Malaysia capital market growth reached 2.4% in 2025, bringing total size to MYR4.3tr (USD1.09tr), supported by stronger corporate bond issuance and rising assets in the fund management sector, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia. Corporate bond issuance increased to 26 deals worth MYR64.33bn, up from 23 issues valued at MYR48.8bn in 2024, while assets under management rose 6.9% to MYR1.14tr. The Malaysia capital market remained resilient despite global volatility,

In This Issue: Why cultural intelligence and emotional quotient now outweigh credentials in family office hiring. How next-generation education has evolved from informal observation to structured, lifelong development. The role of artificial intelligence in redirecting educational priorities toward uniquely human skills. Hiring for Character: The Rise of Cultural Intelligence As family offices grow and professionalize, talent acquisition and retention have emerged as primar

Family office philanthropy is expanding as Raffles Family Office launches the Raffles Family Office Foundation to consolidate its charitable initiatives under a unified platform. The foundation was officially unveiled alongside the opening of the firm’s new Singapore office, marking a formal step in structuring its long-standing philanthropic work. Group CEO Chi Man Kwan said the new entity brings together years of giving focused on education, talent development and knowledge

Asia investment flows are strengthening as global investors increasingly turn to the region amid geopolitical uncertainty, according to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Chief Executive Bonnie Chan said global investment in Asia doubled to around USD6tr between 2014 and 2024, underscoring the region’s growing importance in global portfolios. She added that Asia’s capital markets have expanded fourfold since 2000 to exceed USD34tr by the end of 2024. The rise in Asia investmen

Singapore business impact is deepening as two-thirds of companies report moderate to severe disruption from the Iran war, according to a survey by the Singapore Business Federation. In a poll of 254 firms, 66% identified rising energy prices as the most significant pressure, followed by higher shipping and logistics costs, as well as weakening customer demand. The Singapore business impact is particularly acute among smaller firms, with one in three SMEs reporting significant

South Korea financial groups are reshaping headquarters strategies as they seek to improve operational efficiency and strengthen capital positions. Hana Financial is set to relocate later this year to a new integrated headquarters in Cheongna, Incheon, bringing together around 2,800 employees from various affiliates currently spread across Seoul. Shinhan Financial is pursuing a similar consolidation strategy, with plans for a centralised headquarters in Seoul targeted for com

Hong Kong safe haven appeal is strengthening as international investors seek stability amid geopolitical tensions, according to the Financial Services Development Council. Chairman Benjamin Hung said investors are increasingly exploring office openings, capital allocation and investment opportunities in the city. The Hong Kong safe haven trend is reflected in IPO activity, where major cornerstone investors last year were largely from Western countries, indicating capital real

HNWI Asia investments remain resilient as wealthy individuals continue allocating capital despite a broader global shift by retail investors into cash. Schroders said the divergence emerged after Middle East tensions pushed oil prices above USD100 per barrel, triggering risk aversion among retail investors. In contrast, HNWI Asia investments are focused on long-term opportunities including private credit, digital assets and alternative strategies. Schroders also highlighted g

Active ETFs China expansion is gaining momentum as JPMorgan seeks regulatory approval to launch fully active exchange-traded funds in mainland China. The move would mark the firm’s first entry into the segment, which remains restricted to enhanced index strategies with limited benchmark deviation. JPMorgan Asset Management currently manages about USD257bn in active ETF assets globally and sees strong growth potential in the region. The active ETFs China initiative aligns with

Tokenised gold fund adoption is increasing as OCBC, Lion Global Investors and DigiFT launched Southeast Asia’s first on-chain gold investment product. The GOLDX token tracks the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund and is issued on Ethereum and Solana blockchains. Investors can subscribe using fiat or stablecoins, with tokens delivered to digital wallets and redeemable in cash or stablecoins. The tokenised gold fund had USD669.4m in assets under management as of April 16,

Malaysia family office ambitions are gaining traction as authorities position Forest City Special Financial Zone as a lower-cost complement to Singapore. Launched in September 2024 within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the initiative offers tax incentives including 0% on qualifying investment income for 10 years, extendable to 20 years. Malaysian authorities said six single-family offices managing RM400m (USD85m) had been approved by early 2026, with a target of R

China ASEAN investment platform activity is accelerating as a USD1bn private equity initiative backed by sovereign investors reached a first close of USD520m. The Galaxy Orientis platform, supported by China Investment Corporation, Indonesia Investment Authority and the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan, targets opportunities across the China–ASEAN corridor. The China ASEAN investment platform will focus on industrials, healthcare, consumer, business services and technology sector

Digital asset exchange funding is gaining momentum as Malaysia-based Hata secured USD8m in a Series A round led by Bybit and supported by several global family offices. The funding follows Bybit’s participation in Hata’s USD4.2m seed round and strengthens their strategic partnership. Hata said proceeds will be used to improve platform liquidity, expand its user base and develop digital asset products. The firm reported RM1.04bn (USD263m) in transaction volume in 2025 and more

Philippines finance growth is set to accelerate as Salmon Group raised USD100m in fresh funding to expand its consumer finance business. The funding comprises USD60m in equity and USD40m in public bonds issued under its USD150m Nordic bond programme at a 13.7% yield. Investors include Spice Expeditions, Washington University Investment Management Company, Moore Strategic Ventures and FJ Labs. Salmon said the proceeds will support product expansion, distribution growth, capita

Hang Seng options are set for expansion as Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing plans to introduce contracts that expire within a day by the first quarter of 2027. The products, known as zero-days-to-expiry or 0DTE contracts, allow traders to take short-term positions on intraday market movements, volatility and economic data. HKEX declined to comment on the plans. The Hang Seng options initiative follows the exchange’s expansion of weekly options in 2024 and reflects efforts to

Family office technology demand is rising as Addepar opens a Singapore office to strengthen its Asia-Pacific presence, targeting growing needs among family offices and investment firms. The new hub at Marina Bay Financial Centre will house research and development alongside go-to-market teams, the wealth technology firm said. Addepar noted its regional client base has grown more than 130% over the past two years, reflecting strong adoption of family office technology solution

Asia private equity fund activity reached a record as EQT closed its BPEA Private Equity Fund IX at USD15.6bn, marking the largest Asia-Pacific-focused fund raised to date. The oversubscribed Asia private equity fund, with USD14.9bn in fee-generating assets under management, will target control investments across technology, healthcare, industrial technology and services. The close comes despite fundraising for Asian funds hitting a 12-year low in 2025 after four consecutive

Vietnam tax reform proposals aim to introduce more flexible thresholds for household businesses and small firms as the government seeks to support growth amid economic pressures. The finance ministry proposed removing the fixed annual revenue threshold of 500m dong (USD19,600) for household businesses and allowing it to be adjusted based on economic conditions. It also suggested introducing, for the first time, a tax-free revenue threshold for small companies. Officials said

Family office demand is rising sharply as wealthy clients reposition portfolios, jurisdictions and governance frameworks in response to a fragmented global order. According to deVere Group, increased activity in family office demand reflects a strategic overhaul of cross-border holdings amid higher oil prices, inflation risks, currency volatility and tighter capital controls. Chief Executive Nigel Green said ultra-high-net-worth families are shifting sizeable portions of port

Global family offices are expanding multi-jurisdiction structures as geopolitical uncertainty reshapes wealth strategies. Deloitte data shows 28% of firms operated multiple branches in 2024, with a further 12% planning expansion. The rise in global family offices reflects growing demand for operational resilience as wars, sanctions and tax changes disrupt markets. JPMorgan noted geopolitics ranks among the top five risks for 74% of family offices outside the US. Advisers said