Southeast Asia AI financial decisions are becoming increasingly common, with around four in five consumers having acted primarily on artificial intelligence advice or recommendations, according to UOB. The bank’s 2026 Asean Consumer Sentiment Study surveyed 5,000 consumers across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Consumers in Vietnam and Indonesia reported the highest rates of positive outcomes from AI-assisted financial decisions, while Singapore had the

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”,

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

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

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

Hong Kong Kazakhstan investment ties are set to deepen as the two markets pursue a “hub-to-hub” model designed to connect Asian capital with Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Under the proposed approach, Hong Kong would provide Kazakh businesses with greater access to mainland China and wider Asian markets, while Kazakhstan would act as a gateway for Hong Kong investors seeking opportunities across Central Asia. The two sides are also pursuing institutional arrangements to sup

Singapore younger wealthy clients are becoming an increasingly important target for banks as millennials and Generation Z investors start investing earlier and progress more quickly into higher wealth segments. DBS said the number of millennial retail customers entering its Treasures segment, which covers clients with SGD350,000 (USD277,000) to SGD1.5m in investible assets, tripled in the first half of 2026 from a year earlier. OCBC recorded an almost 50% increase in customer

Asian wealth management growth could increasingly favour banks in Singapore and Hong Kong as household assets shift from deposits and property towards equities, bonds, funds and alternative investments, according to Morgan Stanley. The trend is expected to increase demand for private banking, investment management and advisory services as household wealth across Asia continues to expand. Morgan Stanley said Singapore should benefit from its position as a centre for family off

Japan Q2 GDP growth was stronger than initially estimated, reinforcing expectations that the Bank of Japan will continue raising interest rates. Gross domestic product expanded at an annualised 1.4% in April-June from the previous quarter, revised up from an initial 1.1% estimate. Non-annualised quarterly growth was 0.4%, government data showed. Capital expenditure fell 0.9%, a smaller decline than the previously estimated 1.2%, while private consumption was unchanged. Separa

The UBS family office funds programme is giving wealthy Asian investors access to strategies typically reserved for institutions, with a minimum overall commitment of USD5m. The Exclusive Manager Access Fund Program will initially launch in Singapore and Hong Kong before expanding to Taiwan, targeting high-net-worth individuals, ultra-high-net-worth investors and family offices. Clients must allocate at least USD500,000 to each underlying fund. The programme will begin with s

The OCBC Lee family fortune has risen to USD13.8bn as shares in the Singapore bank nearly doubled over the past year, supported partly by expansion of its wealth-management business. The family, whose largest asset is its OCBC holding, ranked fourth among Singapore’s wealthiest and recorded the largest increase in both absolute and percentage terms. OCBC’s wealth-management business grew 11% in the first quarter and accounted for 39% of total revenue. The bank has been expand

Barclays Singapore private bank capabilities are expanding with the launch of a new booking centre aimed at family offices and ultra-high-net-worth clients across Asia. The move marks Barclays’ return to an onshore private banking booking model in Singapore, around a decade after the British lender sold its regional private banking business to OCBC. The centre combines local booking capabilities with Barclays’ international network, giving clients access to banking, lending,