The InvestHK initiative seeks to increase Hong Kong-registered fintech firms’ presence in Philippines , as only 1.9% currently operate there — the lowest among ASEAN peers. Speaking at Hong Kong FinTech Week 2025, officials said stronger promotion and confidence-building are needed for Manila amid low FDI levels from Hong Kong. Singapore hosts 37% of regional fintechs, followed by Malaysia (20.4%), Thailand (11.1%), Indonesia (7.4%) and Vietnam (6.5%). InvestHK praised the Ph

The Citi family office head Hannes Hofmann will leave the bank about three years after joining, marking another leadership change within Citigroup’s global wealth business. Hofmann, who joined in 2022 from JPMorgan, expanded the firm’s family office coverage and quantitative strategy adoption. His departure follows an earlier private-bank restructuring that saw global head Ida Liu step down and the introduction of four regional heads reporting to wealth chief Andy Sieg, who j

The AIIB Hong Kong office will strengthen the bank’s access to Asia’s capital markets and sustainable finance ecosystem. The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank said it will open an office in Hong Kong to support its expanding operations, with full backing from local authorities. The office will tap Hong Kong’s deep markets and financial expertise to support infrastructure financing, bond issuance, and investment management. The move aligns with the city’s role as a gateway

Foreign investors Hong Kong sentiment is improving, with renewed confidence in the city’s financial markets, according to Financial Secretary Paul Chan. He said overseas firms are expanding and leasing new offices, while nearly half of stock market inflows since September last year have come through Northbound funds, with the rest from Europe and the US. Chan added that multiple Middle Eastern companies will hold investment roadshows in Hong Kong next month targeting infrastr

Wall Street Asia inflows are expected to rise as major global banks forecast renewed investor appetite for China, Hong Kong, Japan, and India, according to executives at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit. Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon signalled improving sentiment towards Chinese equities as international investors rotate back following the stabilisation of 2024 after the property slump. The three-day summit, attended by about 30

The Lioner Singapore expansion marks a major milestone for Lioner International Group, which has moved its Singapore operations to a larger office at One Raffles Place after tripling revenue in the first half of 2025. The Chinese wealth consortium, providing integrated insurance, trust, and family office services, said the relocation reflects growing demand from ultra-high- and high-net-worth clients for consolidated legacy and wealth-planning solutions. Operating across Hong

The China Ministry of Finance debt unit 2025 has been established to tighten oversight of central and local government borrowing and reduce fiscal risks. The new department will set debt limits, manage issuance and repayment, draft regulations, and monitor implicit liabilities from local-government financing vehicles. Li Dawei has been appointed to lead the team, following a USD1.40tr debt-relief package launched in 2023. The unit will coordinate provincial quotas, swaps, and

South Korea big four banks Q3 2025 earnings reached record levels as KB, Shinhan, Hana, and Woori Groups lifted combined year-to-date net profit 10.4% to KRW15.81tr (USD12bn) and third-quarter profit 10.2% to KRW5.48tr. KB led with KRW1.69tr in Q3 and KRW5.12tr year-to-date; Shinhan posted KRW1.42tr and KRW4.46tr; Hana KRW1.13tr and KRW3.43tr. Woori exceeded KRW1tr in quarterly profit for the first time at KRW1.24tr, aided by newly acquired Tongyang Life and ABL Life. Noninte

The Lumen, Aument merger 2025 combines Singapore-based independent wealth managers Lumen Capital Investors and Aument Capital Partners under the Lumen Capital Investors brand. Integration is 95% complete, with all staff based at Sing Land Tower. The merger blends Lumen’s family-office heritage with Aument’s digital and discretionary capabilities, delivering early gains in digital delivery, private-market access, and discretionary management. The enlarged platform targets high

Hong Kong crypto regulation 2025 will relax restrictions by permitting SFC-licensed crypto exchanges to connect local clients with global order books, replacing the ring-fenced trading model. The move aligns digital-asset rules with conventional securities and forms part of a three-year initiative that has introduced Bitcoin and Ether ETPs and a licensing framework for exchanges and funds. Although volumes remain below US levels, the SFC and HKMA plan to deepen liquidity by l

APAC private credit 2027 is projected to reach USD92bn, up from USD59bn in 2024, reflecting a 16% annual growth rate, according to a report by AIMA/ACC, Simmons & Simmons, EY, and Broadridge. Growth is driven by institutional and high-net-worth investors seeking yield and exposure to semi-liquid private markets via platforms like Endowus. Wealth inflows and digital distribution are expanding across Asia, while Australia leads in new credit vehicles. Despite global fundraising

China financials 2025 are expected to outperform the broader market, with banks and insurers leading earnings upgrades, Bloomberg Intelligence data show. Forecast growth for Chinese financials in the MSCI EM Index stands at 3.2%, versus 1.7% for China equities overall. Insurers are driving the rally, led by China Life, which expects up to 70% profit growth for the first nine months, and Ping An, which rose 11%. Morgan Stanley forecasts sector Q3 net earnings up over 30% year

Vietnam digital finance 2025 is emerging as a cornerstone of the country’s growth strategy, according to officials at the Digital Financial Inclusion Conference co-hosted by the State Bank of Vietnam and IFC. Deputy Governor Pham Thanh Ha said the government aims to build a globally connected, trusted digital ecosystem supporting its financial hub ambitions. IFC’s Thomas Jacobs noted that fintech innovation could enhance SME lending and job creation. Vietnam’s initiatives inc

Women in finance Hong Kong 2025 now represent 45% of senior roles and 37% of board seats, both up by double digits since 2018, according to a report by Women Chief Executives Hong Kong, KPMG, and The Women’s Foundation. The city ranked highest among global hubs for visible societal acceptance of female leaders, with 70% of women feeling encouraged to lead and only 15% citing bias. HKEX’s gender disclosure and board diversity rules were cited as major drivers, alongside improv

The HKMA e-HKD Pilot Programme 2025 has concluded its second phase, with 11 industry pilots confirming that both e-HKD and tokenised deposits can deliver cost-efficient, programmable, and resilient transactions. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said public confidence in the banking system ensures strong trust in both digital forms. As a credit-risk-free central bank instrument, e-HKD is now viewed as best suited for wholesale applications such as tokenised asset settlement an

The APEC CEO Summit 2025 opened in South Korea, with global business and political leaders urging stronger multilateral cooperation and supply-chain resilience amid geopolitical and technological challenges. The Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry-hosted event gathered over 1,700 participants, including leaders from the US, South Korea, and OECD. President Lee Jae Myung pledged to prioritise coordination as APEC chair, calling supply-chain collaboration “the core of solida

Malaysia takaful ta`awun framework 2025 will be issued by year-end, expanding the scope of mutual assistance in Islamic insurance, Bank Negara Malaysia announced. The upcoming policy will define shariah and regulatory standards to support financial inclusion and resilience, aligning with maqasid shariah principles. The framework stems from the Sixth Centralised Shariah Authorities Forum held on 15 October, chaired by Datuk Prof. Dr. Ashraf Md Hashim and attended by 50 delegat

GIC private equity secondaries 2025 plans involve Singapore’s GIC selling a portfolio of private-equity fund stakes valued at more than USD1bn, Bloomberg reported. The portfolio spans about 30 funds from Blackstone, Apollo Global Management, and TDR Capital, each averaging around USD100m, with vintages dating back to 2016. The sale, aimed at portfolio rebalancing, comes amid rising global secondary-market activity, which Jefferies said reached USD103bn in the first half of th

ASEAN-US ties 2025 were underscored by Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the 13th ASEAN-US Summit, who said stability in Southeast Asia underpins regional growth and creates opportunities for US businesses. He cited trade and investment links supporting over 600,000 American jobs across a market of 700 million people. Wong emphasised that continued US engagement is vital for peace and prosperity and flagged openings for US firms in the digital economy and the ASEAN Po

Vietnam VAT refunds 2025 are at the centre of calls for reform as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) urged the government to amend rules under the new VAT Law No. 48/2024/QH15. VCCI said complex refund procedures and delays are hurting cash flow and export competitiveness, especially for commodities with low margins such as coffee, pepper, and seafood. Firms must “pay first, refund later,” with coffee exporters advancing VND10tr (USD392m) a year and pepper pr