Philippine CEO confidence remains strong despite growing concerns over regulatory uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, climate change and technological disruption. A PwC Philippines and Management Association of the Philippines survey of 176 CEOs and business leaders found that 83% were confident about their industry prospects over the next 12 months, while 81% expected company revenues to grow. Domestic consumption was the most frequently cited growth driver, followed by infr

Singapore climate financial risks must be reflected in company accounts where they are material, despite extended timelines for some sustainability disclosures, according to guidance from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Directors remain responsible under the Companies Act for ensuring financial statements provide a true and fair view of a company’s financial position and performance. Climate-related factors could affect asset valuations, useful lives, depre

Hong Kong billionaire hub status remains firmly established after the city retained its position as the world’s second-largest billionaire centre in 2025, according to Altrata’s Billionaire Census 2026. Hong Kong had 106 billionaires, two fewer than a year earlier, but their combined wealth continued rising to USD319bn. Property-sector weakness and relatively limited exposure to artificial intelligence-related gains weighed on the city’s billionaire population. New York remai

Hong Kong family office succession services are attracting Asian business-owning families seeking a base for governance, investment management and generational wealth transfer. Advisers say founder-led businesses increasingly want to separate operating capital from family wealth, while internationally dispersed families are looking for an Asian hub capable of supporting assets and heirs across multiple jurisdictions. Hong Kong had 3,380 single-family offices at the end of 202

Singapore Indonesia local currency settlement is now operational, allowing trade, direct investment and cross-border payments between the two markets to be conducted directly in Singapore dollars and Indonesian rupiah. The framework, launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Bank Indonesia, is designed to reduce foreign-exchange risks and transaction costs while encouraging broader use of regional currencies. Appointed cross-currency dealers will facilitate settleme

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

The Lawrence Ho family office is expanding into space technology through a USD1bn de-SPAC transaction involving Singapore-based satellite communications company Astrum Space. Black Spade Capital, the family office of Macau billionaire Lawrence Ho, will merge Astrum with Black Spade Acquisition III in its third de-SPAC transaction. The combined company intends to seek a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Founded in 2023, Astrum is developing a satellite-to-device communic

The first Hong Kong Five-Year Plan will be released alongside Chief Executive John Lee's annual Policy Address on Sept. 16, potentially providing greater clarity on how long-term development priorities connect with immediate government measures. Legislator Bill Tang urged officials to establish measurable performance indicators for innovation and technology, including research and development expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product and funding for gerontechnolog

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

Hong Kong remained first in the 2026 Asian Cities Internationality Index, reinforcing the city's position as one of the region's most internationally connected business centres. Hong Kong scored 74.6 points, ranking ahead of Singapore at 72.6. Seoul climbed to third with 69.2, followed by Tokyo at 68.6 and Shanghai at 65.3. The index, commissioned by the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce and conducted by Ipsos, assessed 11 cities across multiple measures of international

The Asia wealthy insurance market could generate USD100bn to USD140bn in annual new-business premiums by 2030 as family offices and private banks expand insurance-based wealth planning, according to McKinsey & Company. Only around 15% to 20% of Asia’s wealthy individuals currently incorporate life insurance into their financial plans, leaving a substantial portion of the market underserved. Asia-Pacific personal financial assets are forecast to reach USD120tr by 2030, while a

The HKEX multi-asset expansion strategy will broaden Hong Kong's financial market beyond equities, with the exchange also considering longer trading hours to increase its appeal to international investors. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing CEO Bonnie Chan said the exchange intends to sharpen its focus on fixed income, currencies, commodities and other asset classes as it develops a more diversified market ecosystem. HKEX will also continue broadening its listing pipeline beyon

The Maybank tokenised supply-chain financing transaction marks Malaysia's first such deal and demonstrates how tokenisation could improve access to working capital and trade finance. Maybank provided MYR1m (USD237,000) in financing to construction and building materials supplier Syarikat Logam Unitrade through Virtual Economy Technology's NexA platform for tokenised trade receivables. The pilot demonstrated an end-to-end tokenised process covering invoice approval, financing

China’s digital yuan network has expanded to 30 authorised operators after the central bank added eight financial institutions as it seeks wider adoption of the state-backed digital currency. New participants include Ping An Bank, Bank of Shanghai, Bank of Hangzhou and Bank of Changsha, according to the People’s Bank of China. The lenders will begin providing e-yuan services after completing required business and technical preparations. The expansion forms part of China’s 15t

Singapore business sentiment improved during the second quarter as cost expectations eased, although companies remained cautious about expansion, recruitment and the wider economic outlook. The Singapore Business Federation’s Business Sentiment Index rose two points to 53.3 for April to June, almost reversing the previous quarter’s decline but still indicating broadly neutral conditions. Banking and insurance, health and social services were among the most optimistic sectors,

The Kuala Lumpur family office hub is gaining another regional wealth platform after Marvel Capital Holdings opened an office to expand private trust, wealth structuring and succession services across Asia. Located at Mercu Aspire in KL Eco City, the new operation will provide services covering succession planning, wealth protection, insurance and cross-border family office structures for affluent families and business owners. Managing Director Jayden Wong said demand is incr

Hong Kong HNWI travel is becoming a greater lifestyle priority than property ownership as affluent residents increasingly value experiences, personal development and early retirement, according to Standard Chartered. The bank's Hong Kong Travel Value Report 2026 found that only 24% of respondents ranked purchasing a first or dream home among their major life goals. By comparison, 48% prioritised immersive travel and 49% selected early retirement. Among high-net-worth individu

Taiwan pension fund external managers are set to receive additional mandates as the Public Service Pension Fund seeks greater exposure to international equity markets. The USD49bn fund could allocate approximately USD200m each to several external managers providing access to overseas markets, according to people familiar with the plans. The final allocation and investment strategies have yet to be determined. Options being considered include passive and index-enhanced investm

The Global-Asia Family Office Summit 2026 – Partners Forum will be held in Singapore on Oct. 6, bringing together family principals, investors, entrepreneurs and industry specialists to examine priorities shaping family capital. The event at the Grand Hyatt Singapore will focus on investment strategies, wealth governance and approaches to managing capital across generations. Organisers said participants will hear directly from family principals and practitioners with experien