Hong Kong fraud framework plans are advancing as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority urged banks to standardise procedures for handling customer fraud claims. Local media reported that the HKMA asked the Hong Kong Association of Banks to respond by 1 December, with adoption expected within three months of the final draft. The proposal covers authorised payments and transfers made through Hong Kong accounts, which are currently assessed case by case. The HKMA said liability in su

South Korea regulatory reform will be accelerated as President Lee Jae-myung pledges to ease excessive rules and revitalise business activity to support economic recovery. Speaking at a government meeting focused on the bio, renewable energy, and cultural sectors, Lee said rationalising regulations is vital to boost growth and address inequality. He warned that bureaucratic rigidity hampers effective policy execution and urged officials to adopt a more flexible stance toward

Paul Chan Hong Kong US visit underscored the city’s open-market advantages as the Financial Secretary called on American companies to expand their presence despite persistent US-China trade tensions. Speaking at the annual gala of the National Committee on US-China Relations in New York, Chan met former US trade envoy Charlene Barshefsky to discuss deepening economic and financial ties. He reaffirmed Hong Kong’s commitment to its free-port status, rule-of-law framework, and r

Hong Kong pension ranking rose to 15th globally in the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2025 but remained behind Singapore, which became the first Asian nation to achieve an “A” grade, ranking fourth worldwide. The index evaluated 52 systems for adequacy, sustainability, and integrity. Hong Kong scored well in integrity and adequacy but only “C+” in sustainability, while Singapore’s strong performance reflected long-term reforms and improved transparency. Mercer advi

Indonesia mutual fund foreign limits are set to rise as regulators prepare to relax restrictions for the country’s USD50bn fund industry, enabling greater global diversification. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has approved an industry proposal to raise offshore investment caps and is drafting new rules expected next year. Current regulations limit foreign holdings to 15% of net asset value, curbing flexibility and scale. The Indonesian Investment Managers Association

China’s Greater Bay Area business activity reached a four-year high in Q3 2025, supported by a temporary US-China tariff truce and stronger financial market momentum, according to the GBA Business Confidence Index by Standard Chartered Bank and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The headline index climbed to 54.7 from 53.1 in Q2, while the expectations index hit 55.7 — its highest in two years — signalling robust optimism. New orders and prices of finished goods rose sh

JPMorgan Asset Management Asia plans to double its assets under management in the region to USD600bn within five years, building on strong growth in active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and new market entries. The firm managed USD302bn in Asia at end-2024 — more than double its 2019 level — according to Asia-Pacific CEO Dan Watkins. Key drivers include the launch of its first active ETF in Taiwan in September and a SGD1.1bn (USD0.8bn) mandate from the Monetary Authority of Sin

Singapore Q3 GDP 2025 rose 2.9% year on year, outpacing economists’ forecasts of 2%, according to advance estimates from the Ministry of Trade and Industry. On a seasonally adjusted basis, GDP increased 1.3% quarter-on-quarter. Growth slowed as goods-producing industries expanded just 0.6% versus 4.8% in Q2, with manufacturing flat year on year but rebounding 6.1% from the previous quarter. Construction growth moderated to 3.1%, while services remained the main driver, rising

China’s commerce ministry US trade dialogue remains strained as Beijing urges Washington to “correct its wrongdoings” and show sincerity in ongoing economic talks. The statement followed US claims that China had postponed a planned call on rare earth export controls. A ministry spokesperson said Beijing had notified the US in advance of the new measures through their bilateral export control dialogue and held working-level talks as recently as Monday. The spokesperson added t

Hong Kong Islamic finance initiatives are gathering pace as the city positions itself as North Asia’s hub for Shariah-compliant financial products. Companies are exploring sukuk bond issuance to attract Middle Eastern capital into the Greater Bay Area, officials and bankers said. Standard Chartered’s David Yim noted growing interest in sukuk listings following government roadshows in the region. Financial Secretary Paul Chan highlighted that Hong Kong’s legal framework alread

Malaysia family office tax incentives could deliver up to MYR10.7bn (USD2.5bn) in economic benefits, according to Juwai IQI Global Wealth Office head Haroon Anwar. The new package aims to attract single-family offices (SFOs) with assets of at least MYR30m, a threshold below Hong Kong’s and far under Dubai’s MYR211m. It requires MYR500,000 in annual domestic spending and offers up to 20 years of 0% income tax plus exemptions on stamp duty and capital gains. Anwar said long-ter

HSBC Hong Kong cross-border wealth hub ambitions were reinforced by chief executive Georges Elhedery, who reaffirmed Hong Kong’s centrality to the bank’s long-term growth. He described the city as a core market and gateway between mainland China and global capital, predicting it would become the world’s largest cross-border wealth hub by 2030. Elhedery noted that HSBC has been adding around 100,000 new clients a month in Hong Kong over the past two years, highlighting the cit

A new FedEx survey Asia-Pacific trade reveals that more than 40% of APAC businesses plan to pivot away from the United States within a year, as firms adjust to regulatory changes and supply-chain pressures. Of those surveyed, 22% will target Asian markets and 21% will shift toward Europe. The survey of 3,800 companies across nine regional economies follows the US ending its de minimis rule in August, which had exempted imports under USD800 from customs duties. The policy chan

IMF global economy outlook shows resilience but continuing fragility, according to Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva ahead of the Fund’s annual meetings in Washington. She said global growth is performing better than expected, supported by sounder policy fundamentals and private-sector adaptability. However, persistent uncertainty and trade tariffs continue to weigh on the outlook. The IMF projects medium-term global growth at around 3%, below pre-pandemic averages. Geor

The UK-Vietnam Business Summit 2025 will focus on deepening bilateral cooperation in finance and renewable energy. Scheduled for 5 November in Ho Chi Minh City, the event aims to strengthen collaboration in developing an international financial centre and advancing clean energy projects. UK Consul General Alexandra Smith said the partnership builds on the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the UK’s entry into the CPTPP, which removed tariffs on 99% of UK exports to Vietnam.

Growing AI investment anxiety in South Korea is driving fears among investors about missing out on new technology opportunities. A Korea Press Foundation survey of 1,000 respondents revealed that 59.1% felt uneasy about lagging behind in AI investment trends, with anxiety peaking among those in their 30s at 64.5%. Around 67.2% feared not gaining AI-related work skills, while 54.9% expressed concern over the fast-rising AI education boom. Researchers said the findings highligh

Hong Kong’s Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) surpassed HKD1.5tr (USD192bn) in total assets for the first time at the end of September, reaching a record HKD1.53tr, according to provisional data from the MPF Schemes Authority. Equity and mixed-asset funds, which account for nearly 80% of total assets, posted average net returns of 18.8% and 10.6%, respectively, over the past year. The Core Accumulation Fund under the Default Investment Strategy achieved a 9.8% return for the sam

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia’s economy has shifted from a phase of uncertainty to one of recovery, progressing from defensive stabilisation policies to proactive structural reform. Speaking at the Khazanah Megatrends Forum 2025, Anwar highlighted that growth remains steady, inflation controlled, and unemployment low, but warned of the need to prepare for future global disruptions. He stressed that Malaysia’s fiscal consolidation is guided by prudent stewardship

Hong Kong is preparing a new round of stock exchange reforms aimed at expanding access for smaller and more diverse companies, with multiple voting rights, to list on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The proposed Hong Kong listing reforms, announced by Salina Yan Mei-mei, Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, seek to lower qualification thresholds and widen eligibility across industries while maintaining listing quality. Yan told lawmakers that simplifying

Singapore’s digital economy 2025 expanded to SGD128.1bn (USD99bn) in 2024, accounting for 18.6% of GDP, up from 18.0% in 2023 and 14.9% in 2019, according to the Infocomm Media Development Authority’s (IMDA) latest report. The Infocomm Media Development Authority said more than two-thirds of the digital economy’s output came from non-Information & Communications sectors, led by finance and insurance, wholesale trade, and manufacturing. SME digital adoption climbed to 95.1%, w