Singapore private bank account opening times are shortening, with nearly half of new accounts opened between June and August completed within one month, according to the Association of Banks in Singapore. The improvement comes as the Private Banking Industry Group targets a median account-opening time of one month by the end of 2026. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the industry group established a working group in 2025 to tackle onboarding delays, which can extend fro

Malaysia SME borrowing is increasingly shifting towards short-term loans as smaller companies face shrinking cash buffers, higher operating expenses and greater working-capital requirements, according to Bank Negara Malaysia data. Short-term facilities accounted for a growing proportion of new SME borrowing as companies sought financing to bridge cash-flow gaps rather than fund longer-term expansion. The trend provides an important indicator of financial pressures within Mala

SEI Singapore asset management operations have launched as the US asset management technology company seeks to expand its services and investment products across Asia-Pacific. The new Singapore office will initially provide asset servicing, professional services and distribution of SEI’s UCITS funds. The company expects to add locally relevant products and broaden its enterprise asset management, technology, operations and professional services as regional demand develops. SE

Singapore seniors digital payments are increasing rapidly as older customers become more comfortable using mobile banking for online shopping and overseas travel, according to OCBC. Digital payment transactions made through OCBC’s mobile app by customers aged 60 and above increased nearly 60% in the year to June 30, 2026. The number of senior customers using the app for digital payments rose almost 30%. PayNow transactions by seniors on e-commerce and livestream shopping plat

Hong Kong and Malaysia dual listings will become simpler under a new regulatory framework designed to reduce duplication and compliance costs for companies seeking simultaneous access to both equity markets. The Securities and Futures Commission, Securities Commission Malaysia and Hong Kong’s stock exchange have introduced streamlined procedures covering companies pursuing a primary listing on either Hong Kong’s Main Board or Bursa Malaysia’s MAIN Market alongside a simultane

Samsung AI agents could fundamentally change workplace practices and corporate culture as artificial intelligence moves from conversational tools towards systems capable of independently performing tasks and making decisions, according to Samsung Electronics co-CEO Jun Young-hyun. Speaking as Samsung hosted its annual AI Forum in Seoul, Jun said the impact of AI agents would extend beyond technological innovation to reshape how companies operate and employees work. The event

North American family offices are raising investment expectations following strong 2025 performance while simultaneously preparing for generational wealth transfers, new wealth creation and rapid technology adoption, according to RBC and Campden Wealth. Their 2026 report, based on 155 family offices, found 84% expect direct private equity to match or outperform its 2025 performance. Artificial intelligence is another major focus, with 85% identifying AI as a leading investmen

Hong Kong AI financial planning is becoming increasingly accepted by banking customers, although users continue to demand human oversight and strong protection of personal information, according to the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers. An HKIB survey of 400 people found more than 60% use AI daily or weekly, while half have already used artificial intelligence tools for financial planning. However, customers continue to place importance on human involvement. About 48% said acces

Citi Taiwan investment banking ranked first in market revenue year-to-date as the US bank expanded its role in cross-border financing and mergers and acquisitions involving Taiwanese companies, according to Dealogic data. Citi said it has raised more than USD12bn for Taiwanese clients this year, including financing through convertible bonds and global depositary receipts, with technology companies accounting for a significant proportion of activity. Since 2020, the bank has r

Singapore and China ASEAN cooperation could play an important role in strengthening regional economic integration as Singapore prepares to assume the bloc’s chairmanship in 2027, Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong said. Speaking at the FutureChina Global Forum, Gan said deeper ASEAN economic integration would be a priority for Singapore’s chairmanship and argued that a stronger and more resilient ASEAN should be a shared priority for Singapore and China. He identified trade,

The Carlyle family office business is expanding with two senior appointments as the US private equity manager targets ultra-high-net-worth families as an increasingly important source of investment capital. David Seeberan has joined Carlyle as a partner and global head of the family office group, while Victoria Matthews has been appointed managing director and head of the business for Europe and Asia. San Francisco-based Seeberan previously worked at Cercano Management. Matth

Citi agentic AI Hong Kong initiatives are expanding as the bank works with regulators and industry partners to accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence across the city’s financial sector. Citi’s annual fintech forum, themed “Beyond AI-Ready: Shaping the Agentic Future of Finance”, brought together regulators, financial institutions and fintech companies to discuss applications across wealth management, banking and payments. The bank showcased Citi Sky, a conversational

The Singapore private markets hub remains a leading regional base for investment funds and start-ups, although competing Asian markets are developing increasingly sophisticated investment ecosystems, according to panellists at SuperReturn Asia. Singapore continues to concentrate investment functions and professional services, supported by its talent pool, regulatory infrastructure and international reputation. However, expertise is becoming more widely distributed as private-

The Asia private credit market is expanding as insurers, pension funds and other institutional investors seek long-term financing opportunities across the region, according to Fitch Ratings’ Monsur Hussain. Asian private-credit funds generally have less exposure to software and high-growth technology businesses than their US counterparts and face less competition for transactions, supporting more conservative lending standards, Hussain said. Private-credit exposure among majo

A Singapore family office multi-strategy model is being developed by former Goldman Sachs and Vitol commodities trader Kelvin Chiu as he seeks to attract independent investment teams overlooked by larger hedge funds. Chiu’s SilverCape Investments now operates six trading pods alongside his own commodities strategy. They include a Japanese activist investing team that managed more than USD200m at the end of August. Chiu said his commodities strategy has generated a 78% compoun

China economic policy support is set to strengthen as the State Council seeks to sustain growth and achieve the government’s 4.5%-5% target amid signs of weakening momentum. The cabinet, chaired by Premier Li Qiang, called for more effective implementation of existing measures and faster issuance and deployment of government bonds, according to a state media readout. Authorities also want major infrastructure projects included in the 2026-2030 Five-Year Plan to begin construc

Hong Kong economic growth remains on track to reach the government’s 3.5%-4.5% target for 2026, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po, who highlighted strong exports and demand for artificial intelligence-related products. The economy expanded 5.1% during the first half, its strongest half-year performance in almost five years. Goods exports surged 53% year-on-year in August to HKD667.9bn (USD85.1bn), while exports during the first eight months increased 42.5%, put

Asia-Pacific hotel investment increased 21% year-on-year to USD8bn during the first half of 2026 as strong travel demand and constrained new supply supported investor interest, according to CBRE. Japan, mainland China and South Korea led activity, while investors increasingly targeted existing properties for repositioning and conversion as higher construction and financing costs restricted new development. Hotel supply across Asia-Pacific is expected to grow by around 2.3% an

Singapore AI safeguards proposals include exploring a United Nations framework convention to establish international principles and institutions governing rapidly developing artificial intelligence technologies. Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan told the UN General Assembly that attempts to pause AI development were unlikely to succeed given US-China competition and powerful commercial incentives, making international rules and institutions increasingly important. He propo

Family office cybersecurity has emerged as the leading operational concern for wealthy families even as they remain optimistic about investment returns, according to a 2026 report from RBC Wealth Management and Campden Wealth. The survey of 155 single- and multi-family offices, representing average wealth of USD2.25bn, found 56% ranked cybersecurity and data breaches as their biggest near-term risk, up sharply from 16% a year earlier. Half reported experiencing phishing attem