Rising Singapore business costs have become the leading concern for local companies as global uncertainty, weaker demand and supply-chain disruption weigh on profitability. A Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry survey of 540 businesses found that 80% were concerned about higher operating expenses, up from 65% a year earlier. Although 78% expected to remain profitable in 2026, 56% anticipated lower earnings than in the current year. Companies said they were resp

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

Family business succession should focus on developing capable stewards rather than automatically transferring management control to an heir, according to Angela Koh, UOB Private Bank's head of wealth planning and family office advisory services. Koh said future leaders need sound judgement, emotional maturity, resilience and a commitment to preserve and grow family capital. Families can reduce conflict by separating ownership from management and creating clear governance stru

AI skills in finance are becoming more valuable than traditional business qualifications, with 86% of US finance executives saying AI training is more useful than an MBA for many new employees, according to PwC. The survey of more than 1,000 executives found that 91% of companies were increasing compensation for workers with artificial intelligence capabilities. Employers are particularly seeking professionals able to build, deploy and manage AI agents across financial operat

Hong Kong SME credit conditions remained broadly stable during the second quarter of 2026, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority's latest survey of small and medium-sized businesses. Excluding respondents who were uncertain about banks' lending stance, 78% viewed credit approval conditions as similar to or easier than six months earlier, up from 73% in the first quarter. The proportion reporting more difficult conditions declined to 22%. Among SMEs with existing credi

The ASEAN and China free trade agreement is expected to be upgraded by the end of 2026 as both sides seek to deepen cooperation in digital trade, green commerce and regional supply chains. Officials attending the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement Joint Committee meeting discussed completing negotiations on ACFTA 3.0 before a leaders' summit scheduled for November. The revised framework will introduce new commitments covering digital trade, environmental goods and services, and

A Hong Kong family office yacht investment by TGG Group will support Central Yacht’s expansion across China’s Greater Bay Area and the development of vessels tailored to Asian owners. TGG Group, the single-family office led by Barry Lau, has invested in the yacht designer, builder and operator, with Lau joining Central Yacht as a partner. The agreement combines TGG’s capital and regional commercial network with Central Yacht’s experience in owner representation, new-build sup

Proposed Philippines tax reforms covering workers, small businesses and energy costs have become central to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s final legislative push. In his fifth State of the Nation Address, Marcos urged Congress to exempt employees earning up to PHP350,000 (USD5,679) annually from income tax, remove the minimum corporate income tax for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and approve a one-time tax amnesty. He also called for amendments to the Electric P

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

Malaysia economic growth is expected to remain near the upper end of the central bank’s 4% to 5% forecast range despite higher energy costs linked to conflict in the Middle East. Bank Negara Malaysia Governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said domestic momentum remained resilient and inflation was manageable, although global uncertainty and elevated fuel prices continued to create risks. The central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.75% in July for a sixth consecu

FinEx Club AI governance was a central theme at the organisation's Strategic Advisory Board reception in Hong Kong, where members reviewed a year of initiatives spanning financial markets, tokenisation, artificial intelligence and executive development. The event brought together founder and chairman Morris Hui, senior adviser Jonathan Watkin, chief executive of Asia First Financial Insights, and other advisory board members. Lawrence Au introduced the FinEx Club Research Cen

Thailand business closures increased sharply during the first half of 2026 as rising operating costs, subdued consumer demand and intensifying competition forced more companies to cease operations, according to the Department of Business Development. A total of 7,024 businesses closed during the six-month period, an increase of 12.5% from a year earlier. Registered capital associated with those closures surged to THB98.9bn (USD3.02bn), up 224%, indicating that larger business

The global faith-based investing market has grown to approximately USD169bn across 853 investment strategies, but these funds continue to trail conventional products in diversification, costs and long-term performance, according to Morningstar. As of 30 April 2026, Morningstar found that faith-based passive funds charged roughly twice the average asset-weighted fees of comparable conventional products, largely because of limited competition and fewer passive investment option

China global reputation has improved significantly, with the country now viewed more favourably than the United States across most surveyed markets, according to a new Pew Research Center study. Among 20 countries with comparable historical data, a median 48% of respondents expressed favourable views of China in 2026, compared with 36% for the United States. This represents a sharp reversal from 2023, when the corresponding figures were 32% and 58%, respectively. China achiev

LEAP East Hong Kong has secured a long-term future in the city after organisers confirmed a three-year partnership that will keep the technology and innovation summit in Hong Kong through 2029. The inaugural three-day event attracted approximately 25,000 participants, including 600 investors overseeing more than USD6.5tr in assets, alongside 340 speakers, 450 exhibitors and 300 startups. Organiser Tahaluf, together with the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the Innovation, Technolo

Private markets data is set to become more transparent and standardised after MSCI and UBS announced a strategic partnership aimed at improving reporting quality, analytics and benchmarking across private assets. The collaboration responds to growing industry demand for more consistent performance measurement as private markets continue to expand. Under the agreement, UBS will adopt MSCI's artificial intelligence-powered private markets platform, contributing expertise from i

Singapore expat wealth continues to grow despite higher living costs and currency volatility, with most expatriates saying overseas employment has accelerated both their financial independence and retirement plans. According to a survey by St James's Place Asia, 93% of respondents believed relocating abroad had brought financial freedom closer, while 83% said it had helped them retire sooner than expected. The study found that 96% earned more than they would in their home cou

Chinese banks continue to dominate the global banking industry, occupying seven of the world's top 10 positions by Tier 1 capital in The Banker magazine's 2026 Top 1000 World Banks ranking. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China and Bank of China retained the top four positions globally, while Postal Savings Bank of China entered the top 10 for the first time. JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Citi were the only non-Chin