Hong Kong living investment ranked fifth among Asia-Pacific markets after attracting 24 student-housing conversion deals worth USD1.63bn since 2021, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Ten transactions valued at USD739.9m were completed during the first seven months of 2026, supported by accommodation shortages and continued growth in the student population. The APAC Living Investor Survey 2026 found that 90% of respondents were considering repositioning or change-of-use invest

Japan pension funds domestic bonds allocations are drawing renewed interest as defined-benefit schemes prepare for faster interest-rate increases by the Bank of Japan. A J.P. Morgan Asset Management survey of 82 funds conducted between April and June found that 10% planned to increase domestic bond holdings, representing the strongest appetite for the asset class since 2008. Overall domestic bond allocations remained broadly stable at 14.3%, although 62% of respondents were r

Asia-Pacific family office sustainable investment exposure is increasing as more wealthy families and asset owners allocate substantial portions of portfolios to impact and environmental, social and governance strategies. A Sustainable Finance Initiative survey found that 27% of respondents allocated more than half of their assets to impact and ESG investments in 2026, up from 17% in 2025. The Hong Kong-based organisation surveyed 121 family office representatives and princip

Chinese state-owned banks profits recovered simultaneously in the first half for the first time since 2022 as revenue increased and net interest margins showed early signs of stabilisation. ICBC, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, Bank of Communications and Postal Savings Bank of China generated more than RMB2tr (USD297bn) in combined revenue and around RMB712.6bn in attributable profit. Revenue increased by between 4% and 11%, while profit ro

Amova Vietnam asset management expansion is moving ahead through a proposed joint venture with BIDV Securities as the Japanese investment manager strengthens its Southeast Asian presence. The planned company, BSC Amova Asset Management, will serve individual and institutional investors by combining BIDV and its securities unit’s domestic customer base and local market expertise with Amova’s international investment capabilities. Establishment of the venture remains subject to

New South Korea leveraged ETF rules require investors to complete simulated-trading courses before buying leveraged exchange-traded funds as regulators seek to curb speculative activity. The measures particularly affect products linked to major technology stocks including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Trading volume in the affected products has fallen to around 4% of its June peak, while the ETFs recorded USD1bn of outflows in August, putting them on course for their firs

Vietnam fund management assets have reached more than VND846tr (USD32bn) as the industry takes a larger role in supplying long-term capital and supporting development of the country’s institutional investor base. At the end of June, 43 fund managers and 142 investment funds were operating in the market. Assets under management had increased 6.8 times from 2015, representing annual growth of more than 20%. Despite that expansion, managed assets remain equivalent to only around

Raffles Family Office CIO responsibilities will be assumed by Citi Private Bank veteran Ken Peng following his appointment as the multi-family office’s first chief investment officer. Peng will be based in Hong Kong and report to group CEO Chi Man Kwan. He will lead the firm’s investment function, shape overall investment strategy and provide stakeholders with views on macroeconomic developments, investment themes and portfolio sustainability. He brings more than 20 years of

FSB AI financial risks are increasing as advanced artificial intelligence changes the speed, scale and cost of cyberattacks, Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey has warned. In a letter to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, Bailey said many jurisdictions lacked sufficiently developed systems to manage the deployment of advanced AI. He identified AI-driven cyber threats as the most immediate concern, warning that financial institutions’ dependence on a

Singapore family office gold allocations can now increase without breaching tax-incentive conditions after the Monetary Authority of Singapore removed a 5% portfolio cap on precious metals from Aug. 1. The change applies to funds and family offices operating under the Section 13O and 13U tax-exemption schemes, giving qualifying investors greater flexibility to hold physical gold as a geopolitical and portfolio hedge. Raffles Family Office said its baseline allocation remains

Asia family office sustainable investment allocations are rising, with more family offices committing substantial portions of their portfolios to impact and environmental, social and governance strategies. A Sustainable Finance Initiative survey of 121 family office representatives and principal asset owners found that 27% allocated more than half of their portfolios to sustainable investments in 2026, up from 17% a year earlier. Overall, 58% invested more than 10% of portfol

Bitcoin Asia 2026 will bring investors, financial institutions and digital asset companies to Hong Kong on Aug. 27-28 as organisers seek to strengthen links between Bitcoin markets in Asia and the West. The two-day conference will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai and forms part of The Bitcoin Conference series, which organisers describe as the world's largest gathering focused on the cryptocurrency. The programme will feature industry spea

The Hong Kong fintech summit formed by the merger of Hong Kong FinTech Week and StartmeupHK is expected to attract more than 45,000 participants from 120 economies when it takes place on Nov. 2-3, 2026. The combined event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre will bring together finance, technology, startup and investment communities under the theme “Fintech Nexus: Bridging the World, Building the Future”. Organisers expect around 1,000 speakers, 800 sponsors, exh

The responsAbility Asia Climate Fund has closed at USD461m with backing from family offices, institutional investors, foundations and development finance institutions. The private credit vehicle targets companies operating in renewable energy, electric mobility, energy efficiency, circular economy and infrastructure across South and Southeast Asia. Its blended-finance structure uses concessional public-sector capital to mobilise commercial investment, with private commitments

Hong Kong startup support is being expanded through a new HKD10bn (USD1.27bn) technology fund and greater use of patient capital as the city positions itself as a gateway for mainland companies expanding internationally. Innovation Secretary Sun Dong said the Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund will target life and health technology, artificial intelligence, robotics, semiconductors and smart devices. Hong Kong Investment Corporation Chief Executive Clara Chan sa

Vietnam economic growth accelerated to 8.4% year on year during the second quarter of 2026, exceeding an earlier 7% forecast as manufacturing, construction and domestic demand strengthened. Gross domestic product expanded 8.2% during the first half, while exports jumped 21% to USD266.5bn and foreign investment increased 61% to USD34.65bn. Standard Chartered expects Vietnam’s economy to grow 9.5% in 2026 and accelerate further to 11% in 2027, according to Xinhua. The bank also

New Singapore fund manager tax measures have prompted some investment professionals to pause planned relocations to Hong Kong as competition between the two financial centres intensifies. Bloomberg reported that Singapore-based managers had put relocation decisions on hold after Monetary Authority of Singapore deputy chairman Chee Hong Tat outlined new tax and visa incentives during a Singapore Financial Leaders Network meeting. Singapore plans to exempt qualifying profit-rel

The Azalea evergreen private equity fund has attracted family offices, private banks and wealthy individuals from across Asia as the Temasek-linked investment manager raised more than USD1bn across three vehicles. Azalea All Access secured more than USD350m in initial commitments and offers exposure to private equity secondaries and co-investments through monthly subscriptions and quarterly redemptions. Azalea also closed Altrium Private Equity Fund III at USD526m in June and

Philippine stock broker capital requirements could be increased as the Securities and Exchange Commission seeks to strengthen investor confidence and deepen domestic capital markets. SEC Chairman Francis Lim said the current PHP100m (USD1.6m) minimum capital threshold was established 25 years ago, while some brokerages continue operating with capital of about PHP30m. Lim said brokers need sufficient resources to support investor education, compliance and increasingly complex

The Partners Group Asia private credit business has secured a USD1bn mandate from an unnamed Asian institutional investor as sovereign wealth funds and insurers increase allocations to private lending. The evergreen mandate includes a discretionary allocation and co-investment capital targeting senior and junior direct-lending opportunities across Asia-Pacific. Partners Group said it has secured more than five Asian institutional mandates over the past year, including an EUR8