Cross-border insolvency cooperation is strengthening as Singapore and Indonesia’s supreme courts sign a memorandum of understanding to coordinate restructuring and insolvency cases. The agreement establishes formal communication channels between courts, helping reduce inconsistent rulings, fragmented proceedings and higher costs. Signed in Bali, the framework builds on the UNCITRAL Model Law and outlines processes including liaison officers and language protocols. It will app

Family office philanthropy is helping position Singapore as a leading regional hub for structured giving, as wealthy families increasingly establish foundations and formal charitable vehicles. The city had more than 2,000 family offices at end-2024, nearly ten times the number five years earlier, while registered charities rose to 2,406 from 2,321 in 2020. Industry participants said next-generation wealth holders are moving beyond ad hoc donations toward more structured appro

Hong Kong SME credit conditions remained broadly stable in the first quarter, with 27% of firms reporting difficulties securing credit-line approvals, down from 30% in the previous quarter, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. The survey of about 2,500 SMEs showed 73% viewed banks’ credit stance as similar or easier, compared with 70% previously. Among companies with existing credit lines, none reported tighter conditions, improving from 1% in the prior quarter. Aro

Hong Kong corporate banking leadership is being reshaped as Citi and UOB appoint new heads to strengthen client coverage in the financial hub. Citi named Anita Li as head of corporate banking for Hong Kong, effective July 2026. She joins from Standard Chartered, where she led investor coverage across Greater China and North Asia. Separately, UOB appointed Cliff Law as head of corporate banking in Hong Kong, effective immediately, succeeding Anthony Tse. Law brings over 20 yea

Singapore safe-haven property demand is rising as Chinese developers increase investment in the city-state’s residential market. Mainland Chinese firms were the second-largest investors in Singapore in 2025, accounting for 21% of SGD14.16bn (USD10.48b) in fixed-asset investment, up sharply from 2.5% a year earlier. Recent deals include a SGD951m (USD703.74m) site at Dover Drive acquired by CNQC Realty, Forsea Residence and Jianan Realty Investments, as well as Kingsford Group

AI financial crime detection is advancing as the Monetary Authority of Singapore works with local banks, GovTech and the police to strengthen scam detection capabilities. MAS said it is running a proof-of-value exercise using data from five banks to develop machine learning models that can identify higher-risk transactions and suspicious accounts earlier, enabling faster intervention and potentially reducing customer losses. The project operates within a secure data-sharing e

HKEX gold futures are set for a comeback as Hong Kong moves to strengthen its commodities and precious metals trading ecosystem. Acting financial services secretary Joseph Chan said the exchange plans to relaunch gold futures in the coming months, with improvements to contract design and delivery mechanisms. HKEX is consulting market participants and stepping up investor education efforts ahead of the launch. Chan added that preparations for a central gold clearing system are

Singapore banking fraud risks have come into focus after a former DBS wealth planning manager admitted cheating seven victims of nearly SGD1.4m (USD1.1m), with funds largely used for online gambling, his wedding and home renovations. Benjamin Chung Hiang Wee, 32, pleaded guilty in April to six cheating charges involving more than SGD1m from five victims. Prosecutors said he persuaded clients to transfer money into supposed fixed deposit and loan schemes that did not exist. On

Thailand virtual banks are being given greater flexibility as the central bank allows successful applicants more time to meet pre-licensing requirements. Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said the three approved groups may delay operations by two to three months beyond the initial June target as they work to comply with regulatory conditions. The applicants include consortiums led by Charoen Pokphand, Krungthai Bank and SCB X. Regulators require firms to consolidate financial busines

Family office footprint strategies are shifting as Alta Advisers, the London family office managing wealth for the UK branch of the Rausing family behind Tetra Pak, winds down its Hong Kong presence, Bloomberg reported, citing regulatory filings. The firm ceased investment operations in the city last year and is removing its Hong Kong entity from the business registry, while retaining an Asia presence through its Singapore unit, Maywood Asset Management. The move reflects a b

Malaysia family office scheme activity is gaining traction as Censuria Family Office engages AFFIN Group’s wealth management and financial advisory arm to formulate its strategy ahead of registration under the Single Family Office Incentive Scheme. Led by capital markets investor Datuk Marco Yap, Censuria invests mainly in listed equities, pre-IPO opportunities and fixed-income securities. The firm also plans to explore co-investments, strategic growth initiatives and cross-b

South Korea financial stability remains intact as the country’s financial institutions have sufficient capacity to withstand crisis scenarios despite volatility in financial and foreign exchange markets, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said. Koo made the remarks after a macroeconomic policy meeting with Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song and the heads of financial regulators. He said volatility in government bond yields and the won-dollar exchange rate has persisted as the

Taiwan family wealth reached a record NTD183.7tr (USD5.82tr) at the end of 2024, rising 7.35% from a year earlier as gains in equities and property lifted household balance sheets, government data showed. Securities holdings surged 21.76% to NTD37.28tr, supported by a 28% jump in the TAIEX and strong demand for AI-related technology stocks. Housing assets reached NTD55.03tr, representing about 30% of household net worth, while financial assets accounted for around 67%, reflec

Taiwan equity funds are set to gain greater flexibility as regulators raise the single-stock holding limit to 25% from 10% for domestic funds. The Financial Supervisory Commission said the change applies to equity funds and active ETFs, although holdings cannot exceed a company’s weighting in the benchmark index. The adjustment reflects the growing dominance of technology stocks in Taiwan’s market and rising concentration among large-cap firms. Regulators said the reform will

ASEAN equity fund offerings are expanding as BlackRock launches a new quantitative strategy under Singapore’s Equity Market Development Programme. The fund will invest across 100 to 300 securities in markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam, with around half allocated to Singapore equities. The ASEAN equity fund focuses on small and mid-cap companies, where inefficiencies may offer stronger return potential. BlackRock said the st

Vietnam forex rules are set for overhaul as the central bank proposes easing procedures for foreign investors while strengthening oversight of capital flows. The draft circular would allow eligible investors to open investment capital accounts before receiving registration approval, although usage would initially be limited. Investors may also open multiple foreign-currency accounts for different currencies. The revised Vietnam forex rules aim to align with recent legal chang

Hong Kong IPO market activity remains strong, with listings raising more than HKD140bn (USD18bn) so far this year, maintaining the city’s position as the world’s top fundraising venue. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said average daily turnover has exceeded HKD280bn since last month, reflecting renewed market momentum after volumes reached a four-year high in 2025. The rebound in the Hong Kong IPO market is boosting investment banks and intensifying competition for dealmakers,

Middle East family offices are increasingly shifting capital toward Hong Kong and broader Asia as geopolitical tensions drive diversification away from the conflict zone. HSBC Private Bank said some affluent Middle Eastern families are using Asia as part of global portfolio diversification, with Hong Kong benefiting from its role as a gateway to mainland China. HSBC’s wealth balances in Asia rose 16.3% to USD1.05tr last year, reflecting sustained inflows. Market participants

China offshore financing conditions are tightening as regulators lengthen approval timelines for bonds and loan quotas with maturities of one year or more. Reviews now take four to six months, with some extending up to nine months, as authorities increase scrutiny on repayment plans and use of proceeds. The shift comes as companies face around USD100bn in offshore bond maturities this year. To avoid delays, some firms are turning to shorter-term issuance below 12 months, whic

Asia investment banking activity remains resilient as Citigroup plans to add senior bankers in Japan and China to strengthen its regional deal pipeline. The hiring push follows a global restructuring and reflects continued demand for cross-border mergers and acquisitions despite geopolitical uncertainty. Citi said Japan offers strong opportunities as governance reforms, restructuring and activism drive deal activity, while in China the bank is targeting high-growth sectors as