EMEA family offices China investment plans are strengthening, with China emerging as the leading market where ultra-wealthy families in Europe, the Middle East and Africa intend to increase exposure, according to Citi. Citi’s 2026 Global Family Office Report found that 29% of EMEA respondents planned to increase investments in China. The rest of Asia-Pacific followed at 26%, with North America at 25%. The report surveyed 351 family offices across more than 40 countries. Conce

HSBC Asia family wealth advisory capabilities are being strengthened with the appointment of former UBS executive Francesca Chan as regional head of family and philanthropy advisory for Asia-Pacific. Chan will take up the Hong Kong-based position on Sept. 29 and report to Ann Ling, regional head of wealth planning and advisory. She will lead teams advising ultra-high-net-worth clients on succession planning, family office establishment, family governance and philanthropy. Cha

Hong Kong Indonesia cross-border payments could become faster and cheaper under an agreement between the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and Bank Indonesia to explore interoperability between their QR code-based payment systems. The two authorities signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation on cross-border payments as digital payment adoption continues to expand across Asia. Under the agreement, the HKMA and Bank Indonesia will hold discussions cover

Singapore listed company disclosure rules will become more demanding from Jan. 1, 2027, as regulators seek greater transparency over executive remuneration, dividends and shareholder engagement. Under changes announced by Singapore Exchange Regulation, companies will have to explain the financial and non-financial indicators used to determine executive pay and how those measures support long-term value creation. Annual reports will also have to include dividend and investor-r

Hong Kong family business succession services are becoming a greater focus as the city seeks a larger role in Asia’s generational transfer of family wealth and cross-border assets. Financial Services Undersecretary Joseph Chan said Hong Kong’s legal system, capital mobility, low-tax regime and links with mainland China provide a strong base for wealthy families managing global portfolios. At a South China Morning Post conference, speakers said younger family members are incre

Deutsche Bank Hong Kong wealth business is recording strong growth as increasing Chinese client activity makes the city the private bank’s best-performing emerging-market region this year. Marco Pagliara, head of emerging markets at Deutsche Bank Private Bank, said activity had increased across trading, lending against physical assets and real estate. Chinese clients have been particularly active in trophy property transactions, reflecting broader demand for investment and fi

Hong Kong economic growth could exceed 3% annually over the medium term if the city successfully strengthens its “super-connector” role under China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, according to Citi Research. Citi said the framework could reduce policy uncertainty and channel capital towards finance, trade, innovation and technology, with the Northern Metropolis providing an important platform for advanced industries. Rapid expansion of Hong Kong’s offshore yuan business was identified

The Taiwan asset management centre initiative is moving forward as the government seeks to attract international capital while directing more domestic wealth towards local industries. President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan would continue easing financial regulations to give institutions greater scope to develop asset management operations and strengthen cross-border financial services. The initiative builds on a pilot asset management zone in Kaohsiung and includes areas such as

The proposed Hong Kong CEPA revision could give foreign companies establishing operations in the city the same preferential mainland China market access available to qualifying local businesses. Commerce Secretary Algernon Yau said foreign companies manufacturing in Hong Kong could qualify for zero-tariff entry into mainland China if their products satisfy “Made in Hong Kong” origin requirements. The changes would form the third revision of the Mainland and Hong Kong Closer E

The Hong Kong accounting qualification pipeline will continue receiving government support as authorities seek to strengthen the supply of professionals serving the city’s financial sector. Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau Under Secretary Joseph Chan said the government would continue backing the Qualification Programme operated by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The programme provides training across accounting, business and finance while d

Institutional investor cash allocations are rising sharply as asset owners respond to geopolitical uncertainty, inflation and changing expectations for global equity markets. A Marsh Investments survey of 430 asset owners managing a combined USD5.76tr found that 37.8% planned to increase cash allocations over the next 12 months, compared with just 9% in the previous year’s survey. Net intentions towards cash increased by 35.5 percentage points to 22%, the largest annual rise

Private equity manager selection remains critical for investors as wide differences in returns persist between the strongest and weakest-performing funds, according to research from private-markets platform Moonfare. The annual return gap between top- and bottom-quartile private equity managers averaged 19.2 percentage points between 2016 and 2026, compared with just 2.9 percentage points for large-cap equities. Past performance also provided limited certainty about future re

Asia-Pacific family office hospitality investment is gaining momentum as private investors increase their exposure to real estate and seek opportunities across regional hotel markets. Hospitality has emerged as the leading real estate asset class for family office capital in Asia-Pacific, according to information released ahead of IHIF Asia in Hong Kong. Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2025 found that 44% of 150 family offices surveyed planned to increase their real estate expos

Hong Kong climate finance disclosures could become more extensive as the city’s financial regulator expands its framework for funding projects designed to reduce emissions and protect against climate risks. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority plans to survey banks in 2027 on their use of its sustainable finance taxonomy, with the findings potentially influencing future supervisory requirements, HKMA executive director Donald Chen said. The regulator earlier this month proposed e

East Asia trade corridors will remain a regional priority as economic ministers seek to keep markets open and strengthen supply-chain resilience amid changing global economic conditions. The commitment was made at the 14th East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting in Pasay City, chaired by Philippine Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque. The combined nominal GDP of participating East Asia Summit economies reached USD69.6tr in 2025, underlining the economic scale of the group

BNP Paribas Asia transaction banking operations will come under the leadership of Aymar de Liedekerke Beaufort as the French lender strengthens its cross-border corporate banking platform between Asia and Europe. Beaufort, currently Asia-Pacific head of global banking, has also been appointed regional head of transaction banking and will oversee both businesses from September. Based in Hong Kong, he will report to Asia-Pacific CEO Paul Yang. Beaufort succeeds Philippe Noirot,

Hong Kong overseas listings are set for a stronger promotional push as authorities seek more dual-primary and secondary listings from Southeast Asia and Belt and Road economies. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his Policy Address that the city would step up efforts to attract overseas companies to its capital markets. The Securities and Futures Commission is expected to consult in 2027 on streamlining prospectus disclosure requirements to make it easier for overseas c

Hong Kong family office initiatives outlined in the city’s inaugural Five-Year Plan and 2026 Policy Address could strengthen its position as a global cross-border wealth management centre, according to Raffles Family Office. Group CEO Chi Man Kwan said preferential tax regimes for funds and single-family offices, combined with measures to attract global capital, would deepen the ecosystem supporting independent multi-family offices. Kwan also highlighted plans to broaden inve

Zhang Yiming Asia richest person status has been established after the ByteDance founder’s fortune exceeded USD105bn, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Zhang, 43, has seen his wealth increase eightfold from USD13bn in March 2019, when Bloomberg began tracking his fortune. He now ranks 18th among the world’s wealthiest people. Binance founder Changpeng Zhao follows among Asia’s richest individuals with USD81bn, while Fast Retailing founder Tadashi Yanai has USD63.

Hong Kong private equity control deals are becoming increasingly important as managers pursue buyouts and controlling stakes amid slower exits across Asian private markets. Private equity investors participated in USD165.5bn of buyout transactions in 2026, around double the USD80.8bn invested in growth deals, according to PitchBook data. Hong Kong-based funds raised USD135.6bn across three buyout vehicles, including EQT’s BPEA Private Equity Fund IX, which accounted for USD12