Families across Asia are increasingly moving away from traditional property-based wealth transfers and introducing younger generations to investing through stocks, funds and insurance products. The Asian inheritance planning trend reflects changing attitudes towards wealth preservation and long-term financial growth. In South Korea, Choi Nam-joon gave his eight-year-old son three Samsung Electronics shares worth KRW500,000 (USD332) as a birthday gift, saying the investment wa

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission will undertake a comprehensive review of rules governing online investment commentators and content creators as digital platforms increasingly influence investment decisions. The Hong Kong financial influencers review was confirmed by Eric Yip Chee-hang, executive director of the SFC’s intermediaries division. Yip told lawmakers that the regulator began engaging with industry participants last year to assess whether changes to lic

Schroders Wealth Management has appointed Sharon Sim as Head of Business Development for Asia as the firm continues expanding its regional wealth-management platform. The Schroders Asia business development role will be based in Singapore and will focus on identifying growth opportunities, strengthening client relationships and building strategic partnerships across the region. The appointment follows the recent naming of Evonne Tan as chief executive for Asia and reinforces

Hong Kong’s new cross-border yacht framework could transform luxury vessels into more liquid and practical Greater Bay Area assets for family offices and high-net-worth individuals. The Hong Kong yacht reforms follow a State Council directive issued on May 29 exempting Hong Kong and Macao-registered yachts from customs guarantees at designated mainland ports. Under the new Hong Kong yacht reforms, eligible yachts can enter ports in nine Greater Bay Area cities without cancell

Family offices are looking to reduce exposure to North American assets and increase allocations to China, Asia and western Europe as geopolitical tensions, debt concerns and uncertainty over the US dollar reshape investment strategies, according to UBS. The family office China allocation findings come from the bank’s Global Family Office Report 2026 covering 307 family offices across more than 30 markets. Although North America remains the largest regional allocation at 52%,

Hong Kong has experienced stronger investment activity following recent conflicts in the Middle East, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po. The Hong Kong capital inflows trend has been supported by international investors seeking stability and access to Asian markets. Chan told lawmakers that European and American investors accounted for approximately 40% of inflows into Hong Kong’s stock market rally since September 2024, while Southbound Stock Connect contribute

DBS plans to open 18 new and upgrade 36 existing locations across Asia-Pacific by the end of 2027 in what the bank described as its largest physical expansion of wealth services to date. The DBS wealth centres expansion will cover Singapore, Hong Kong, China, India, Indonesia and Taiwan. The first locations under the DBS wealth centres expansion are expected to open in the third quarter of 2026. DBS said the programme will increase its Treasures wealth-centre footprint in Sin

Family offices managing billions of dollars are becoming increasingly cautious about geopolitical tensions, sovereign debt risks and the long-term role of the US dollar while continuing to increase exposure to artificial intelligence investments, according to the latest UBS Global Family Office Report. The family office asset allocation survey covered 307 family offices with average assets under management of USD1.3bn. UBS found that 64% of respondents view geopolitical confl

HSBC chief executive Georges Elhedery and other senior executives are personally engaging with clients in Hong Kong as the bank seeks to revive its underperforming investment banking operations, according to Bloomberg. The HSBC investment banking Hong Kong initiative includes direct client outreach, personalised communications and stronger engagement with key corporate relationships across the Greater Bay Area. Elhedery has reportedly marketed projects directly to clients, se

Asia-Pacific’s affluent investors remain broadly optimistic despite geopolitical tensions, inflation pressures and market volatility, according to research by private bank Lombard Odier. The Asia wealthy investors survey covered more than 390 high-net-worth individuals across regional markets and found confidence remains strong despite growing uncertainty. Recession was identified as the leading concern by 53.5% of respondents, followed by worries about a major equity-market

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing said 62 companies completed listings in Hong Kong during the first five months of 2026, highlighting renewed momentum in the city’s capital markets. The HKEX new listings data also showed that approximately 500 listing applications are currently under review, indicating a substantial pipeline of prospective issuers. As of May 29, Hong Kong had 2,726 listed companies, including 2,419 on the main board and 307 on GEM. During the same period, 22

Family offices in China are shifting from rapid expansion towards higher-quality development as the country prepares for what industry executives describe as the largest intergenerational wealth transfer in its history. The China family office wealth transfer wave is expected to involve more than RMB20tr (USD2.8tr) over the next decade, according to a white paper released by WRISE Group and research firm Puyi Standard. WRISE said the China family office wealth transfer trend

Global investors are showing renewed interest in Chinese assets as rapid technological advances and lower valuations draw attention back to the world’s second-largest economy, according to JPMorgan research. The China asset investment survey found that 57% of investors were considering exposure to China, up from 51% a year earlier. Kwang Kam Shing, JPMorgan’s chairwoman for North Asia, said foreign investment allocations into Hong Kong and mainland China remain historically l

Hong Kong plans to launch a new gold-clearing system by July, moving ahead of Singapore in the race to become Asia’s leading bullion trading hub. The Hong Kong gold clearing initiative is expected to improve liquidity and strengthen the city’s role in regional gold pricing, supported by large bullion flows linked to mainland China, the world’s largest gold consumer. Hong Kong is also expanding its bullion infrastructure. SF Holding plans to develop a vault near the airport, w

Finance professionals in Singapore are increasingly using artificial intelligence tools at work even as many remain concerned about the long-term impact on employment, according to the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. The Singapore finance AI jobs survey found that 51% of respondents regularly use AI technologies, while 48% worry the technology could affect their careers. Despite those concerns, 81% said they remain confident in their ability to learn and apply

Hong Kong’s Financial Services Development Council said the city’s rise above Switzerland as the world’s leading booking centre for cross-border wealth represents an important achievement but not the endpoint of its ambitions as an international financial centre. The Hong Kong wealth hub assessment follows findings in Boston Consulting Group’s 2026 Global Wealth Report highlighting the shift. FSDC executive director Rocky Tung said the Hong Kong wealth hub remains well positi

Family offices in Australia and Singapore are driving rapid regional expansion for Moonfare, with assets on the private markets platform increasing around 2.5 times during 2025, according to regional head Adam Banks. The Moonfare family office demand trend has helped make Asia Pacific the company’s fastest-growing region globally, while Australia has become its fastest-growing individual market worldwide. The Berlin-based platform gives accredited and institutional investors

Hong Kong banks are tightening scrutiny of mainland Chinese clients opening savings and investment accounts as Beijing intensifies efforts to curb illegal cross-border trading and capital outflows. The Hong Kong mainland client checks have expanded across several major lenders in the city, according to people familiar with the matter. Some large Chinese banks in Hong Kong have reportedly suspended the opening of investment and wealth-management accounts for mainland residents

Vietnam’s central bank will simplify 11 administrative procedures covering foreign exchange management from July 25, 2026, under a new circular aimed at improving efficiency and decentralising approvals. The Vietnam foreign exchange procedures reforms cover foreign borrowing, overseas lending, international bond issuance, indirect investment and foreign currency accounts held abroad. Circular No. 17/2026/TT-NHNN amends and supplements five legal documents and requires the Sta