Asia investment flows are strengthening as global investors increasingly turn to the region amid geopolitical uncertainty, according to Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing. Chief Executive Bonnie Chan said global investment in Asia doubled to around USD6tr between 2014 and 2024, underscoring the region’s growing importance in global portfolios. She added that Asia’s capital markets have expanded fourfold since 2000 to exceed USD34tr by the end of 2024. The rise in Asia investmen

Singapore business impact is deepening as two-thirds of companies report moderate to severe disruption from the Iran war, according to a survey by the Singapore Business Federation. In a poll of 254 firms, 66% identified rising energy prices as the most significant pressure, followed by higher shipping and logistics costs, as well as weakening customer demand. The Singapore business impact is particularly acute among smaller firms, with one in three SMEs reporting significant

South Korea financial groups are reshaping headquarters strategies as they seek to improve operational efficiency and strengthen capital positions. Hana Financial is set to relocate later this year to a new integrated headquarters in Cheongna, Incheon, bringing together around 2,800 employees from various affiliates currently spread across Seoul. Shinhan Financial is pursuing a similar consolidation strategy, with plans for a centralised headquarters in Seoul targeted for com

Hong Kong safe haven appeal is strengthening as international investors seek stability amid geopolitical tensions, according to the Financial Services Development Council. Chairman Benjamin Hung said investors are increasingly exploring office openings, capital allocation and investment opportunities in the city. The Hong Kong safe haven trend is reflected in IPO activity, where major cornerstone investors last year were largely from Western countries, indicating capital real

HNWI Asia investments remain resilient as wealthy individuals continue allocating capital despite a broader global shift by retail investors into cash. Schroders said the divergence emerged after Middle East tensions pushed oil prices above USD100 per barrel, triggering risk aversion among retail investors. In contrast, HNWI Asia investments are focused on long-term opportunities including private credit, digital assets and alternative strategies. Schroders also highlighted g

Active ETFs China expansion is gaining momentum as JPMorgan seeks regulatory approval to launch fully active exchange-traded funds in mainland China. The move would mark the firm’s first entry into the segment, which remains restricted to enhanced index strategies with limited benchmark deviation. JPMorgan Asset Management currently manages about USD257bn in active ETF assets globally and sees strong growth potential in the region. The active ETFs China initiative aligns with

Tokenised gold fund adoption is increasing as OCBC, Lion Global Investors and DigiFT launched Southeast Asia’s first on-chain gold investment product. The GOLDX token tracks the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund and is issued on Ethereum and Solana blockchains. Investors can subscribe using fiat or stablecoins, with tokens delivered to digital wallets and redeemable in cash or stablecoins. The tokenised gold fund had USD669.4m in assets under management as of April 16,

Malaysia family office ambitions are gaining traction as authorities position Forest City Special Financial Zone as a lower-cost complement to Singapore. Launched in September 2024 within the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone, the initiative offers tax incentives including 0% on qualifying investment income for 10 years, extendable to 20 years. Malaysian authorities said six single-family offices managing RM400m (USD85m) had been approved by early 2026, with a target of R

China ASEAN investment platform activity is accelerating as a USD1bn private equity initiative backed by sovereign investors reached a first close of USD520m. The Galaxy Orientis platform, supported by China Investment Corporation, Indonesia Investment Authority and the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan, targets opportunities across the China–ASEAN corridor. The China ASEAN investment platform will focus on industrials, healthcare, consumer, business services and technology sector

Digital asset exchange funding is gaining momentum as Malaysia-based Hata secured USD8m in a Series A round led by Bybit and supported by several global family offices. The funding follows Bybit’s participation in Hata’s USD4.2m seed round and strengthens their strategic partnership. Hata said proceeds will be used to improve platform liquidity, expand its user base and develop digital asset products. The firm reported RM1.04bn (USD263m) in transaction volume in 2025 and more

Philippines finance growth is set to accelerate as Salmon Group raised USD100m in fresh funding to expand its consumer finance business. The funding comprises USD60m in equity and USD40m in public bonds issued under its USD150m Nordic bond programme at a 13.7% yield. Investors include Spice Expeditions, Washington University Investment Management Company, Moore Strategic Ventures and FJ Labs. Salmon said the proceeds will support product expansion, distribution growth, capita

Family office technology demand is rising as Addepar opens a Singapore office to strengthen its Asia-Pacific presence, targeting growing needs among family offices and investment firms. The new hub at Marina Bay Financial Centre will house research and development alongside go-to-market teams, the wealth technology firm said. Addepar noted its regional client base has grown more than 130% over the past two years, reflecting strong adoption of family office technology solution

Indonesia QRIS payment network has officially expanded to South Korea after Bank Indonesia and the Bank of Korea launched a cross-border QRIS payment link under a local currency settlement framework. The linkage allows users to make retail payments directly between the rupiah and South Korean won, reducing reliance on the US dollar. Bank Indonesia said inbound QRIS transactions had reached 5.9 million and outbound transactions 1.7 million as of early April. Officials said the

Taishin Securities merger Taiwan will create the island’s fourth-largest brokerage by market share after the company completes its merger with MasterLink Securities, according to Financial Supervisory Commission data. The combined brokerage’s market share is expected to rise to 5.13% from 2.19%, lifting Taishin’s ranking from 16th to fourth. Taishin Securities will remain the surviving entity and the MasterLink brand will be discontinued. Parent TS Financial Holding said the

Vietnam growth outlook remains the strongest in the ASEAN+3 region, with the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office forecasting GDP growth of 7.4% in 2026 and 7.1% in 2027, after an estimated 8% in 2025. Inflation is projected at 3.8% in 2026 and 3.4% in 2027. AMRO said the Vietnam growth outlook is underpinned by strong domestic demand, stable inflation, robust exports, solid foreign investment inflows and strength in high-tech manufacturing and electronics. Across ASEAN+3, g

Blue Pool Capital private equity fund activity has entered a new phase as the Hong Kong-based multi-family office and investment firm co-founded by Alibaba billionaire Joe Tsai raised USD1bn for its first private equity fund, Riverside Fund, marking an expansion beyond multi-strategy investing. The firm was founded by Tsai and former Alibaba executives and is led by CEO Oliver Weisberg, a former Goldman Sachs banker and former Citadel partner in Hong Kong. Weisberg previously

Vietnam digital asset tax rules now impose a 0.1% personal income tax on every digital asset transaction under the Finance Ministry’s Circular 32/2026, while exempting such transactions from value-added tax. The circular, effective from March 27, also sets a 20% corporate income tax for businesses providing digital asset services in Vietnam, while foreign institutional investors trading through those firms will pay the same 0.1% per transaction. The move comes as Vietnam rema

Asia legacy planning remains weak, with nearly six in 10 high-net-worth individuals in the region lacking a formal plan, according to an HSBC Life report that highlighted risks to intergenerational wealth transfer. Only 24% of respondents in Taiwan had a legacy plan, followed by 26% in Hong Kong and 36% in mainland China, while Thailand led the surveyed markets at 57%. The report said economic and financial market volatility, cited by 45% of respondents, was a stronger trigge

Hong Kong financial centre ranking held steady at third globally and first in Asia-Pacific in the 39th Global Financial Centres Index, the Financial Services Development Council said, citing Z/Yen Group and the China Development Institute. Hong Kong’s overall score rose to 765, leaving it one point behind London and two points behind New York. The city also retained first place in the fintech index and ranked top globally in banking, insurance and finance. FSDC chairman Benja

China fund manager merger activity is set to deepen as Huaan Fund Management and smaller peer HFT Investment Management prepare to combine under rules that bar one company from controlling stakes in two mutual fund managers, according to a local media report. Both firms are controlled by Guotai Haitong Securities, and the final merger plan is expected later this month or in early April. The proposed China fund manager merger comes as regulators push wider consolidation across