Taiwan family office services are expanding after Uni-President Asset Management became the first local manager licensed to provide investment, succession and financial planning to family offices and wealthy clients. The licence, granted by the Financial Supervisory Commission on Dec 23, forms part of a strategy to more than double Taiwan’s asset-management industry to NTD60tr (USD1.9tr) by 2030. Uni-President said tax planning and wealth sustainability have become priorities

Hong Kong offshore renminbi funding capacity has increased after the Hong Kong Monetary Authority doubled the quota of its yuan business facility to CNY100bn (USD14bn) and expanded participation to 40 banks. Phase two of the scheme, launched on Dec 1, allows banks to draw yuan funding within assigned quotas to lend to local and overseas corporates, with allocations based on existing business pipelines and overseas networks. HKMA chief executive Eddie Yue said authorities, wit

South Korea corporate reform is entering what the Korea Enterprises Federation chairman Sohn Kyung-shik described as a “golden time” for economic transformation, as he urged policymakers to push structural changes to revive innovation and risk-taking. In a New Year address, Sohn called for easing rigid labour regulations, arguing that inflexible rules undermine productivity and slow adaptation to industrial change. He said labour-market reform could also help address debates

Singapore fintech expansion Asia is accelerating as Fingular opened a new operations hub in Kuala Lumpur to support its growth across Southeast Asia. The company said the Malaysia office will function as a shared workspace for local staff and rotating teams from other markets, combining remote work with in-person collaboration. Chief executive Maxim Chernushchenko said the hub is part of a broader strategy to keep teams connected while establishing a physical presence in key

Singapore family office private equity activity is in focus after Far East Capital, the family office of Far East Organization, acquired preference shares in oat-milk maker Oatside in a late-November secondary transaction, according to people familiar with the deal. The stake was bought from early backer Mugi Capital, which has supported Oatside since 2021 and has transferred more than half its holdings to existing shareholders. Based on DealStreetAsia’s August 2025 valuation

Hong Kong economic outlook 2025 has strengthened after Financial Secretary Paul Chan raised the city’s growth forecast to 3.2%, saying momentum should carry into 2026 even as risks from global uncertainty persist. Writing in a blog post, Chan cited resilient exports, solid fixed-asset investment and a recovery in consumption, adding that expected US rate cuts would also support activity. He said Hong Kong’s stock and property markets have improved, with the Hang Seng Index up

Southeast Asia equity inflows picked up in December as global funds bought about USD337m of regional stocks, marking the largest monthly inflow since September 2024, according to Bloomberg-compiled data cited by local media. Indonesia and Thailand led the rebound, though net outflows for 2025 still total around USD15bn. Strategists said the region’s relatively low exposure to artificial intelligence-linked stocks has weighed on performance but also makes Southeast Asia an alt

Hong Kong insolvency surge 2025 risks are expected to intensify, with the city forecast to post the world’s largest year-on-year increase in business failures, rising 44%, according to an Allianz Trade outlook. The report said elevated insolvency levels remain widespread, with its headline indicator showing global insolvencies up 6% year to date in the third quarter of 2025. Around two-thirds of countries, representing about 70% of global GDP, are expected to see failures ris

Taiwan wealth management hub ambitions are advancing faster than planned, with assets under management rising by more than TWD4tr (USD127bn) to meet a two-year target ahead of schedule, Financial Supervisory Commission chairman Peng Jin-lung said. Speaking at a forum in Taipei, Peng said Taiwan now has the capital base, industrial depth and talent pool to support a six-year roadmap aimed at building a regional wealth and asset-management centre that complements, rather than c

Thailand virtual banks 2026 are expected to begin operations by mid-year, with three approved consortiums preparing to roll out services by June 2026, and potentially earlier if ready, a Bank of Thailand assistant governor said. The central bank requires successful applicants to start business within one year of finance ministry approval granted on June 19, 2025. The winning groups include ACM Holding and Ascend Money’s TrueMoney backed by CP Group; a Krungthai Bank-led conso

Amova Asset Management Malaysia expansion is under way after the Japanese firm, formerly Nikko Asset Management, agreed to lift its stake in AHAM Asset Management Bhd to 97.7% from 20% by acquiring shares from CVC Capital Partners and other investors, subject to regulatory approvals. AHAM Capital said assets under management at the group, including Islamic unit AIIMAN, exceeded RM100bn (USD22.7bn) as of Nov 30, placing it among Malaysia’s top three managers. Amova, part of Su

Family offices private markets 2026 strategies are set to tilt further toward private markets and overseas assets, while next-generation leaders push for greater technology adoption, tighter risk controls and improved transparency, according to a Crain Currency report. People familiar with the discussions said family offices private markets 2026 allocations will remain active in public equities but become more selective in private credit and direct deals, favouring stronger u

Japan government bond issuance 2026 plans call for about JPY29.6tr (USD189.6bn) of new debt to fund a record JPY122.3tr fiscal budget, according to a draft seen by Reuters, underscoring Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s expansionary fiscal stance. The planned Japan government bond issuance 2026 would exceed this year’s JPY28.6tr and confirms an earlier NHK report. Tax revenue is forecast to rise to a record JPY83.7tr but remain insufficient as spending on social welfare, defenc

China shadow banking scandal concerns have escalated after police in Zhejiang detained Yu Faxiang, chairman and chief executive of Hong Kong-listed Haichang Ocean Park Holdings, as authorities probe alleged wrongdoing tied to delayed repayments on multibillion-yuan wealth management products issued by Sunriver Holding Group, a firm he controls. Haichang said it was informed by Yu’s family that police had imposed criminal compulsory measures and opened an investigation, adding

South Korea economic security reforms are set to accelerate as the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources undertakes its biggest reorganisation in 12 years, creating a new Industry Resources Security Office to act as a control tower for supply-chain and trade security. The Cabinet-approved plan adds one office-level unit, a director-level post, four divisions and 36 staff, the ministry said. South Korea economic security initiatives will also include appointing an industr

Asia family offices 2026 are set to become a major growth engine as expanding regional wealth drives higher allocations to private markets, according to a new outlook report. The report said private equity, venture capital and real assets are expected to remain core holdings, while Asia family offices 2026 will place greater emphasis on governance, risk management and reporting amid tougher market conditions and rising regulatory scrutiny. The United Arab Emirates is forecast

Singapore family office restructuring is gaining momentum after Weybourne, which manages British inventor James Dyson’s fortune, transferred at least GBP624m (USD834m) from a major UK entity to its Singapore holding company this year, according to reports. The move reduced the British unit’s share capital to just GBP1 and followed a leadership change in February, when long-time Dyson executive Martin Bowen became chief executive. The reshuffle included the closure of two UK c

Malaysia family office real estate investment is accelerating after a Malaysian family office agreed to acquire a major stake in Lendlease’s flagship Exchange TRX precinct in Kuala Lumpur for about MYR1.1bn (USD240m). Lendlease said the transaction includes a 40% interest in the Exchange TRX retail mall and its entire 60% stake in the office tower, while the Australian developer will retain 20% of the mall, 60% of the hotel and 60% of the residential land plots, and continue

Japan M&A boom momentum is prompting Citigroup to expand its investment banking team in the country by 30% by the first half of 2026, aiming to capture deal activity involving Japanese companies that has reached about USD350bn this year, the highest since records began in 1998. Japan vice-chair Masuo Fukuda said governance reforms have made corporate boards more shareholder-focused, driving divestments of non-core assets and overseas expansion, while hostile bids, private equ

Japan multifamily fund activity is accelerating as Samty said it has reached a USD500m final close for a new Japan multifamily fund, highlighting rising institutional and family office capital allocation to residential assets. The fund, formed with a sovereign wealth fund, has already deployed USD200m into an initial portfolio of newly built properties in major residential hubs. Hillhouse Investment Management will serve as general partner through its real-estate arm Rava Par