Singapore family office independence is becoming a growing priority as wealthy families increasingly source investments directly and engage independent advisers rather than relying exclusively on private banks. Speaking at the inaugural AI & Family Office Summit organised by the Private Family Society, co-founder Anupum Khaitan argued that family offices can become overly dependent on relationship managers whose business models encourage transaction activity. The trend reflec

The Malaysia family office scheme has attracted indicative assets under management of MYR20.8bn (USD5.1bn), strengthening the country’s ambitions to become a regional wealth management centre. The Securities Commission Malaysia said the government plans to introduce a multi-family office model under Budget 2027, expanding the existing Single Family Office Incentive Scheme. The proposed framework is intended to attract international wealthy families and asset owners while broa

Singapore wealth management hub competitiveness will depend on maintaining trusted regulations and improving efficiency as the city-state faces increasing competition from other international financial centres. Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said Singapore must continue strengthening its regulatory framework while ensuring that financial services remain attractive to wealthy investors. “You can trust Singapore to manage your wealth,” Gan told Bloomberg Television on Octob

Hong Kong double taxation agreements are being extended to six additional jurisdictions, strengthening the city’s international tax treaty network and providing greater certainty for cross-border investors. The government is advancing comprehensive double taxation agreements with Barbados, Jordan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Maldives, Norway and Rwanda, bringing its treaty network to 60 jurisdictions. Orders approved by the Chief Executive in Council on October 6 are scheduled f

Family office private credit allocation is increasing across Asia-Pacific, with family offices accounting for nearly 30% of regional private-credit assets under management, compared with approximately 23%-24% three years ago. Sanket Sinha, CEO of global asset management at Lighthouse Canton, said the increase reflects growing interest among Asian wealthy families in private-market opportunities and international investment growth. Despite accounting for nearly 35% of global g

Hana Securities family wealth services are expanding through a programme targeting 10 ultra-high-net-worth South Korean families with tailored investment, succession, and wealth management support. The brokerage said selected families would receive services covering investment portfolios, business succession, global asset allocation, and real estate investment advice. The programme will also provide tax and legal consulting, drawing on expertise across Hana Financial Group to

Hong Kong SFC powers over initial public offerings and listed companies are set to expand under proposed regulatory changes expected to take effect during the first quarter of 2027. The Securities and Futures Commission will be able to impose conditions on IPO applicants and listed issuers, including requirements that continue after listing. The measures would provide regulators with alternatives to immediate trading suspensions when addressing corporate misconduct or emergin

Singapore treasury AI adoption is gaining momentum as finance teams increasingly incorporate artificial intelligence into daily operations, although system integration difficulties and skills shortages remain significant obstacles, according to HSBC. The bank’s Redefining Treasury in Asia Pacific 2026 report found that 74% of Singapore respondents expect AI to be extremely or very useful within three years, down from 84% in the previous survey. However, 70% identified system

Taiwan family office services are expanding beyond Kaohsiung after the Financial Supervisory Commission authorised 11 banks to offer their services nationwide, supporting the island’s ambitions to become a major Asian asset management centre. The regulator announced on October 8 that 11 of the 17 domestic and foreign banks operating in Kaohsiung’s wealth management zone had satisfied requirements covering internal controls, risk management, customer complaints, and employee t

Asian family office private credit allocations are attracting growing interest as wealthy families seek capital preservation, downside protection, and greater flexibility in private-market portfolios. Tony Edwards, deputy CEO of Hong Kong-listed Sun Hung Kai & Co., said the firm was reallocating capital from private equity towards credit opportunities to improve portfolio stability. Family offices are also targeting artificial intelligence infrastructure through private credi

Hong Kong retirement planning is becoming more uncertain as workers consider the potential impact of artificial intelligence on employment, income, and their ability to achieve financial independence, according to T. Rowe Price. A survey of 1,004 working residents aged 30 and above found that 55% believed AI had made retirement less predictable compared with the previous generation. Almost half, or 49%, expressed concern about disruption to employment or business income, whil

The HKEX multi-asset ecosystem is set for expansion through longer trading hours, international partnerships, yuan-denominated commodity products, and tokenisation, according to Chief Executive Bonnie Chan Yi-ting. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing is discussing extending trading sessions across its derivatives and cash markets to improve market accessibility. The exchange operator also intends to strengthen international partnerships, particularly in the Middle East, Southeas

Family office governance and business succession are among the expanding priorities of the Advisory Board Centre as organisations navigate artificial intelligence, geopolitical uncertainty, and changing global markets. The organisation held its Megatrends Summit 2026 in Melbourne on October 9, bringing together advisers to examine how technological disruption and economic uncertainty are reshaping business strategy and governance. Discussions focused on the role of advisory b

IMF Asia AI growth projections suggest that accelerating investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure could provide a significant boost to economic activity across the region. International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the AI investment boom is helping sustain global economic growth at approximately 3%, with Asian economies benefiting particularly from demand for technology hardware. According to Georgieva, AI investment could increase eco

The HKMA investment summit is expected to attract senior executives from leading international financial institutions when Hong Kong hosts its fifth Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit from November 2 to 4. Executives from HSBC, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS, and Citadel Securities are expected to participate, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the preparations. Representatives from Standard Chartered, Franklin Templeton, State Street, and Bain Capit

Hong Kong FinTech Week will join forces with StartmeupHK for a major international event from November 2 to 6, bringing together financial institutions, technology companies, investors, and entrepreneurs to explore emerging innovations and cross-border opportunities. Organisers expect more than 45,000 participants, 1,000 speakers, and 800 sponsors, exhibitors, and startups. Delegations from more than 30 mainland Chinese and international markets are expected, with representat

Tighter offshore trust rules in China are creating uncertainty over Singapore’s appeal to wealthy Chinese families, as Beijing increases scrutiny of offshore trusts and overseas investments following the city-state’s own anti-money-laundering crackdown. Wealth advisers said enquiries from Chinese clients seeking to establish trusts and family offices had slowed, with some plans paused while investors assessed the tax changes. Singapore had more than 2,000 single-family office

Family offices in Asia are expanding beyond property, listed equities and direct business holdings into private equity, infrastructure and alternative investments, as younger generations seek greater diversification and flexibility, EQT executive Sueann Yeo said. Secondaries have become a core portfolio tool, providing diversified private market exposure and distinct cash-flow profiles, while evergreen structures are attracting interest for their greater liquidity flexibility

Changes to Hong Kong’s retail fund rules will give managers greater flexibility while strengthening investor safeguards, the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) said. Enhancements to the Code on Unit Trusts and Mutual Funds are due in November to improve the competitiveness of the city’s retail fund market. They include a Value-at-Risk approach to managing derivative exposure, enabling broader investment strategies and product offerings. The SFC will also streamline requi

A planned stock market overhaul in Vietnam will transfer all stocks listed on the Hanoi Stock Exchange to the Hochiminh Stock Exchange by the end of 2026, the State Securities Commission (SSC) said. SSC vice chairman Hoang Van Thu said technical testing between the exchanges and the Vietnam Securities Depository and Clearing Corporation was progressing as planned. The transfer date will depend on impact assessments and test results. The regulator is also studying a classifica