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

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

Family office impact investing is increasing as younger wealth holders seek measurable social and environmental outcomes alongside competitive financial returns. A report by The Venture Network and 220dots said traditional philanthropy remains widespread, with 71% of family offices globally supporting charitable activities. However, many families are expanding into investments designed to generate both financial performance and broader societal benefits. Global impact investi

The Korea Post venture fund mandate is seeking up to three asset managers to oversee a KRW60bn (USD41m) domestic venture capital allocation for the state-run postal agency's insurance unit. The blind fund will have a five-year investment period and primarily target South Korean startups, small and medium-sized enterprises and high-technology companies, according to a request for proposals issued on 30 July. Korea Post did not disclose detailed selection criteria for participa

Taiwan brokerage accounts increased by 118,840 during July to a record 14.61 million, led by younger investors despite extreme stock-market volatility. Taiwan Stock Exchange data showed that account holders aged 19 and below recorded the largest increase, rising by 43,116 to 828,674. Investors aged between 20 and 30 increased by 32,813 to 1.89 million. Together, these two age groups accounted for almost 64% of the monthly increase. Investors aged 61 and above remained the lar

ASEAN infrastructure investment should be driven by private capital and commercial discipline, supported by predictable government policies and deeper regional integration, according to Singapore Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Defence Chan Chun Sing. Speaking at the ASEAN & Asia Forum, Chan said investors choose Singapore for its consistent delivery and global connectivity rather than the size of its domestic market. Policy certainty is particularly important f

The Hong Kong growth forecast for 2026 has been raised by UBS to 4.5% from 3.3%, placing the bank's outlook above the market consensus of 3.5%. Hong Kong's economy expanded 4.3% year on year during the second quarter, below expectations of 4.9%. Nevertheless, UBS expects steady growth to continue, supported by the development and implementation of China's next Five-Year Plan. Song Yu, chief China economist at UBS Securities, said policy priorities have shifted towards support

China and Hong Kong capital markets cooperation is set to deepen through new measures supporting cross-border listings, offshore yuan products and faster exchange-traded fund approvals. The Securities and Futures Commission and the China Securities Regulatory Commission said eligible mainland companies would continue receiving support for Hong Kong listings, while qualifying Hong Kong-listed firms could seek listings on mainland exchanges. Hong Kong companies may also issue b

Singapore assets under management increased 10% during 2025 to SGD6.7tr (USD5.2tr), supported by stronger financial markets and rising international capital inflows, according to a Monetary Authority of Singapore survey. Traditional asset classes, including equities and bonds, expanded 9%, while alternative investments such as private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and real estate grew 0.4%. Overseas investors accounted for 76% of assets, with 88% invested international

South Korea leveraged ETFs could face further restrictions as regulators seek to reduce market volatility and strengthen protection for retail investors. Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol and senior financial officials recently discussed proposals that could limit single-stock leveraged exchange-traded funds to 20% of an individual's investment portfolio. Officials said these products had contributed to heightened market volatility and agreed that further safeguards should be in

The Taiwan economic indicator remained at a red level in June for a seventh consecutive month as strong artificial intelligence demand continued to support exports, industrial sales and investment. The National Development Council said the composite business monitoring score increased by two points from May to 41, marking the second-longest red-level streak on record. Leading and coincident indicators also strengthened. Demand for semiconductors, chips and servers continued t

New Singapore sustainability reporting standards have been proposed by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, combining mandatory climate disclosures with voluntary reporting on broader sustainability matters. The draft Singapore Sustainability Disclosure Standards are based on the International Sustainability Standards Board’s S1 and S2 frameworks. Climate-related disclosures aligned with S2 would be compulsory, while the wider S1 sustainability requirements woul

The Peter Lee family office is accelerating its expansion into Central Asia through planned investments exceeding USD1bn in green energy projects in Kazakhstan. Alan Chan Ying-lung, managing partner of Full Vision Capital, the family office of Henderson Land Development co-chairman and managing director Peter Lee Ka-kit, said the firm is advancing projects in Astana involving sustainable aviation fuel, smart energy storage and related clean technologies. Trial production usin

The HKMA quantum readiness programme aims to prepare Hong Kong’s banking sector fully for quantum-related cybersecurity risks by 2030 after the regulator’s first industry index revealed limited progress. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Quantum Preparedness Index scored the banking sector at just 2.3 out of 10. Around 68% of surveyed banks had reached the awareness, planning or pilot stage, while 32% had yet to begin preparing for the transition. Approximately half lacked a

Sports investments Asia are accelerating as wealthy families, institutional investors and private equity firms increasingly acquire minority stakes in sports teams, leagues and sports technology businesses rather than traditional sponsorship rights. According to LSEG data, Asia-Pacific sports mergers and acquisitions reached a record USD3.69bn during the year to 13 July, more than 12 times the level recorded a year earlier, while global sports M&A remained broadly stable at U

China private funds have reached a record RMB23.66tr (USD3.5tr), supported by strong growth in private securities investment funds and renewed activity across venture capital and private equity markets. According to the Asset Management Association of China, private securities investment funds exceeded RMB8tr (USD1.2tr) for the first time at the end of June, helping the broader industry record its twelfth consecutive monthly asset record. Assets increased by RMB1.51tr during

The Asia private equity industry is confronting an acute shortage of experienced portfolio company executives, creating new challenges as fundraising accelerates and investors place greater emphasis on operational value creation. Preqin data showed that the ten largest Asia-focused private equity funds closed during the first half of 2026 raised USD45.5bn, more than double the comparable period a year earlier. However, firms are increasingly finding it difficult to recruit ch