Singapore family office tax rules have been relaxed to provide greater operational flexibility while stronger checks are introduced on the origins of family wealth. The Monetary Authority of Singapore said revised conditions for single-family office funds took effect on Aug. 1. Applicants will receive more time to recruit investment professionals and greater flexibility in meeting requirements covering local expenditure and capital deployment. MAS has also removed continuous

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 finance talent is returning as stronger capital markets, recovering initial public offerings and increased investment activity revive hiring across financial services. Robert Walters Hong Kong Managing Director John Mullally said interest from overseas candidates has improved significantly from pandemic-era levels, with recruitment rising moderately during the past six to 12 months. Hong Kong's stronger equity market and IPO recovery have supported demand for profes

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

Asia wealth flows are strengthening as escalating Middle East tensions encourage wealthy families and high-net-worth investors to diversify more capital into financial centres such as Singapore and Hong Kong. Bankers and advisers said geopolitical uncertainty has prompted some Gulf-based investors to reconsider regional concentration and increase exposure to Asian markets. Singapore has been a significant beneficiary, with deposits rising SGD66.2bn (USD51.6bn), or 7.2% year o

Asset management consolidation is accelerating as falling fees, rising operating costs and growing demand for private markets force firms to choose between building greater scale or developing highly specialised investment capabilities, according to consultancy Alpha FMC. Institutional management fees have declined by around 3% annually, while passive strategies now account for approximately 39% of investments among the world's largest asset managers, senior partner Chris Kro

Proposed Hong Kong fund tax breaks for asset managers and family offices will exclude proprietary trading firms because businesses investing their own capital do not meet the government's definition of an investment fund. The clarification potentially excludes firms such as Jane Street, Citadel Securities and Jump Trading from incentives being introduced as Hong Kong competes with Singapore and Dubai for investment managers and financial talent. The government plans to broade

Asia-Pacific real estate investment strengthened significantly during the second quarter of 2026 as international investors returned to major markets including Japan and Singapore, according to Knight Frank. Commercial property investment rose 31.1% year on year to USD53.5bn, while cross-border investment surged 156.8% to USD12.5bn, representing 23.4% of total regional transaction volumes. Japan attracted USD5bn of international capital, while Singapore received USD3bn, more

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 Singapore 2026 GDP outlook has been raised sharply after stronger-than-expected second-quarter growth and continued artificial intelligence-related investment improved the economic picture. The trade ministry now expects the economy to expand between 4.5% and 5.5% this year, compared with its previous forecast of 2% to 4%. GDP grew 5.9% year on year during the second quarter, taking first-half growth to 6.1%. The ministry said the global surge in AI investment had exceede

China offshore trust tax changes are prompting wealthy mainland families and their advisers to review Singapore-based structures as Beijing strengthens scrutiny of overseas wealth. Rules announced on July 24 reinforce China's ability to tax offshore structures according to an individual's tax residence rather than simply the jurisdiction where assets are held, according to lawyers. Advisers have subsequently received enquiries from high-net-worth families, private banks, trus

Private credit fund liquidity is facing increased scrutiny after several major asset managers restricted investor withdrawals following a surge in redemption requests. Apollo Global Management limited withdrawals from its USD26bn Apollo Debt Solutions vehicle to 5% after redemption requests reached almost 17%, or USD2.4bn. Ares Management also capped withdrawals from its USD23bn Strategic Income Fund after requests reached 14.4%. BlackRock, Blackstone and Blue Owl have simila

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

China market regulator chief Luo Wen has formally left the State Administration for Market Regulation following his appointment as Communist Party chief of Hebei province. China's human resources ministry confirmed Luo's removal from the regulatory position after the 61-year-old was named Hebei's top official on July 31, replacing Ni Yuefeng. Hebei surrounds Beijing and forms an important part of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei economic region, making its provincial leadership an i

Singapore wealth management fees reached record levels at the country's three largest banks during the second quarter as continued inflows from affluent clients supported higher fee income. DBS Group's wealth management fees jumped 42% to SGD919m (USD716m), while fees at Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation increased 44% and United Overseas Bank recorded growth of more than 29%. The results highlight Singapore's continued attraction of regional and international wealth as the

South Korea investor leverage is unlikely to return to levels seen during the Kospi's first-half rally even if equities resume their advance, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Rena Kwok. Investors who borrowed heavily to pursue stock-market gains are reassessing their tolerance for risk following sharp market corrections and substantial losses, Kwok said. Regulators have tightened controls covering leveraged exchange-traded funds, while brokerages, banks and insuran

A proposed Hang Seng Tech Index expansion would increase the Hong Kong technology benchmark to 50 constituents from 30 and introduce revenue growth as an additional selection criterion. Hang Seng Indexes Company has proposed a dual-selection framework under which the 40 largest eligible companies by market capitalisation would qualify, while another 10 constituents would be selected according to revenue growth. The index compiler said the changes would improve representation

Asia millionaire migration is increasing demand for second passports and overseas residency as wealthy families incorporate geographic diversification into broader wealth and succession strategies. An estimated 165,000 millionaires could relocate globally in 2026, compared with a record 142,000 expected in 2025, according to private wealth migration estimates. Singapore has become a major destination for internationally mobile wealth, supported by its private banking, asset m

Hong Kong & Dubai climate finance cooperation will deepen when financial regulators from the two centres hold their third Joint Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong on Sept. 10. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will bring together corporate leaders, investors and policymakers to discuss partnerships, financing solutions and innovations supporting the transition towards lower-carbon economies. HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Y

China US tariffs are expected to increase by the end of 2026, according to more than half of Chinese corporate executives surveyed by UBS, while 40% anticipate tariff reductions. The UBS China C-Suite survey, conducted from May to mid-June, found that 57% of respondents expected bilateral relations to deteriorate, compared with only 12% anticipating improvement. Despite trade concerns, exporters reported improving demand. A net 14% said orders had strengthened from a year ear