The Hong Kong growth forecast for 2026 has been raised by UBS to 4.5% from 3.3%, placing the bank's outlook above the market consensus of 3.5%. Hong Kong's economy expanded 4.3% year on year during the second quarter, below expectations of 4.9%. Nevertheless, UBS expects steady growth to continue, supported by the development and implementation of China's next Five-Year Plan. Song Yu, chief China economist at UBS Securities, said policy priorities have shifted towards support

Paragon family office coverage is expanding following the appointment of Thitaree “Pat” Natthikawong as vice-president and partner at Singapore-based wealth management boutique Paragon Capital Management. Natthikawong brings experience in fund distribution, capital raising and merchant banking across Southeast Asia, supported by relationships in Singapore, Hong Kong and other regional financial centres. Paragon said her network and Thailand-focused expertise would strengthen

Kaohsiung family offices are playing an increasingly important role in Taiwan's ambition to become a leading Asian asset management centre, with banks in the city's financial zone now advising 189 family offices. The Financial Supervisory Commission said these family offices oversee NTD91.5bn (USD2.8bn) in assets. During the zone's first year, 57 financial institutions, including banks, insurers and investment firms, established operations. Banks are also serving 427 wealth m

Singapore assets under management increased 10% during 2025 to SGD6.7tr (USD5.2tr), supported by stronger financial markets and rising international capital inflows, according to a Monetary Authority of Singapore survey. Traditional asset classes, including equities and bonds, expanded 9%, while alternative investments such as private equity, venture capital, hedge funds and real estate grew 0.4%. Overseas investors accounted for 76% of assets, with 88% invested international

Taiwan family offices are increasingly turning to Singapore to institutionalise wealth, expand internationally and prepare for intergenerational succession as Taiwan's AI-driven economic boom creates a new generation of ultra-high-net-worth families. Wealth managers and legal advisers reported a sharp increase in enquiries over the past year for trusts, single-family offices, variable capital companies and investment fund structures. KGP Legal said it had received more than 1

Family office governance must become more structured if wealthy families are to achieve successful intergenerational transitions, according to executives speaking at the VCCircle Family Office Summit 2026. Panellists said many family offices are increasingly separating ownership from day-to-day management by appointing chief investment officers and adopting formal investment policy statements, family constitutions and dispute-resolution mechanisms. Younger generations are als

Global wealthy families are increasingly spreading assets, businesses and residency rights across multiple jurisdictions as geopolitical uncertainty and tax reforms reshape international wealth planning. The Henley Private Wealth Migration Report 2026 ranked the United Arab Emirates as the world’s most competitive destination for internationally mobile wealth with a score of 85.3. Singapore placed second, followed by New Zealand, the Cayman Islands and Cyprus. Henley & Partne

HSBC Singapore hiring will add more than 200 employees across artificial intelligence and wealth management as the lender expands two businesses central to its Asian growth strategy. HSBC plans to recruit more than 100 AI specialists and a further 100 wealth managers. A new Singapore AI centre is expected to open during the second half of 2026, with roles spanning natural language processing, data science, AI governance and human-centred design. The centre will focus on perso

RBC Wealth Management Asia has appointed six senior private bankers across Hong Kong and Singapore as competition intensifies for experienced relationship managers serving wealthy Asian clients. In Hong Kong, the firm appointed Ivy Ma as executive director, Jackson Huang as director and Malcolm Chai as associate director. Ma joins from Standard Chartered, while Huang previously worked at Bank J. Safra Sarasin, DBS, Julius Baer and Goldman Sachs. Chai arrives from UBS. In Sing

Singapore investment tax cuts are under consideration as Hong Kong strengthens its appeal to global fund managers, private equity firms and family offices while attracting senior finance professionals back to the city. The Monetary Authority of Singapore is consulting the investment industry about possible reductions amid concern that Hong Kong’s proposed reforms could improve its competitiveness. Hong Kong plans to broaden the definition of investment funds, ease tax exempti

The China Renaissance investment theme could mark the beginning of a new phase for Chinese markets, with Bank of Singapore identifying advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence and the digital economy as major long-term drivers of returns. In its 2026 investment outlook, the private bank described "China Renaissance" as one of five structural investment themes expected to shape markets through 2030. It said higher-value manufacturing and North Asia's central role in glo

Chinese wealth diversification continues to support demand for overseas investments, with around half of affluent mainland Chinese investors planning to increase allocations to Hong Kong and US markets during the next 12 months, according to a DBS survey. The poll of 1,617 investors across mainland China and Hong Kong found that 51% of mainland respondents intended to increase exposure to Hong Kong, while 41% favoured US assets. Domestic markets remained important, attracting

Singapore fund managers could face increasing competitive pressure unless tax incentives are strengthened, with the Alternative Investment Management Association warning that portfolio managers and investment professionals are actively considering relocating to Hong Kong and other lower-tax jurisdictions. In a letter to the Monetary Authority of Singapore, AIMA said the trend extended beyond isolated cases, with member firms holding active discussions about relocating staff w

The Hong Kong IPO market could stage one of its strongest years on record, with BDO raising its forecast to between 180 and 200 initial public offerings capable of raising HKD400bn (USD51bn) during 2026. The accounting firm previously expected between 150 listings raising HKD300bn to HKD350bn but upgraded its outlook after approximately 100 companies had already completed flotations, generating HKD260bn. During the first two weeks of July alone, 16 companies collectively rais

Singapore family offices could benefit from revised investment incentives as the Monetary Authority of Singapore reviews tax concessions while Hong Kong expands measures to attract global wealth managers. According to the Financial Times, the MAS is considering changes to its 10% fund manager tax concession and additional measures to reduce operating costs for investment funds. The review comes as Hong Kong proposes broader preferential tax treatment covering funds, family-ow

UOB Private Bank Hong Kong has appointed Judy Chan as managing director for Hong Kong as the Singapore-based lender continues expanding its wealth management capabilities across Asia. Effective from July 2026, Chan will oversee client coverage, team leadership and the delivery of wealth solutions for high-net-worth individuals while strengthening client engagement and the bank's presence in Hong Kong. She will report to Chew Mun Yew, head of Group Private Bank. Chan brings ne

Hong Kong family offices are attracting increasing interest from wealthy European families seeking a strategic base for investing across Asia, according to BNP Paribas, as two-way capital flows between Europe and mainland China continue to strengthen. Lemuel Lee, the bank's head of wealth management in Hong Kong, said affluent European clients are increasingly viewing the city as an ideal location for conducting due diligence, sourcing investment opportunities and negotiating

Vietnam financial planning remains underdeveloped despite investors gradually diversifying their portfolios, according to a nationwide survey by Thien Viet Securities. The study of 1,000 investors holding at least VND500m (USD19,047) in assets found that bank deposits, property and gold still accounted for 87% of total household investments. While 55% of respondents used between two and three investment channels and 39% invested across four or five asset classes, equities, bo

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

Growing Asian wealth diversification is prompting wealthy families, founders and private investors to rebalance portfolios across multiple financial centres as geopolitical tensions in the Gulf encourage broader geographic risk management. Bankers and advisers said some high-net-worth families are reviewing Middle East exposure following renewed regional instability, travel disruptions and security concerns. However, industry executives stressed that the trend reflects pruden