Foreign investors Hong Kong sentiment is improving, with renewed confidence in the city’s financial markets, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan. He said overseas firms are expanding and leasing new offices, while nearly half of stock market inflows since September last year have come through Northbound funds, with the rest from Europe and the US. Chan added that multiple Middle Eastern companies will hold investment roadshows in Hong Kong next month targeting infrastr

The China Ministry of Finance debt unit 2025 has been established to tighten oversight of central and local government borrowing and reduce fiscal risks. The new department will set debt limits, manage issuance and repayment, draft regulations, and monitor implicit liabilities from local-government financing vehicles. Li Dawei has been appointed to lead the team, following a USD1.40tr debt-relief package launched in 2023. The unit will coordinate provincial quotas, swaps, and

Hong Kong crypto regulation 2025 will relax restrictions by permitting SFC-licensed crypto exchanges to connect local clients with global order books, replacing the ring-fenced trading model. The move aligns digital-asset rules with conventional securities and forms part of a three-year initiative that has introduced Bitcoin and Ether ETPs and a licensing framework for exchanges and funds. Although volumes remain below US levels, the SFC and HKMA plan to deepen liquidity by l

Vietnam digital finance 2025 is emerging as a cornerstone of the country’s growth strategy, according to officials at the Digital Financial Inclusion Conference co-hosted by the State Bank of Vietnam and IFC. Deputy Governor Pham Thanh Ha said the government aims to build a globally connected, trusted digital ecosystem supporting its financial hub ambitions. IFC’s Thomas Jacobs noted that fintech innovation could enhance SME lending and job creation. Vietnam’s initiatives inc

The HKMA e-HKD Pilot Programme 2025 has concluded its second phase, with 11 industry pilots confirming that both e-HKD and tokenised deposits can deliver cost-efficient, programmable, and resilient transactions. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said public confidence in the banking system ensures strong trust in both digital forms. As a credit-risk-free central bank instrument, e-HKD is now viewed as best suited for wholesale applications such as tokenised asset settlement an

Malaysia takaful ta`awun framework 2025 will be issued by year-end, expanding the scope of mutual assistance in Islamic insurance, Bank Negara Malaysia announced. The upcoming policy will define shariah and regulatory standards to support financial inclusion and resilience, aligning with maqasid shariah principles. The framework stems from the Sixth Centralised Shariah Authorities Forum held on 15 October, chaired by Datuk Prof. Dr. Ashraf Md Hashim and attended by 50 delegat

China QFII rules 2025 will see a major overhaul as the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced plans to simplify entry and operations for qualified foreign investors. The new framework introduces a “green channel” for sovereign wealth, pension, and charitable funds while expanding access to ETF options and commodity futures for hedging. CSRC Chairman Wu Qing said the reforms aim to enhance China’s market inclusiveness, adaptability, and competitiveness. The regulator

China QFII rules 2025 will see a major overhaul as the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced plans to simplify entry and operations for qualified foreign investors. The new framework introduces a “green channel” for sovereign wealth, pension, and charitable funds while expanding access to ETF options and commodity futures for hedging. CSRC Chairman Wu Qing said the reforms aim to enhance China’s market inclusiveness, adaptability, and competitiveness. The regulator

Vietnam VAT refunds 2025 are at the centre of calls for reform as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) urged the government to amend rules under the new VAT Law No. 48/2024/QH15. VCCI said complex refund procedures and delays are hurting cash flow and export competitiveness, especially for commodities with low margins such as coffee, pepper, and seafood. Firms must “pay first, refund later,” with coffee exporters advancing VND10tr (USD392m) a year and pepper pr

China crypto crackdown 2025 will intensify as the People’s Bank of China maintains restrictions on domestic cryptocurrency activity while monitoring offshore developments, Governor Pan Gongsheng said. Speaking at a Beijing conference, Pan noted that virtual assets—particularly stablecoins—remain immature and fail to meet key standards for customer verification and anti-money-laundering compliance. He warned that the growth of stablecoins increases vulnerabilities in global fi

SFC fund rule amendments could reshape Hong Kong’s asset management landscape as the Securities and Futures Commission launched a three-month consultation to widen retail access to private credit and increase derivatives flexibility. Under the proposed revisions to the Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds, authorised unlisted mutual funds may invest up to 50% of assets in private credit and other illiquid holdings, up from 15%, aligning with global standards. The SFC said the

HKMA stablecoin licenses will be tightly controlled under Hong Kong’s new Stablecoin Ordinance, which took effect in August, with the regulator signalling a high bar for approval. The HKMA expects only a limited first batch of issuers to be licensed early next year. Meanwhile, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing has reportedly queried at least five companies seeking to rebrand as Digital Asset Treasury firms holding large crypto reserves, citing listing rules that bar firms from

Invest Hong Kong unveiled the joint 10th-anniversary Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 from 3–7 November, for the city’s largest fintech gathering to date. Invest Hong Kong said the event will attract more than 37,000 attendees, 800 speakers and 700 exhibitors from over 100 economies. Organised with the HKMA, SFC and Insurance Authority under the theme “Curating the New Fintech Era,” the main conference will run 3–4 November at the Convention and Exhibition C

China Q3 GDP 2025 expanded 4.8% year on year, down from 5.2% in the previous quarter, as a prolonged property slump and subdued consumption offset stronger industrial output. January–September growth stood at 5.2%, close to Beijing’s about-5% target. Fixed-asset investment fell 0.5% in Q3 and consumer prices remained muted. Exports to the US declined 27% in September even as overall shipments rose 8.3%, reflecting trade tensions and supply-chain realignments. Residential prop

Singapore family office incentives are under scrutiny as authorities review a 2018 vehicle linked to Prince Holding Group chairman Chen Zhi, following his indictment in the US for allegedly directing a cyber-fraud network. Thailand’s Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau said it will coordinate with US agencies on potential asset seizures, while Singapore police are reviewing the case with overseas counterparts. US officials have seized around USD15bn in bitcoin, while the UK froz

UBS Hong Kong fine of HKD8m (USD1.03m) has been imposed by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) after the bank misclassified clients as professional investors for over 12 years. The SFC said the issue stemmed from an automated process that misread minimum portfolio thresholds for joint accounts, allowing UBS to sell products intended only for professionals and offer securities pooled lending without valid authorities. A review covering July 2018 to July 2022 found 560

Hong Kong fraud framework plans are advancing as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority urged banks to standardise procedures for handling customer fraud claims. Local media reported that the HKMA asked the Hong Kong Association of Banks to respond by 1 December, with adoption expected within three months of the final draft. The proposal covers authorised payments and transfers made through Hong Kong accounts, which are currently assessed case by case. The HKMA said liability in su

South Korea regulatory reform will be accelerated as President Lee Jae-myung pledges to ease excessive rules and revitalise business activity to support economic recovery. Speaking at a government meeting focused on the bio, renewable energy, and cultural sectors, Lee said rationalising regulations is vital to boost growth and address inequality. He warned that bureaucratic rigidity hampers effective policy execution and urged officials to adopt a more flexible stance toward

HKMA GenAI Sandbox has entered its second phase as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, in partnership with Cyberport, launches the next cohort to accelerate safe and responsible AI adoption in the financial sector. From over 60 proposals, 27 use cases were selected from 20 banks and 14 technology partners, prioritising innovation, complexity, and industry value. The new cohort shifts focus from experimentation to implementation, introducing “A.I. vs A.I.” governance checks and

Indonesia mutual fund foreign limits are set to rise as regulators prepare to relax restrictions for the country’s USD50bn fund industry, enabling greater global diversification. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has approved an industry proposal to raise offshore investment caps and is drafting new rules expected next year. Current regulations limit foreign holdings to 15% of net asset value, curbing flexibility and scale. The Indonesian Investment Managers Association