Japan’s economy grew an annualised 2.1% in the first quarter, outperforming market expectations and extending the country’s recovery before rising Middle East energy prices clouded the outlook. The Japan Q1 GDP figures showed real gross domestic product rose 0.5% from the previous quarter, exceeding forecasts for a 0.4% increase. Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan’s economy, rose 0.3%, while capital expenditure also increased 0.3%. Net external de

The World Bank said the Philippines must improve conditions for businesses to invest, expand and innovate if it wants to become ASEAN’s next growth engine, warning that weak investment could constrain productivity and job creation. The Philippines investment climate remains challenged by delays in permits, port congestion, complex paperwork and inefficient border procedures, according to World Bank country director Zafer Mustafaoğlu. He noted that business registration in the

Singapore’s reputation as a safe haven is attracting more philanthropists, family offices and high-net-worth individuals seeking to establish foundations and charitable structures amid rising geopolitical uncertainty, according to executives from Pictet Wealth Management. The Singapore family office philanthropy trend reflects growing demand for politically stable and internationally connected jurisdictions capable of supporting long-term wealth preservation and cross-border

Thailand plans to overhaul more than 7,000 business regulations as Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s government seeks to reduce bureaucracy and attract more foreign and domestic investment. The Thailand business reform programme aims to improve the country’s competitiveness as regional rivals including Vietnam and Indonesia intensify efforts to attract global capital and supply-chain relocations. Authorities are proposing a “super licence” system designed to consolidate mu

Japan has presented a draft plan to create specialised industry clusters across 10 regions, focusing on semiconductors, clean energy and other strategic sectors as part of efforts to revive regional economies and attract corporate investment. The Japan industry clusters strategy is expected to become part of a broader regional future growth plan as early as June. Hokkaido, Kyushu, Hokuriku and Chubu are being considered as semiconductor manufacturing and technology hubs, whil

US-based fintech Fasset has raised USD51m in a Series B funding round to accelerate expansion of its stablecoin-powered banking and financial infrastructure platform across Asia and other emerging markets. The stablecoin banking Asia funding round included investors such as SBI Group, Investcorp, Arz Portföy and several family offices, reflecting growing institutional interest in regulated digital payments infrastructure. Fasset said it plans to expand regulated banking infra

Family offices and independent advisers are increasingly adopting multi-hub wealth strategies as ultra-high-net-worth families seek greater resilience across booking centres, custodians, currencies and jurisdictions, industry executives said at the Hubbis Independent Wealth Management Forum in Hong Kong. The multi-hub wealth strategies trend reflects growing demand among wealthy families for diversified operational structures capable of managing geopolitical, tax, mobility an

Howden has appointed Alaric Lee as chief executive officer for Hong Kong, succeeding Alfred Sham, who will relocate to Singapore as chief strategy officer for Asia, the global insurance intermediary group said. The Howden Hong Kong CEO appointment remains subject to regulatory approval. Lee currently serves as chief commercial officer for Asia and brings extensive industry experience including more than a decade working in Hong Kong’s insurance sector. Sham led Howden’s Hong

More than 80% of surveyed enterprises plan to adopt artificial intelligence either immediately or within the next 12 months as companies accelerate the shift from pilot projects towards large-scale deployment, according to Cherrypicks. The Hong Kong AI adoption trend reflects rising demand for automation, process intelligence and human-machine collaboration across corporate operations. The Hong Kong-based technology company, a unit of NetDragon Websoft, said firms are increas

Macau has issued its first fund investment licence under its new Investment Fund Law to HOPU Investments, allowing the Beijing-based alternative investment firm to establish an asset management unit in the city. The Macau fund licence approval comes nearly five months after the law took effect on Jan. 1, introducing a new framework for private funds and structures including collective investment companies and limited partnership funds. Before the legislation, asset management

Bhutan and Singapore have signed a double tax avoidance agreement aimed at strengthening investment, trade and economic cooperation while supporting Bhutan’s ambitions to develop Gelephu Mindfulness City into a regional business and family office hub. The Bhutan Singapore tax pact was signed in Singapore by Bhutan Finance Minister Lekey Dorji and Singapore official Jeffrey Siow. The agreement is Bhutan’s third bilateral tax treaty and is expected to clarify taxing rights on c

Hong Kong ranked among the world’s least complex jurisdictions for doing business, according to TMF Group’s latest Global Business Complexity Index, reinforcing the city’s appeal for multinational companies, investors and family offices seeking efficient regional operating hubs. The Hong Kong business environment ranked 78th out of 81 jurisdictions assessed in the report, placing it among the bottom 10 for business complexity alongside New Zealand, Denmark, Jersey and the Cay

Singapore will reappoint Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong as chairman of the Monetary Authority of Singapore for another three-year term from June 1, reinforcing continuity at the city-state’s central bank and financial regulator. The MAS chairman reappointment announcement also confirmed that managing director Chia Der Jiun will continue as a board member for a further two years. Attorney-General Lucien Wong will also serve another three-year term, while Chaly Mah, chairma

LGT has appointed Anchalee Bunsongsikul as chief executive officer of LGT Securities (Thailand) Ltd, effective May 15, as the Liechtenstein-based private bank deepens its LGT Thailand wealth management presence in one of Southeast Asia’s fastest-growing affluent markets. Bunsongsikul brings more than three decades of experience in international banking and was most recently president and chief executive officer for Thailand and representative offices at Standard Chartered Ban

UBS expects about USD83tr in wealth to change hands globally over the next two to three decades, with Asia-Pacific families increasingly turning to professional advisers and family offices as intergenerational transfers accelerate, according to the bank’s newly launched Global Next Gen Report. The UBS next generation wealth survey of around 170 clients found more than 40% of Asia-Pacific multi-generational families are already transferring wealth or actively planning successi

OCBC aims to double its consumer banking wealth business by 2029, after already doubling it since 2022, The Business Times reported, citing Sunny Quek, the bank’s head of global consumer financial services. The OCBC wealth business target is part of new group CEO Tan Teck Long’s Next Frontier strategy, built around a wealth management committee that brings together OCBC’s consumer bank, Bank of Singapore and insurer Great Eastern under shared financial targets. Quek said OCBC

Taiwan’s financial firms posted record first-quarter pretax profits as a rally in local equities lifted investment returns, wealth management income and brokerage activity, the Financial Supervisory Commission said. The Taiwan financial firms result showed combined pretax profit across banking, insurance and securities rising 37.09% from a year earlier to NTD370.997bn (USD11.81bn), beating the previous first-quarter record set in 2021. Banking pretax profit climbed 28.5% to N

Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song has been elected to the Bank for International Settlements’ 18-member board, Seoul’s central bank said. The South Korea BIS board appointment gives Shin a three-year term and allows South Korea to maintain a seat on the BIS board since 2019. The board sets the policy direction of the Switzerland-based institution, which comprises 63 central banks, and supervises its management. South Korea joined the BIS in 1997. The BOK said Shin’s elect

PitchBook expects global private markets to expand more slowly over the next five years, forecasting assets to grow at a 5.7% compound annual rate from USD20.3tr in 2024 to USD26.7tr by 2030. The private markets growth outlook reflects higher interest rates and weaker distributions reshaping the industry. Secondaries are projected to more than double from USD700bn in 2025 to USD1.5tr in 2030, while funds of funds may shrink to USD600bn from about USD900bn. PitchBook said the

Singapore’s national accountancy body has formed a task force with finance and business leaders to strengthen Singapore financial reporting standards and improve how listed companies communicate long-term value to investors. The Strengthening Financial Reporting Taskforce, launched by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants in partnership with the Singapore Exchange, will examine ways to improve disclosures on financial performance, governance, risks and strategy. Ta