SGD3.5bn (USD2.7bn) in 2024, with the Big Four accounting firms Singapore driving nearly half the increase, according to Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) AE Survey 2025. Industry takings grew by SGD244.5m, of which Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG contributed SGD112.5m, powered mainly by a 9.6% rise in audit and assurance income. The Big Four maintained dominance at about 70% of total industry revenue. Growt

Singapore has cemented its status as a top Singapore wealth hub, ranking alongside Dubai and New York in Savills’ latest index of high‑net‑worth hotspots. The city‑state scored strongly on economic competitiveness, connectivity and wealth infrastructure, underpinned by the absence of inheritance, capital gains and wealth taxes, and a 24% top marginal personal income tax rate. Savills placed Singapore third globally and the leading Asia‑Pacific market, ahead of Shanghai, Bangk

Hong Kong is intensifying efforts to market itself as a global family office hub through a new Financial Services Development Council (FSDC) campaign promoting the city as “where money comes to grow”. The four-part short-form series highlights low taxes, free capital flows and a common-law system that policymakers say anchor its role as Asia’s leading financial centre and cross-border wealth-management base. The FSDC projects that Hong Kong could manage about USD2.9tr in cros

Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC) earned more than HKD2bn (USD256m) in 2024 investment income, driven by initial public offerings and biotechnology allocations, chief executive Clara Chan told Bloomberg TV. Formed in 2022 with HKD62bn to strengthen the city’s economy and mainland links, HKIC has deployed less than 20% of its capital but remains “in perfect alignment” with its plans. The fund is entering a second phase to pursue larger deals alongside sovereign funds, pe

Family-owned enterprises are expected to outperform non-family firms over the next decade, despite mounting risks, according to Deloitte Private. Companies with at least USD100m in revenue now represent 22 percent of large enterprises and are projected to grow 22% in number between 2020 and 2030, with turnover rising 84% versus 59% for other businesses. Singapore family businesses are especially optimistic: 54% expect revenue growth above 10% in 2025, more than double last ye

Thailand’s main business lobby has urged lawmakers to reconsider three draft bills on labour protection, clean air and factory operations, warning they could raise costs and erode competitiveness amid a sluggish economy. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) said the measures, though well-intentioned, risk undermining investor confidence and should undergo a full regulatory impact assessment. Federation of Thai Industries chairman Kriengkrai

DBS and Franklin Templeton have jointly launched Singapore’s first tokenised retail fund, advancing efforts to mainstream digital finance. The Franklin Onchain US Dollar Short-Term Money Market Fund, a USD-denominated strategy recorded on a blockchain register, has been approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore as an authorised scheme. Available via DBS relationship managers to wealth clients and accredited investors, the fund has a USD20 minimum investment, with a reta

Global accounting firm BDO has resigned from its work for DW Capital Holdings, a Singapore family office sanctioned by the US and UK over alleged links to Cambodia’s Prince Group. Two BDO employees also stepped down as DW Capital’s company secretaries following the US Treasury’s action. The firm had helped incorporate DW Capital in 2018, using BDO’s Singapore office address in filings. Authorities imposed sanctions on 146 individuals and entities tied to what they described a

Private funding for Southeast Asia’s digital economy grew 15% year on year to USD7.7bn in the 12 months to June 2025, though it remains about 70% below the 2021 peak, according to the Google-Temasek-Bain report. Growth lagged the global 25% pace, with capital concentrated in late-stage rounds while early-stage deals dropped from 30% to about 20%. The study, expanded to 10 markets, found that AI accounted for 32% of total funding in H1 2025, up from 30% in H2 2024, as over 680

Hong Kong will review how audit firms use artificial intelligence, with the Accounting and Financial Reporting Council (AFRC) preparing guidance to raise awareness and support responsible deployment, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. The initiative aligns with the government’s “twin-engine” AI strategy to make AI a core industry and upgrade traditional sectors. Global regulators are examining AI’s impact on data integrity, transparency and liability in assurance work. The A

Asia’s private credit lenders are increasingly adopting payment-in-kind (PIK) structures as higher-for-longer interest rates, tighter bank capital rules and shallow bond markets squeeze borrowers’ cash. Previously used mainly in distressed and mezzanine deals, PIK is now emerging in senior direct lending, allowing interest to accrue to principal or convert to equity to preserve liquidity while increasing leverage. Variations include holdco PIK, split PIK and toggle PIK, with