Hong Kong multifamily offices are the focus of the city’s second-phase family-office strategy running 2026–2028, targeting 220 additional single and multifamily offices from Europe, the Middle East and Asia, according to InvestHK. The plan builds on the ecosystem developed through eight measures — including tax concessions and an investment-migration route — and extends a 2023–2025 goal that brought in 200 offices. Branded Family Office 2.0, the initiative aims to broaden bey

APEC finance ministers 2025 began a three-day meeting in Incheon to shape policy priorities on innovation, finance and structural reform ahead of the leaders’ summit in Gyeongju on 31 October – 1 November. Under the theme “Building a Sustainable Tomorrow,” officials will finalise the “Incheon Plan,” a five-year roadmap succeeding the Cebu Action Plan, focusing on AI governance and the digital economy. The meeting — the final ministerial before the summit — is held jointly wit

Taiwan Stock Exchange reform will ease listing and investment rules to lure foreign startups as part of its “Asian Nasdaq” initiative. Initial outreach targets Southeast Asia and Silicon Valley. Taiwan’s main and OTC markets were valued at NTD90tr (USD2.77tr) at end-September, ranking eighth globally, with semiconductors making up 48% of market capitalisation. Foreign issuers with a major shareholder owning over 30% and no China, Hong Kong or Macau capital will be exempt from

Invest Hong Kong unveiled the joint 10th-anniversary Hong Kong FinTech Week x StartmeupHK Festival 2025 from 3–7 November, for the city’s largest fintech gathering to date. Invest Hong Kong said the event will attract more than 37,000 attendees, 800 speakers and 700 exhibitors from over 100 economies. Organised with the HKMA, SFC and Insurance Authority under the theme “Curating the New Fintech Era,” the main conference will run 3–4 November at the Convention and Exhibition C

Asia’s ultrawealthy AI investment strategies are shifting toward Chinese equities to capture gains from an AI-led market rally and easing interest rates, private bankers say. Confidence has improved since Q2 2025 on resilient activity, AI-driven earnings and renewed rate cuts despite US-China trade frictions. Wealth-X estimated that regional fortunes of individuals worth USD30m or more rose 10% in the first half, lifting risk appetite. Capital flows are gravitating toward Hon

Hong Kong SME expansion momentum is building, with about 20% of small and medium-sized enterprises planning to expand overseas within 12 months, according to the latest Standard Chartered Hong Kong SME Leading Business Index. Nearly half of respondents aim to grow in Asia, with around 60% eyeing mainland China as the top destination. SMEs highlighted sales channels, platform operations and overseas regulations as key areas needing support. Authorities said a dedicated funding

China Q3 GDP 2025 expanded 4.8% year on year, down from 5.2% in the previous quarter, as a prolonged property slump and subdued consumption offset stronger industrial output. January–September growth stood at 5.2%, close to Beijing’s about-5% target. Fixed-asset investment fell 0.5% in Q3 and consumer prices remained muted. Exports to the US declined 27% in September even as overall shipments rose 8.3%, reflecting trade tensions and supply-chain realignments. Residential prop

Family office succession planning remains a major challenge globally, with most firms still unprepared for generational transition, according to a new Ocorian survey. Only 23% of respondents said they were fully ready for succession, while 99% of employees and advisers agreed more preparation is needed. About 91% observed a natural handover of wealth and leadership, while 3% did not and 6% were unsure. Generational divides are evident: 85% said next-gen approaches differ from

Singapore family office incentives are under scrutiny as authorities review a 2018 vehicle linked to Prince Holding Group chairman Chen Zhi, following his indictment in the US for allegedly directing a cyber-fraud network. Thailand’s Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau said it will coordinate with US agencies on potential asset seizures, while Singapore police are reviewing the case with overseas counterparts. US officials have seized around USD15bn in bitcoin, while the UK froz

UBS Hong Kong fine of HKD8m (USD1.03m) has been imposed by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) after the bank misclassified clients as professional investors for over 12 years. The SFC said the issue stemmed from an automated process that misread minimum portfolio thresholds for joint accounts, allowing UBS to sell products intended only for professionals and offer securities pooled lending without valid authorities. A review covering July 2018 to July 2022 found 560

Hong Kong fraud framework plans are advancing as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority urged banks to standardise procedures for handling customer fraud claims. Local media reported that the HKMA asked the Hong Kong Association of Banks to respond by 1 December, with adoption expected within three months of the final draft. The proposal covers authorised payments and transfers made through Hong Kong accounts, which are currently assessed case by case. The HKMA said liability in su

South Korea regulatory reform will be accelerated as President Lee Jae-myung pledges to ease excessive rules and revitalise business activity to support economic recovery. Speaking at a government meeting focused on the bio, renewable energy, and cultural sectors, Lee said rationalising regulations is vital to boost growth and address inequality. He warned that bureaucratic rigidity hampers effective policy execution and urged officials to adopt a more flexible stance toward

Asian family offices are increasingly allocating to semi-liquid alternatives such as private credit and secondaries to enhance returns and manage risk, according to Singapore-based multi-family office First Capital Global Management (FCGM). Lili Wang, the firm’s head of alternative investments, said FCGM is evaluating two private credit funds in Asia and the US and prioritises flexible, cash-generating structures with high single-digit yields. Alternatives now make up around

Paul Chan Hong Kong US visit underscored the city’s open-market advantages as the Financial Secretary called on American companies to expand their presence despite persistent US-China trade tensions. Speaking at the annual gala of the National Committee on US-China Relations in New York, Chan met former US trade envoy Charlene Barshefsky to discuss deepening economic and financial ties. He reaffirmed Hong Kong’s commitment to its free-port status, rule-of-law framework, and r

HKMA GenAI Sandbox has entered its second phase as the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, in partnership with Cyberport, launches the next cohort to accelerate safe and responsible AI adoption in the financial sector. From over 60 proposals, 27 use cases were selected from 20 banks and 14 technology partners, prioritising innovation, complexity, and industry value. The new cohort shifts focus from experimentation to implementation, introducing “A.I. vs A.I.” governance checks and

Family offices leverage strategies are expanding as ultra-wealthy investors adopt more sophisticated financing to capture opportunities and manage risk, according to a Deutsche Bank report. Over half of the 209 family offices surveyed by Germany’s largest lender view leverage as a key part of their investment approach, with real estate cited as the most common reason for increased borrowing in the past year. The report said family offices are better prepared than in previous

Hong Kong pension ranking rose to 15th globally in the Mercer CFA Institute Global Pension Index 2025 but remained behind Singapore, which became the first Asian nation to achieve an “A” grade, ranking fourth worldwide. The index evaluated 52 systems for adequacy, sustainability, and integrity. Hong Kong scored well in integrity and adequacy but only “C+” in sustainability, while Singapore’s strong performance reflected long-term reforms and improved transparency. Mercer advi

Indonesia mutual fund foreign limits are set to rise as regulators prepare to relax restrictions for the country’s USD50bn fund industry, enabling greater global diversification. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has approved an industry proposal to raise offshore investment caps and is drafting new rules expected next year. Current regulations limit foreign holdings to 15% of net asset value, curbing flexibility and scale. The Indonesian Investment Managers Association

China’s Greater Bay Area business activity reached a four-year high in Q3 2025, supported by a temporary US-China tariff truce and stronger financial market momentum, according to the GBA Business Confidence Index by Standard Chartered Bank and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council. The headline index climbed to 54.7 from 53.1 in Q2, while the expectations index hit 55.7 — its highest in two years — signalling robust optimism. New orders and prices of finished goods rose sh

JPMorgan Asset Management Asia plans to double its assets under management in the region to USD600bn within five years, building on strong growth in active exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and new market entries. The firm managed USD302bn in Asia at end-2024 — more than double its 2019 level — according to Asia-Pacific CEO Dan Watkins. Key drivers include the launch of its first active ETF in Taiwan in September and a SGD1.1bn (USD0.8bn) mandate from the Monetary Authority of Sin