South Korea economic recovery momentum is strengthening on the back of heavy fiscal spending and firmer exports, according to finance minister Koo Yun-cheol, who pledged fresh measures to spread gains beyond Seoul. He told a meeting of economic ministers that consumer demand is improving, supported by government “consumption coupon” schemes, while 26 major public institutions plan to raise investment this year to KRW69tr (USD47bn) from an original KRW66tr budgeted for infrast

A sharper-than-expected Japan GDP decline of an annualised 1.8% in Q3 marked the country’s first economic contraction in six quarters, driven by slumping exports to the US under higher tariffs and weaker housing investment. The fall, though milder than predicted, showed net external demand shaving 0.2 percentage point off growth, while private consumption inched up 0.1% and capital spending rose 1%, reflecting uneven domestic momentum. Economists view the setback as temporary

Hong Kong property valuations are under intensified scrutiny as the city’s deepest real estate downturn since the Asian financial crisis prompts the banking regulator to monitor risks more closely. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has increased its oversight of lenders’ refinancing decisions involving stressed developers such as Lai Sun Development, urging continued credit support while reviewing exposure to commercial property loans, which account for about 8% of HKD10tr (US

UBS has partnered with Ant International to trial UBS tokenised deposits and real-time cross-border payments, marking one of Asia’s most prominent bank–fintech collaborations in digital finance. Under an MoU signed in Singapore, Ant will integrate UBS Digital Cash—first piloted in 2024—with its Whale blockchain treasury platform to test multi-currency tokenised deposits enabling instant transfers across Ant’s global entities. The initiative aims to enhance settlement speed, t

A sharper-than-expected Thailand GDP drop in Q3 underscored mounting economic headwinds as weaker factory output and a softer tourism recovery dragged growth to 1.2% year-on-year, below the 1.6% forecast and down from 2.8% in the previous quarter. On a quarterly basis, GDP contracted 0.6%—the first decline since late 2022 and the steepest since mid-2021—as exports, manufacturing, construction, government spending, and tourism all lost momentum amid US tariffs and a tougher gl

Revenue in Singapore’s accountancy sector rose 7.5% to SGD3.5bn (USD2.7bn) in 2024, with the Big Four accounting firms Singapore driving nearly half the increase, according to Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) AE Survey 2025. Industry takings grew by SGD244.5m, of which Deloitte, PwC, EY and KPMG contributed SGD112.5m, powered mainly by a 9.6% rise in audit and assurance income. The Big Four maintained dominance at about 70% of total industry revenue. Growt

Cambodia’s Prince Group said it categorically rejects Prince Group scam allegations that founder Chen Zhi built an internet scam empire, after authorities in the US and several Asian and European markets moved to seize assets. The US Justice Department last month unsealed an indictment alleging one of Asia’s largest transnational criminal organisations and forced‑labour compounds in Cambodia used for online fraud. US investigators said they had seized about USD15bn in bitcoin

Asia’s family offices and next‑generation wealthy entrepreneurs are fuelling demand for Vista’s private aviation services as the group puts Japan and Southeast Asia at the centre of its 2026 plan. Vista, parent of VistaJet and XO, said Japan is its fastest‑growing market, with membership up 67% year on year in H1 2025, supported by outbound corporate investment and ultra‑rich clients seeking global mobility. Industry data show Japan is set to attract about 600 new high‑net‑wo

Thailand’s main business lobby has urged lawmakers to reconsider three draft bills on labour protection, clean air and factory operations, warning they could raise costs and erode competitiveness amid a sluggish economy. The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking (JSCCIB) said the measures, though well-intentioned, risk undermining investor confidence and should undergo a full regulatory impact assessment. Federation of Thai Industries chairman Kriengkrai

The Singapore-based Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) and US payments firm Ripple have launched a partnership to train policymakers and regulators on digital assets, beginning with over 200 central bankers and supervisors from Australia, the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, Taiwan, and Indonesia. The “Decoding Digital Assets” programme spans six weeks, combining an eight-hour course with fortnightly live sessions and a tabletop simulation addressing risks such as cross-

Thailand will set up a new data bureau to trace suspicious fund flows tied to online gambling, scam accounts, and other grey-money channels, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas said. The system, due by December, will integrate data across ministries, banks, and regulators under a “Connect the Dots” task force with the Bank of Thailand. Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul backed the move amid questions over the baht’s firmness despite weak growth. Authorities said illicit fu

Bahrain has inaugurated the Bahrain International Commercial Court (BICC), a judicial platform designed in collaboration with the Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC). The initiative establishes a framework allowing appeals from BICC cases to be reviewed by an SICC International Committee composed of SICC judges and ad hoc BICC members. The Bahrain International Commercial Court will operate in English, permit foreign counsel participation, and allow the applicatio

Hong Kong director pay 2024 data show thirty-one executives of listed firms each earning over HKD100m (USD12.8m), according to activist investor David Webb’s financial website Webb-site. Li Auto founder Li Xiang topped the ranking with nearly HKD680m, followed by JS Global Lifestyle chairman Wang Xuning and J&T Global Express founder Jet Li Jie, who each earned around HKD520m, mainly from share awards. HSBC CEO Georges Elhedery ranked 23rd with HKD130m, more than double his 2

Growing AI investment anxiety in South Korea is driving fears among investors about missing out on new technology opportunities. A Korea Press Foundation survey of 1,000 respondents revealed that 59.1% felt uneasy about lagging behind in AI investment trends, with anxiety peaking among those in their 30s at 64.5%. Around 67.2% feared not gaining AI-related work skills, while 54.9% expressed concern over the fast-rising AI education boom. Researchers said the findings highligh

Philippines bank secrecy law reform has been endorsed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which said easing strict...

Citi Thailand economic outlook 2025 remains positive for investment despite sluggish growth, according to Sue Lee, Citi’s Asia South...

Seoul’s richest households earn almost five times more than the poorest, according to a Seoul Institute study highlighting widening...

Hex Trust has expanded its custody services to Etherlink, an EVM-compatible Layer 2 network on Tezos, enabling institutional access to...

Indonesian tycoon Prajogo Pangestu has grown his net worth by over USD20bn since April, reaching USD36.2bn, according to Bloomberg data....

Finance sector unions from Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have pledged to advance socially responsible finance and...