An IMAS survey of Singapore fund managers suggests the industry is entering 2026 expecting persistent volatility, while looking for selective opportunities in Asia as rate cuts and wider adoption of artificial intelligence reshape portfolio construction. The Investment Management Association of Singapore said about 69% of respondents expect the U.S. Federal Reserve to cut rates by more than 0.5 percentage point by year-end, while 60% worry political pressure could increasingl

HKMA inclusive banking guidance is being updated as Hong Kong’s banking industry moves to strengthen support for elderly customers and people with impairments, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority and the Hong Kong Association of Banks said. A refreshed “Guideline on Elderly-friendly Banking Services” sets practical standards aligned with government efforts to promote the “silver economy” and aims to improve financial literacy and digital adoption through enhanced financial educa

South Korea 2025 growth slowed to 1.0%, the weakest pace since 2020, supported by solid exports but weighed down by a sharp fall in construction investment, preliminary Bank of Korea data showed. The economy unexpectedly contracted 0.3% quarter-on-quarter in October–December, its first contraction in six months and the weakest since late 2022, missing the central bank’s prior forecast for a small expansion. Construction investment fell 3.9% from the prior quarter, while expor

APAC CEOs wealth and asset management expansion is gaining momentum as chief executives increasingly look beyond their core businesses, PwC said, citing its 29th Global CEO Survey. PwC found that 37% of Asia-Pacific CEOs plan to expand outside their traditional industries over the next three years, targeting adjacent and fast-moving sectors such as asset and wealth management, technology, health services, transportation and logistics, retail and industrial manufacturing. Amon

SC Capital Japan hotel strategy has secured a major capital commitment as investors position for a tourism rebound. Singapore-based real estate investment manager SC Capital Partners said it has secured backing from Canada Pension Plan Investment Board for its Japan hospitality strategy, supported by a consortium including an existing institutional investor. The initial commitment totals up to USD330m, with capacity to scale to USD719m, while CPP Investments will invest up to

Thailand tokenised funds and digital assets are set to take centre stage under the securities regulator’s 2026 capital market roadmap, as oversight is tightened to protect investors. The Securities and Exchange Commission said the plan will prioritise tokenised funds and bonds, crypto exchange-traded funds including spot products, and upgraded digital market infrastructure. Secretary-General Pornanong Budsaratragoon said the roadmap aims to cut costs for intermediaries and br

China national M&A fund planning is under study as authorities seek to sharpen the strategic direction of government-backed investment vehicles, the state planner said. Wang Changlin, a vice head of the National Development and Reform Commission, said the proposed national mergers and acquisitions fund would support innovation and entrepreneurship and accelerate the development of so-called new quality productive forces. He added that building a modern industrial system requi

Family offices are being urged to scrutinise evergreen fund terms as managers expand access to private markets through perpetual-life vehicles, according to a senior executive at a London-based family office. Evergreen funds, which allow subscriptions at net asset value and periodic redemptions, have grown rapidly as family offices seek income and flexibility without long lock-ups. Assets in evergreen funds have more than doubled to USD500bn since 2022, according to PitchBook

A Hong Kong billionaire has sharply increased his gold allocation, highlighting a shift in family office portfolio construction amid rising geopolitical risks. Value investing veteran Cheah Cheng Hye has lifted gold exposure to about a quarter of assets at his USD1.4bn family office, up from roughly 15% a year ago, according to people familiar with the matter. Cheah said he mainly buys and holds physical gold and highly liquid vehicles, avoids derivatives and borrowing, and f

China has tightened stock-market regulation as authorities seek to curb excessive speculation and engineer a more sustainable rally. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said it wants to prevent sharp market swings after turnover and margin financing surged to new highs in January. Chinese exchanges will raise the minimum margin requirement for new margin-financing borrowings to 100% from 80% from Jan 19, a move approved by the watchdog and aimed at reducing leverage in

Hong Kong is accelerating a paperless trade finance push as regulators seek to modernise documentation and improve credit access for small and medium-sized enterprises. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) has released a 20-measure roadmap under Project CargoX to expand paperless trade finance across the city. The plan focuses on using cargo and trade data to speed up automation, upgrading digital infrastructure to enable paperless documentation, and strengthening connecti

Asian UHNWIs cross-border mobility is accelerating, and family offices are emerging as the primary structuring response as ultra-wealthy families adapt to increasingly mobile wealth, according to a commentary by Ocorian. Wealth growth in Greater China has outpaced Southeast Asia, with the UBS Global Wealth Report 2025 showing China’s millionaire population rising by more than 380 people a day in 2024. Ocorian said younger Chinese entrepreneurs are driving outward mobility foc

Hong Kong is accelerating plans to build a Hong Kong gold central clearing system and aims to launch a pilot this year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. Chan said demand to diversify away from U.S. dollar assets has lifted gold’s role as a reserve and hedge. Spot trading on the Hong Kong Gold Exchange more than doubled year on year to HKD2.9bn (USD372m) a day by November 2025, but many deals still settle bilaterally over the counter, creating inefficiencies, he said. At th

China Q4 GDP growth slowed to a three-year low as domestic demand weakened, even as the full-year pace met Beijing’s target, official data showed. Gross domestic product grew 4.5% in October–December from a year earlier, easing from 4.8% in the third quarter, while 2025 growth came in at 5.0%, the National Bureau of Statistics said. A record trade surplus and firmer industrial output underscored exporters’ resilience, but consumption and investment remained soft amid a prolon

A billionaire wealth surge drove global fortunes up 16% in 2025 to a record USD18.3tr, widening economic and political divides, anti-poverty group Oxfam said as the World Economic Forum opened in Davos. Oxfam said billionaire wealth rose at three times its recent pace last year, extending an 81% gain since 2020, even as one in four people struggle to eat regularly and nearly half the world lives in poverty. The group said billionaires are 4,000 times more likely than ordinary

Multi-family office Farro Capital has strengthened its sustainable investing capabilities with the appointment of a new impact and sustainable finance head, as family offices increase allocations to responsible strategies. Singapore-based Farro Capital said it has hired Priyaka Dhingra as head of impact and sustainable finance to mobilise capital from family offices into projects spanning climate change mitigation and adaptation, new technology deployment and social developme

Fiera Capital is expanding Japan private markets distribution with a senior hire as it builds its local presence and targets institutional and family office investors. The Canadian asset manager said it has appointed Chinatsu Aoyama as director and private markets specialist in Japan, based in Tokyo, to support distribution of strategies across real estate debt and equity, natural capital, infrastructure, private credit and private equity. She reports to CJ Morrell, managing

HSBC Private Bank is bolstering its Asia wealth planning capabilities through a series of senior hires aimed at deepening client coverage and advisory strength. HSBC Private Bank said it expanded its Global India coverage team in Singapore by appointing Phaneendar Bhavaraju and Rangan Krishnan as senior relationship managers reporting to Manoj Ramarao, senior desk head for Global India in Singapore and Hong Kong. Bhavaraju brings more than 28 years of experience across privat

The Family Office will convene Saudi royals and global investors at its annual Red Sea investing summit, highlighting the growing role of the region in global family office portfolios. The Gulf-based wealth manager said its Investing Is a Sea summit will be held from Jan 29 to 31 on Shura Island on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, under the framework of the kingdom’s Vision 2030 programme. Discussions at the Red Sea investing summit will cover global macro conditions, portfolio

HKU urged Hong Kong to reposition itself as a “super value-adder” by deepening integration with mainland industry while expanding overseas networks, according to its 2026 economic policy green paper. HKU dean Cai Hongbin said the city must better understand mainland strategic priorities and support Chinese firms expanding abroad, while strengthening higher education to attract global talent. Economist Tang Hei-wai said geopolitical shifts are opening opportunities in regions