ASEAN financial cooperation 2026 discussions are advancing as finance ministers and central bank governors explore ways to strengthen regional resilience at the 13th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting. Talks cover infrastructure finance, taxation, customs integration and climate finance, alongside progress on the ASEAN Single Window and Customs Transit System. Philippine Deputy Finance Minister Joven Balbosa said ASEAN financial cooperation 2026 must

South Korea crypto acquisitions are gathering pace as securities firms pursue purchases and stake investments in cryptocurrency operators while tokenised securities legislation remains delayed. Korea Investment & Securities is reviewing a potential acquisition of Coinone, while Mirae Asset Securities raised its stake in Korbit to 92% in February, securing management control. The shift highlights brokerages’ efforts to find new revenue streams as growth in traditional business

Hong Kong MPF monthly loss is set to exceed HKD100bn(USD12.8bn) for March, the worst monthly decline in dollar terms since the retirement scheme was launched 25 years ago, as global market turmoil linked to the Middle East conflict hit pension assets. MPF Ratings estimated that the city’s 378 MPF funds lost HKD103.3bn in the first three weeks of March, or 6.33%, with each of the scheme’s 4.8 million members losing an average of HKD21,542. The pension regulator urged members t

Indonesia QRIS payment network has officially expanded to South Korea after Bank Indonesia and the Bank of Korea launched a cross-border QRIS payment link under a local currency settlement framework. The linkage allows users to make retail payments directly between the rupiah and South Korean won, reducing reliance on the US dollar. Bank Indonesia said inbound QRIS transactions had reached 5.9 million and outbound transactions 1.7 million as of early April. Officials said the

Digital yuan programme China expansion accelerated after the People’s Bank of China added 12 new banks to the roster of institutions authorised to handle the state-backed currency, taking the total number of operators to 22. Newly approved banks include China CITIC Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Guangfa Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The central bank said the move is intended to improve the inclusiveness of digital yuan services and meet demand for safer and m

Hong Kong paperless securities regime is targeted for launch on Nov. 16, 2026, according to the Securities and Futures Commission, which said newly listed securities will have to be issued in paperless form from listing while existing listed securities will be brought into the system gradually over five years. The SFC said investors holding paper certificates could decide when to convert them into electronic form and that a commencement notice would be tabled before the Legis

World Data Organization Beijing was formally established after its first general meeting, where members adopted the charter and elected the first council and board of supervisors, according to the preparatory committee. The newly elected council then chose the organisation’s leadership and approved key rules and systems. The World Data Organization Beijing said it aims to promote global data development and governance, support compliant and secure cross-border data use, and h

Bursa Malaysia HKEX joint index development has advanced as the two exchanges launched a joint large-cap benchmark and signed an agreement to deepen capital market ties. The new HKEX Bursa Malaysia Large Cap Index tracks 60 stocks, split equally between the two markets, and is intended to support products such as exchange-traded funds. The exchanges also agreed to cooperate on dual listings, index development, ETF access, syariah-compliant securities and carbon market opportu

Vietnam digital asset tax rules now impose a 0.1% personal income tax on every digital asset transaction under the Finance Ministry’s Circular 32/2026, while exempting such transactions from value-added tax. The circular, effective from March 27, also sets a 20% corporate income tax for businesses providing digital asset services in Vietnam, while foreign institutional investors trading through those firms will pay the same 0.1% per transaction. The move comes as Vietnam rema

Korea social finance model discussions are gaining momentum as policymakers and industry groups explore how cooperative finance can revive struggling local economies. The National Credit Union Federation of Korea said about 300 officials, industry participants and overseas representatives attended an event on social and solidarity finance. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said such initiatives need stronger financial and institutional backing to function effectively. Speakers po

Ba Shusong Hong Kong developments have drawn attention after the former Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing managing director and chief China economist disappeared from public view, according to sources familiar with the matter. Mainland media speculated he had been detained for investigation, though no official confirmation was available. HKEX said Ba was no longer employed by the exchange operator and had left his part-time adviser role in late 2025. Ba, who frequently spoke o

Hong Kong eMPF complaints reached about 11,500 as of end-February, with 76% handled by the eMPF Platform Company in an average of 18 working days, Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui said. He said some employers and Mandatory Provident Fund members encountered difficulties when schemes first migrated to the platform, including delays in payment tagging and in identifying voluntary contributions, which meant records were not updated promptly. Hui said

Bank of Korea governor Shin nomination marks a significant leadership change as policymakers confront inflation risks from the Iran conflict and uneven domestic growth. President Lee Jae Myung nominated South Korean economist Shin Hyun-song, currently head of the economic department at the Bank for International Settlements, to succeed Governor Rhee Chang-yong when his term ends on April 20. Shin is expected to face a parliamentary hearing but the nomination cannot be blocked

China outbound investment quotas QDII expansion is planned as regulators prepare to raise quotas under the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor programme, allowing approved mainland institutions to channel more money into overseas assets. Zhu Hexin, head of China’s top currency regulator, said the move would better meet domestic institutions’ cross-border investment needs and support progress toward capital-account opening. He added that more than 90% of China’s capital-

Singapore MAS policy tightening inflation expectations are rising as economists increasingly expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore to raise its 2026 inflation forecasts and tighten policy in April. Core inflation accelerated to a 14-month high of 1.4% in February, while headline inflation eased to 1.2%, but MAS and the trade ministry warned imported cost pressures could rise as energy prices increase. Several banks, including Maybank, Bank of America and Standard Charter

Hong Kong SFC auditor controls review has urged tighter oversight of listed companies’ internal controls and auditor resignations. The regulator said issuers should fully resolve material control weaknesses before trading resumes and recommended stronger audit committee scrutiny. It also proposed measures to manage abrupt auditor exits, including earlier fee discussions and potential shareholder approval. The Hong Kong SFC auditor controls review reflects efforts to strengthe

Thailand pension fund reform risk breach has intensified after the USD88bn Social Security Fund exceeded its value-at-risk limit for the first time in two years. The breach was driven by exposure to Thai equities amid market volatility linked to Middle East tensions. Executives said governance issues and limited global diversification have constrained returns. The fund aims to shift toward a 50-50 asset mix by 2027. The Thailand pension fund reform risk breach highlights stru

South Korea split listing ban Kosdaq reform aims to address the Korea discount and improve shareholder value. The Financial Services Commission said duplicate listings would be restricted and the Kosdaq market split into premium and standard tiers. Authorities will also push companies with low price-to-book ratios to improve valuations and introduce new indices and ETFs. The South Korea split listing ban Kosdaq reform signals efforts to strengthen market competitiveness.

Singapore money laundering scandal banks have come under intensified scrutiny after authorities found more than SGD370m(USD274m) flowed through financial institutions linked to illegal gambling and unlicensed lending. Investigations uncovered assets including property, luxury goods and cryptocurrencies. The fallout led to tighter anti-money laundering enforcement, charges against former bankers and regulatory penalties. The Singapore money laundering scandal banks case unders

China HK AI spending finance gap persists as more than 61% of financial institutions in mainland China and Hong Kong allocate 10% or less of their technology budgets to artificial intelligence, according to PwC. The survey of 201 professionals and 20 interviews found firms are using AI mainly to augment staff rather than cut jobs, with applications across anti-money laundering, compliance, customer service and portfolio management. Talent shortages and organisational rigidity