Southeast Asia wealth expansion is gathering pace as OCBC’s Indonesian unit agrees to acquire HSBC Indonesia’s wealth and premier banking portfolio. The transaction will transfer 336,000 customers, SGD6.6bn (USD4.88bn) in assets under management and around 1,300 staff to PT Bank OCBC NISP. The portfolio includes SGD4.3bn(USD3.18bn) in investments, SGD2.3bn(USD1.70bn) in deposits and SGD0.3bn(USD0.22bn) in retail loans, based on unaudited end-2025 figures. OCBC said the deal w

Thailand private trust reforms are being proposed to attract up to THB1tr (USD27bn) in global wealth within two years. The Association of Investment Management Companies said the framework is designed to position Thailand as a regional asset management hub, drawing inspiration from Singapore’s model while adapting it locally. Private trusts are widely used by high-net-worth individuals, family offices and institutions for cross-border investment, succession planning and asset

Singapore safe-haven property demand is rising as Chinese developers increase investment in the city-state’s residential market. Mainland Chinese firms were the second-largest investors in Singapore in 2025, accounting for 21% of SGD14.16bn (USD10.48b) in fixed-asset investment, up sharply from 2.5% a year earlier. Recent deals include a SGD951m (USD703.74m) site at Dover Drive acquired by CNQC Realty, Forsea Residence and Jianan Realty Investments, as well as Kingsford Group

AI financial crime detection is advancing as the Monetary Authority of Singapore works with local banks, GovTech and the police to strengthen scam detection capabilities. MAS said it is running a proof-of-value exercise using data from five banks to develop machine learning models that can identify higher-risk transactions and suspicious accounts earlier, enabling faster intervention and potentially reducing customer losses. The project operates within a secure data-sharing e

HKEX gold futures are set for a comeback as Hong Kong moves to strengthen its commodities and precious metals trading ecosystem. Acting financial services secretary Joseph Chan said the exchange plans to relaunch gold futures in the coming months, with improvements to contract design and delivery mechanisms. HKEX is consulting market participants and stepping up investor education efforts ahead of the launch. Chan added that preparations for a central gold clearing system are

Family office footprint strategies are shifting as Alta Advisers, the London family office managing wealth for the UK branch of the Rausing family behind Tetra Pak, winds down its Hong Kong presence, Bloomberg reported, citing regulatory filings. The firm ceased investment operations in the city last year and is removing its Hong Kong entity from the business registry, while retaining an Asia presence through its Singapore unit, Maywood Asset Management. The move reflects a b

Malaysia family office scheme activity is gaining traction as Censuria Family Office engages AFFIN Group’s wealth management and financial advisory arm to formulate its strategy ahead of registration under the Single Family Office Incentive Scheme. Led by capital markets investor Datuk Marco Yap, Censuria invests mainly in listed equities, pre-IPO opportunities and fixed-income securities. The firm also plans to explore co-investments, strategic growth initiatives and cross-b

Taiwan family wealth reached a record NTD183.7tr (USD5.82tr) at the end of 2024, rising 7.35% from a year earlier as gains in equities and property lifted household balance sheets, government data showed. Securities holdings surged 21.76% to NTD37.28tr, supported by a 28% jump in the TAIEX and strong demand for AI-related technology stocks. Housing assets reached NTD55.03tr, representing about 30% of household net worth, while financial assets accounted for around 67%, reflec

AI access restrictions are emerging inside global financial institutions as Goldman Sachs bars its Hong Kong bankers from using Anthropic’s Claude models, according to the Financial Times. The restriction prevents staff in the city from accessing Claude directly or through Goldman’s internal AI platforms, although it does not apply to other providers including OpenAI. The move followed a strict reading of the bank’s contractual arrangements with Anthropic, whose models are no

Southeast Asia private banking expansion is accelerating as Lombard Odier appoints Edwin Tan as market head for the region, effective July 13, 2026, as the Swiss private bank strengthens its regional leadership. Based in Singapore, Tan will report to Asia private clients head Omar Shokur and will be responsible for launching and leading a new Southeast Asia team, including hiring relationship managers and specialists to serve clients across key markets. Tan joins from DBS, wh

Taiwan equity funds are set to gain greater flexibility as regulators raise the single-stock holding limit to 25% from 10% for domestic funds. The Financial Supervisory Commission said the change applies to equity funds and active ETFs, although holdings cannot exceed a company’s weighting in the benchmark index. The adjustment reflects the growing dominance of technology stocks in Taiwan’s market and rising concentration among large-cap firms. Regulators said the reform will

ASEAN equity fund offerings are expanding as BlackRock launches a new quantitative strategy under Singapore’s Equity Market Development Programme. The fund will invest across 100 to 300 securities in markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with around half allocated to Singapore equities. The ASEAN equity fund focuses on small and mid-cap companies, where inefficiencies may offer stronger return potential. BlackRock said the st

Hong Kong IPO market activity remains strong, with listings raising more than HKD140bn (USD18bn) so far this year, maintaining the city’s position as the world’s top fundraising venue. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said average daily turnover has exceeded HKD280bn since last month, reflecting renewed market momentum after volumes reached a four-year high in 2025. The rebound in the Hong Kong IPO market is boosting investment banks and intensifying competition for dealmakers,

Middle East family offices are increasingly shifting capital toward Hong Kong and broader Asia as geopolitical tensions drive diversification away from the conflict zone. HSBC Private Bank said some affluent Middle Eastern families are using Asia as part of global portfolio diversification, with Hong Kong benefiting from its role as a gateway to mainland China. HSBC’s wealth balances in Asia rose 16.3% to USD1.05tr last year, reflecting sustained inflows. Market participants

Asia investment banking activity remains resilient as Citigroup plans to add senior bankers in Japan and China to strengthen its regional deal pipeline. The hiring push follows a global restructuring and reflects continued demand for cross-border mergers and acquisitions despite geopolitical uncertainty. Citi said Japan offers strong opportunities as governance reforms, restructuring and activism drive deal activity, while in China the bank is targeting high-growth sectors as

Family office succession dynamics are shifting as younger heirs take a more active role in shaping investment strategies, according to a global study by Ocorian. The survey found that 79% of respondents reported increased next-generation involvement, while 97% said heirs’ priorities differ from founders. Key areas of divergence include private markets, digital assets, physical assets, risk appetite, geopolitics and even office location. The study covered 200 family office mem

China bond futures access is expanding as regulators allow qualified foreign investors to trade government bond futures, widening participation in the country’s capital markets. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said approved QFII investors may trade the contracts strictly for hedging purposes, providing additional tools to manage interest-rate risk. The move comes as global investors seek refuge in yuan-denominated assets amid geopolitical tensions, with the currenc

Japan shareholder rules are set to tighten as policymakers respond to growing pressure from activist investors. Lawmakers from the ruling party plan to propose higher thresholds and limits on shareholder proposals involving business execution, with recommendations expected to be submitted next month. Currently, investors can submit proposals after holding either 1% of voting rights or 300 voting units for six months, a requirement critics say has become easier to meet due to

Singapore brokerage expansion is advancing as Robinhood receives in-principle approval from the Monetary Authority of Singapore to offer a range of investment services. The approval allows the US fintech firm to potentially provide trading in securities, exchange-traded derivatives, custody, product financing and collective investment schemes once conditions are met. Robinhood said Singapore brokerage expansion will position the city as its Asia-Pacific headquarters, supporte

Hong Kong family offices are seeing strong momentum, with around 160 firms preparing to establish or expand operations in the city, according to Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui. He pointed to a rise in enquiries and site visits from overseas investors as evidence of sustained global interest. The growth in Hong Kong family offices is supported by the city’s strong connectivity, regulatory framework and established role as a regional wealth manage