Hong Kong living investment ranked fifth among Asia-Pacific markets after attracting 24 student-housing conversion deals worth USD1.63bn since 2021, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Ten transactions valued at USD739.9m were completed during the first seven months of 2026, supported by accommodation shortages and continued growth in the student population. The APAC Living Investor Survey 2026 found that 90% of respondents were considering repositioning or change-of-use invest

Japan pension funds domestic bonds allocations are drawing renewed interest as defined-benefit schemes prepare for faster interest-rate increases by the Bank of Japan. A J.P. Morgan Asset Management survey of 82 funds conducted between April and June found that 10% planned to increase domestic bond holdings, representing the strongest appetite for the asset class since 2008. Overall domestic bond allocations remained broadly stable at 14.3%, although 62% of respondents were r

South Korea capital market reform will be a priority for finance minister nominee Lee Hyung-il as he seeks to address the “Korea discount” and strengthen corporate governance. Lee, currently first vice finance minister, outlined plans to revive potential growth, reduce economic inequality and advance market reforms ahead of his parliamentary confirmation hearing. He said the government would accelerate three national projects, promote regional growth hubs and increase investm

Singapore climate financial risks must be reflected in company accounts where they are material, despite extended timelines for some sustainability disclosures, according to guidance from the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. Directors remain responsible under the Companies Act for ensuring financial statements provide a true and fair view of a company’s financial position and performance. Climate-related factors could affect asset valuations, useful lives, depre

Asia-Pacific family office sustainable investment exposure is increasing as more wealthy families and asset owners allocate substantial portions of portfolios to impact and environmental, social and governance strategies. A Sustainable Finance Initiative survey found that 27% of respondents allocated more than half of their assets to impact and ESG investments in 2026, up from 17% in 2025. The Hong Kong-based organisation surveyed 121 family office representatives and princip

Hong Kong billionaire hub status remains firmly established after the city retained its position as the world’s second-largest billionaire centre in 2025, according to Altrata’s Billionaire Census 2026. Hong Kong had 106 billionaires, two fewer than a year earlier, but their combined wealth continued rising to USD319bn. Property-sector weakness and relatively limited exposure to artificial intelligence-related gains weighed on the city’s billionaire population. New York remai

The Forest City fintech tax incentive will give eligible financial technology companies and related service providers access to a 5% corporate tax rate in Malaysia’s Forest City Special Financial Zone. The incentive is available for 10 years and may be extended for a further decade, subject to approval and continued compliance. Eligible businesses include fintech companies, financial global business services providers and foreign payment system operators. Qualifying activitie

Chinese state-owned banks profits recovered simultaneously in the first half for the first time since 2022 as revenue increased and net interest margins showed early signs of stabilisation. ICBC, China Construction Bank, Agricultural Bank of China, Bank of China, Bank of Communications and Postal Savings Bank of China generated more than RMB2tr (USD297bn) in combined revenue and around RMB712.6bn in attributable profit. Revenue increased by between 4% and 11%, while profit ro

Hong Kong family office succession services are attracting Asian business-owning families seeking a base for governance, investment management and generational wealth transfer. Advisers say founder-led businesses increasingly want to separate operating capital from family wealth, while internationally dispersed families are looking for an Asian hub capable of supporting assets and heirs across multiple jurisdictions. Hong Kong had 3,380 single-family offices at the end of 202

Amova Vietnam asset management expansion is moving ahead through a proposed joint venture with BIDV Securities as the Japanese investment manager strengthens its Southeast Asian presence. The planned company, BSC Amova Asset Management, will serve individual and institutional investors by combining BIDV and its securities unit’s domestic customer base and local market expertise with Amova’s international investment capabilities. Establishment of the venture remains subject to

New South Korea leveraged ETF rules require investors to complete simulated-trading courses before buying leveraged exchange-traded funds as regulators seek to curb speculative activity. The measures particularly affect products linked to major technology stocks including Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. Trading volume in the affected products has fallen to around 4% of its June peak, while the ETFs recorded USD1bn of outflows in August, putting them on course for their firs

Singapore Indonesia local currency settlement is now operational, allowing trade, direct investment and cross-border payments between the two markets to be conducted directly in Singapore dollars and Indonesian rupiah. The framework, launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Bank Indonesia, is designed to reduce foreign-exchange risks and transaction costs while encouraging broader use of regional currencies. Appointed cross-currency dealers will facilitate settleme

Vietnam fund management assets have reached more than VND846tr (USD32bn) as the industry takes a larger role in supplying long-term capital and supporting development of the country’s institutional investor base. At the end of June, 43 fund managers and 142 investment funds were operating in the market. Assets under management had increased 6.8 times from 2015, representing annual growth of more than 20%. Despite that expansion, managed assets remain equivalent to only around

Raffles Family Office CIO responsibilities will be assumed by Citi Private Bank veteran Ken Peng following his appointment as the multi-family office’s first chief investment officer. Peng will be based in Hong Kong and report to group CEO Chi Man Kwan. He will lead the firm’s investment function, shape overall investment strategy and provide stakeholders with views on macroeconomic developments, investment themes and portfolio sustainability. He brings more than 20 years of

FSB AI financial risks are increasing as advanced artificial intelligence changes the speed, scale and cost of cyberattacks, Financial Stability Board Chair Andrew Bailey has warned. In a letter to G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, Bailey said many jurisdictions lacked sufficiently developed systems to manage the deployment of advanced AI. He identified AI-driven cyber threats as the most immediate concern, warning that financial institutions’ dependence on a

The Lawrence Ho family office is expanding into space technology through a USD1bn de-SPAC transaction involving Singapore-based satellite communications company Astrum Space. Black Spade Capital, the family office of Macau billionaire Lawrence Ho, will merge Astrum with Black Spade Acquisition III in its third de-SPAC transaction. The combined company intends to seek a listing on the New York Stock Exchange. Founded in 2023, Astrum is developing a satellite-to-device communic

Singapore family office gold allocations can now increase without breaching tax-incentive conditions after the Monetary Authority of Singapore removed a 5% portfolio cap on precious metals from Aug. 1. The change applies to funds and family offices operating under the Section 13O and 13U tax-exemption schemes, giving qualifying investors greater flexibility to hold physical gold as a geopolitical and portfolio hedge. Raffles Family Office said its baseline allocation remains

Family office relocation is being considered by more than half of wealthy families surveyed as geopolitical risk, cybersecurity concerns and access to specialist talent drive demand for multi-jurisdiction structures. Standard Chartered's The Great Repositioning report found that more than 54% of respondents were weighing a move. Foo Tian Ong, Southeast Asia regional head at Standard Chartered Global Private Bank, said Singapore remains attractive because of regulatory and tax