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

Hong Kong family office tax exemptions could widen as authorities seek to strengthen the city’s position as a global wealth hub. Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui said the government plans to expand profits-tax exemptions for eligible family offices and funds to include assets such as private credit, gold and commodities, carbon credits, insurance-linked securities and certain digital assets. The Hong Kong family office tax exemptions proposal will

South Korea banks emergency support programmes were activated after escalating Middle East tensions increased risks for financial markets and companies. Hana Financial Group said it would provide KRW12tr (USD8.2bn) in assistance including emergency liquidity of up to KRW500m per firm, loan-maturity extensions, grace periods and rate reductions. Woori Financial also tightened monitoring and strengthened cybersecurity checks. Regulators said broader market stabilisation steps w

China tax crackdown unified market efforts intensified in 2025 as the State Taxation Administration investigated 389 leads related to illegal tax practices linked to local investment incentives and corrected confirmed violations. Authorities also strengthened tax information reporting rules for internet platforms, with more than 8,000 platforms now complying in a move aimed at improving competition between online and offline businesses. The China tax crackdown unified market

Hong Kong independent wealth managers model changes are accelerating as private banks tighten compliance requirements and ultra‑rich clients demand broader advisory expertise. Industry executives ahead of the Hubbis Independent Wealth Management Forum Hong Kong 2026 said banks are institutionalising client relationships with heavier onboarding including source‑of‑wealth checks. The Hong Kong independent wealth managers model shift reflects growing demand from families for gov

Hong Kong MPF gold ETF investment may become possible as the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority studies expanding permitted asset classes. Chair Ayesha Macpherson Lau said regulators are reviewing whether MPF schemes can invest in gold exchange‑traded funds as Hong Kong seeks to develop a gold trading hub. The Hong Kong MPF gold ETF proposal follows a completed review of REIT investments including those listed in Shanghai and Shenzhen, while the eMPF platform rollout

Asian banks Gulf lending exposure is facing renewed uncertainty as escalating tensions linked to Iran raise risks for financing activity in the Middle East, Bloomberg reported. Asian and Chinese banks extended more than USD15bn of loans to the region last year, triple the previous year, with most funding directed to Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Analysts said some lenders may take a wait‑and‑see approach or demand higher pricing rather than exit deals if tensions remain contained

Singapore South Korea FTA upgrade talks will begin as both countries deepen cooperation on supply‑chain resilience, digital trade and the green transition, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said during a summit with President Lee Jae Myung. The Singapore South Korea FTA upgrade will modernise the 2006 agreement and strengthen collaboration in areas including artificial intelligence and civil nuclear energy. Leaders also witnessed the signing of memorandums covering technology and

Asia family offices multi hub model adoption is accelerating as wealthy families diversify geographic bases across Singapore, Hong Kong and the UAE, according to advisers and IQ‑EQ research. Asia accounts for about 30% of the world’s single‑family offices, with roughly 40% formed over the past 15 years as new wealth expands rapidly and governance needs deepen. The Asia family offices multi hub model is driven by rising allocations to alternatives such as private equity, real

Hong Kong investment immigration scheme demand is rising as the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme received 3,166 applications implying about HKD95bn (USD12.2bn) of investment commitments, Invest Hong Kong said. More than 1,760 applicants have completed investments and obtained formal approval from the Immigration Department. Nearly 40% of deployed capital, or HKD21.4bn, went into Securities and Futures Commission‑approved funds while HKD16.1bn or 29% was invested in equit

Hong Kong Shanghai digital trade finance cooperation advanced after the two cities signed a memorandum of understanding to research digital technologies for cross‑border trade and cargo data integration. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said partners will study electronic bills of lading and test digital solutions under Project Ensemble. The Hong Kong Shanghai digital trade finance initiative involves the Shanghai Data Bureau and the National Technology Innovation Center for

HSBC Singapore wealth centre expansion continues after the bank opened its fourth and largest facility in the city‑state, adding a 7,884‑sq‑ft site with 14 meeting rooms at Singapore Land Tower. The HSBC Singapore wealth centre will serve Premier Elite customers launched in 2024 for clients with at least SGD1.2m (USD1m) in relationship balances. HSBC said the facility is part of a broader upgrade of its Singapore network and wealth proposition as the lender deepens its focus

The Financial Services Development Council welcomed the Hong Kong budget Finance+ agenda, saying measures in the 2026-27 Budget will deepen market liquidity and strengthen the city’s role as a global financial centre and international gateway for cross-border capital. Chairman Benjamin Hung said the multipronged approach supports building a fuller debt market and a more efficient yield curve, while executive director Rocky Tung praised plans to modernise capital markets, incl

Hong Kong will transfer about HKD52.8bn(USD6.8bn) back to government accounts in 2026-27 to better fund its capital account amid heavy infrastructure spending, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. The Hong Kong fiscal transfer includes about HKD15.8bn from funds set up outside government accounts after reviewing 36 purpose-specific funds, with some vehicles to be closed or consolidated. Another HKD37bn of accumulated surplus from the Bond Fund, created in 2009 to support Silve

Singapore dividends 2025 reached a record USD18.7bn, up 19.1% from a year earlier, helped by bank special dividends and higher payouts, Capital Group said in its Global Equity Study. Global dividends also rose 7% to a record USD2.09tr, the report said. Capital Group noted Singapore’s top-line growth was lifted by one-offs, while core growth was more modest, and said banks’ special dividends reflected strong capital positions. Jeik Sohn, head of client group for Southeast Asia

SCB Asset Management expects a 2026 risk-asset upcycle, setting a best-case year-end target of 1,600 for the Stock Exchange of Thailand index and aiming to lift assets under management above THB2tr(USD56bn), its chief executive said. CEO Narongsak Plodmechai cited stabilising global equities, a rebound in parts of Asia and easier liquidity as major central banks cut rates. SCBAM aims to reach 1 million investors this year after opening 100,000 new accounts in the first two mo

Raffles Family Office welcomed Hong Kong’s 2026-27 Budget, saying proposed enhancements to the family office tax regime would help cement the city’s position as a global wealth hub, while urging policies to cover both single- and multi-family offices in tandem, Group CEO Chi Man Kwan said. He pointed to a government-backed market study showing Hong Kong had more than 3,380 single-family offices by end-2025, up over 25% in two years. The budget includes plans to legislate this

Hong Kong will inject more capital into the Hong Kong Investment Corporation after it largely allocated its initial HKD62bn (USD7.9bn), as the government widens the fund’s role to draw long-term money into high-quality commercial property projects, Financial Secretary Paul Chan said. The Hong Kong Investment Corporation has invested in more than 190 projects, with 10 portfolio companies already listed and another 20 preparing to list this year, he said. Chan also said the fun

Singapore’s three largest banks drew SGD77bn (USD 60.4bn) in net new money in 2025 as geopolitical strains and trade uncertainty pushed wealthy Asians to shift assets to the city-state, highlighting Singapore banks wealth inflows. OCBC said net new money rose 30% to SGD27bn, lifting wealth AUM to SGD343bn, while DBS reported SGD39bn of inflows that brought wealth AUM to SGD488bn, and UOB logged SGD11bn, taking high-net-worth AUM to SGD201bn. The surge is pushing lenders to re

The Philippine Securities and Exchange Commission has eased IPO free-float rules for large listings, introducing a tiered public ownership framework aimed at unlocking mega-IPOs as the market struggles to absorb big deals. Under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 11, issuers expecting market capitalisation above PHP50bn (USD890m) at listing must sell at least 15% to the public, subject to a minimum offer size of PHP10bn, versus the previous flat 20% requirement. For firms valued at