Haitong Shaw Investment partnership aims to support Chinese companies expanding overseas and seeking access to global capital markets. Haitong International Securities has partnered with Singapore‑based Shaw Investment APAC, a single‑family office managing about USD3bn in assets. The collaboration will facilitate outbound investments and cross‑border financing opportunities while leveraging Singapore’s role as a regional financial hub. The Haitong Shaw Investment partnership

HSBC Hong Kong work policy will require customer‑facing employees including traders and sales personnel to return to the office five days a week from April 1, ending pandemic‑era work‑from‑home flexibility. Managing directors and senior staff with direct reports must attend at least four days weekly, while other Hong Kong employees must attend three days. HSBC employs more than 20,000 people in Hong Kong. The updated HSBC Hong Kong work policy reflects a broader industry tren

Malaysia capital market master plan aims to expand the country’s financial market to between RM5.8tr and RM6.3tr(USD1.23tr–USD1.33tr) by 2030 from RM4.3tr in 2025. Securities Commission Malaysia said the fourth master plan focuses on market vibrancy, inclusivity, sustainability financing and regional opportunities. Measures include expanding retail participation, promoting ASEAN‑focused exchange‑traded funds and addressing sustainability financing needs. The Malaysia capital

Asian oil shock response measures are being introduced as governments attempt to limit the impact of Middle East conflict on fuel supplies and prices. South Korea plans to impose a domestic fuel price cap for the first time in nearly three decades, while Myanmar has begun rationing fuel for private vehicles following supply disruptions. The Strait of Hormuz, a key route for about one‑fifth of global oil and LNG shipments, has experienced severe disruption. Policymakers say th

Japan GDP growth Q4 2025 was revised higher as stronger capital expenditure and private consumption supported domestic demand. Revised figures showed annualised growth of 1.3%, compared with a preliminary estimate of 0.2%. Capital expenditure rose 1.3%, marking the strongest increase in a year, while private consumption was revised to a 0.3% gain. Separate data showed household spending fell 1.0% in January from a year earlier. Analysts warned the improved Japan GDP growth Q4

Technology for Change Asia summit organisers said the event will shift from artificial intelligence hype to practical deployment across industries. More than 600 business and government leaders attended the 2025 conference organised by Economist Impact. The 2026 programme will explore regulatory differences across Asia, scaling autonomous agents, the Greater Bay Area innovation ecosystem and smart mobility’s influence on global supply chains. Technology for Change Asia summit

Singapore Capital Asia investigation has resulted in the arrest of two directors of fund manager Capital Asia Investments as authorities intensify financial‑sector enforcement. Police and the Monetary Authority of Singapore seized more than SGD160m(USD119m) in assets during the probe into suspected money laundering and regulatory breaches. MAS said it identified serious control failings in the firm’s anti‑money laundering compliance. The Singapore Capital Asia investigation h

Hong Kong MPF contribution review is under way for the first time in more than a decade as authorities assess whether current income thresholds still reflect economic realities. MPF Schemes Authority chairwoman Ayesha Macpherson Lau said the minimum monthly income level of HKD7,100(USD910) and maximum threshold of HKD30,000(USD3,840) no longer reflect rising wages and living costs. The authority has consulted more than 30 stakeholder groups and plans to submit recommendations

China female fund managers have risen to 1,110 as of March 6, representing about 26.7% of the country’s 4,150 active mutual fund managers, according to Wind Information data. Funds managed or co‑managed by women totalled RMB18.95tr(USD2.6tr), accounting for 51.06% of industry assets under management. Funds solely managed by women amounted to RMB6.83tr. Data cited by Bloomberg showed the number of China female fund managers increased from 1,088 a year earlier. Over the past ye

Asia family office philanthropy is being urged to mobilise larger pools of capital as the United Nations faces growing funding pressure. Commentators say fragmented giving can no longer address the widening SDG funding gap. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres has warned of an imminent financial collapse as unpaid dues and peacekeeping arrears increase. The OECD estimates the annual global SDG funding gap at USD3tr to USD4tr. With 74% of Asia‑Pacific family offices already e

Standard Chartered digital assets Asia strategy is expanding with the appointment of Karby Leggett as head of digital assets for Greater China, North Asia, South Asia and ASEAN. Leggett will join the bank’s Digital Assets Centre of Excellence while continuing as global head of the official institutions group under the research division. The bank said the appointment reflects growing institutional interest in tokenised finance, stablecoins and digital‑asset ecosystems. Standar

Hong Kong family office gold hub ambitions may benefit from escalating Middle East tensions as investors consider shifting assets away from the region, analysts said. Market strategist Kenny Tang said Hong Kong could attract funds that might otherwise flow to Dubai, citing the city’s deep capital markets and free capital flows. The Hong Kong family office gold hub strategy follows the government’s latest budget pledging tax incentives for bullion trading, expanded vault capac

Hong Kong budget family offices initiatives aim to strengthen the city’s appeal to global investors through tax expansion, infrastructure upgrades and digital finance development, according to IQ-EQ managing director Clare Chang. She said widening eligibility to include funds-of-one and recognising assets such as digital tokens and precious metals reflects how wealthy families structure portfolios combining private equity, private credit, real assets and co-investments. The H

Korea business environment guide published by the Korea Enterprises Federation aims to help foreign institutions and investors better understand the country’s regulatory and economic landscape. The English-language booklet titled 2026 Business Environment and Labor Market in Korea outlines major economic policies, labour regulations and recent statistics. KEF said the Korea business environment guide has been distributed to about 250 organisations worldwide including the OECD

China GDP growth target 2026 was set at 4.5% to 5% in Premier Li Qiang’s annual work report to parliament, signalling policymakers’ readiness to accept slower expansion amid economic headwinds. The target is slightly below the around 5% goal used in the past three years as officials confront weak domestic demand, a prolonged property downturn and external uncertainty. Analysts said the China GDP growth target 2026 reflects a shift toward more realistic medium-term growth mana

Raffles Family Office platform for Asian asset managers will be launched through a venture called Quantive Partners in partnership with wealth-tech firm GoUpscale and consultancy Synpulse. The privacy-first Raffles Family Office platform aims to reduce fragmentation caused by multiple custodians, portfolio tools and data sources while improving data integrity, risk visibility and client engagement. Raffles Family Office will act as anchor partner, GoUpscale will build the res

Chinese lenders Middle East exposure is being reduced as financial firms curb lending risks linked to the escalating Iran conflict, Bloomberg News reported citing people familiar with the matter. One major Chinese bank has restricted drawdowns on a bilateral loan to an Abu Dhabi government-linked financial institution, while a mid-sized lender is seeking buyers for parts of syndicated loans to Middle Eastern borrowers. Asian and Chinese banks extended more than USD15bn of loa

Hong Kong and Macau financial infrastructure cooperation has expanded after the two regions’ monetary authorities signed a revised memorandum of understanding covering broader collaboration. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said the updated pact extends beyond banking supervision to include financial infrastructure linkages, information exchange on currency and statistics, and industry training. HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Yue said the agreement deepens collaboration as both c

Indonesia outlook negative Fitch decision reflects rising concerns about policy credibility and fiscal risks even as the rating agency affirmed the country’s BBB long-term foreign-currency rating. Fitch said increasing policy uncertainty and more centralised decision-making could weaken fiscal guardrails, including the 3% of GDP deficit cap. The agency also highlighted risks from a review of the State Finance Law in the government’s 2026 legislative priorities. The Indonesia

Family offices frontier science investing is accelerating as wealthy Asian families expand allocations to sectors such as space technology and longevity biotech. The Venture Network founder Lachezar Zanev said younger heirs are increasingly pursuing both outsized returns and social impact through emerging scientific industries. Lower launch costs and improving satellite capabilities, alongside biotech advances moving toward clinical applications, are widening the opportunity