The PAG Asia buyout fund is targeting about USD4bn as the investment firm tests institutional appetite for Asian private equity while reducing its historically heavy exposure to China. PAG has informed limited partners about the fundraising but has yet to finalise its target, according to people familiar with the plans. The vehicle could ultimately raise between USD4bn and USD5bn, with an initial close potentially taking place by the end of the year. PAG's previous buyout fun

New Singapore fund manager tax breaks and expanded visa support are planned as the city-state seeks to strengthen its asset management industry amid intensifying competition with Hong Kong. Singapore will introduce tax exemptions covering profits earned by fund managers from managing certain investment vehicles, including single-family-office funds. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and finance ministry are expected to provide further details in the 2027 budget. MAS also pl

Singapore financial sector innovation will require greater willingness to take calculated risks if the city-state is to retain its competitive edge as technology transforms global financial infrastructure, former DBS chief executive Piyush Gupta said. Speaking at the launch of his book on Singapore’s financial sector, Gupta warned that the country’s reputation for stability could encourage excessive caution. He argued that policymakers should preserve trust while remaining wi

The China economic slowdown intensified in July as industrial production, retail sales and investment all missed market expectations, increasing pressure on policymakers to support domestic demand. Industrial output rose 4.5% year on year, below economists’ 5% forecast, while retail sales growth slowed sharply to 0.6%, National Bureau of Statistics data showed. Fixed-asset investment contracted 6.7% during the first seven months of the year, worsening from a 5.7% decline in t

Hong Kong limited partnership funds have surpassed 2,000 registrations, marking a significant milestone for a regime designed to attract private equity, venture capital and other alternative investment vehicles. The government said the threshold was passed on Aug. 13, with registrations up 63% year on year at the end of July. The limited partnership fund framework was introduced in August 2020 to provide an onshore structure tailored to private funds. Hong Kong added a re-dom

Proposed Hong Kong treasury centre tax reforms are generating one to two enquiries a month as companies assess whether enhanced concessions could make the city more competitive with Singapore, according to PwC. The government consultation proposes expanding tax deductions for interest expenses to cover a broader range of corporations, bringing Hong Kong’s corporate treasury framework closer to Singapore’s arrangements. The measures form part of wider efforts to reinforce the

Japan Q2 GDP expanded more slowly than expected as weak household spending and declining business investment complicated the Bank of Japan’s assessment of when to raise interest rates. The economy grew at an annualised rate of 1.1% during the second quarter, down from 1.9% in the previous three months and below economists’ 2% forecast. Nevertheless, Japan recorded a third consecutive quarter of expansion. Capital expenditure fell 1.2% from the previous quarter, compared with

The Korea Investment Holdings KDB Life deal could give the brokerage-led financial group its first foothold in insurance after Korea Development Bank selected it as preferred bidder for a 99.75% stake in KDB Life Insurance. The transaction covers 116.32 million shares, although the purchase price has not been disclosed. Korea Investment Holdings is seeking to diversify earnings beyond securities and gain access to a more stable, long-term funding source through insurance prem

B2C2 family office expansion across Asia-Pacific is being strengthened through the appointment of former Schroders Wealth Management Asia chairman Jason Lai as senior adviser in Singapore. Lai founded wealth manager Thirdrock Group in 2009 and became chief executive of Schroders’ Asian wealth business after the FTSE 100 company acquired Thirdrock in 2019. He subsequently served as chairman before retiring in 2026. B2C2 said Lai will help deepen relationships with family offic

Hong Kong finance talent is returning as stronger capital markets, recovering initial public offerings and increased investment activity revive hiring across financial services. Robert Walters Hong Kong Managing Director John Mullally said interest from overseas candidates has improved significantly from pandemic-era levels, with recruitment rising moderately during the past six to 12 months. Hong Kong's stronger equity market and IPO recovery have supported demand for profes

Asset management consolidation is accelerating as falling fees, rising operating costs and growing demand for private markets force firms to choose between building greater scale or developing highly specialised investment capabilities, according to consultancy Alpha FMC. Institutional management fees have declined by around 3% annually, while passive strategies now account for approximately 39% of investments among the world's largest asset managers, senior partner Chris Kro

Proposed Hong Kong fund tax breaks for asset managers and family offices will exclude proprietary trading firms because businesses investing their own capital do not meet the government's definition of an investment fund. The clarification potentially excludes firms such as Jane Street, Citadel Securities and Jump Trading from incentives being introduced as Hong Kong competes with Singapore and Dubai for investment managers and financial talent. The government plans to broade

Asia-Pacific real estate investment strengthened significantly during the second quarter of 2026 as international investors returned to major markets including Japan and Singapore, according to Knight Frank. Commercial property investment rose 31.1% year on year to USD53.5bn, while cross-border investment surged 156.8% to USD12.5bn, representing 23.4% of total regional transaction volumes. Japan attracted USD5bn of international capital, while Singapore received USD3bn, more

Taiwan pension fund external managers are set to receive additional mandates as the Public Service Pension Fund seeks greater exposure to international equity markets. The USD49bn fund could allocate approximately USD200m each to several external managers providing access to overseas markets, according to people familiar with the plans. The final allocation and investment strategies have yet to be determined. Options being considered include passive and index-enhanced investm

Private credit fund liquidity is facing increased scrutiny after several major asset managers restricted investor withdrawals following a surge in redemption requests. Apollo Global Management limited withdrawals from its USD26bn Apollo Debt Solutions vehicle to 5% after redemption requests reached almost 17%, or USD2.4bn. Ares Management also capped withdrawals from its USD23bn Strategic Income Fund after requests reached 14.4%. BlackRock, Blackstone and Blue Owl have simila

South Korea investor leverage is unlikely to return to levels seen during the Kospi's first-half rally even if equities resume their advance, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Rena Kwok. Investors who borrowed heavily to pursue stock-market gains are reassessing their tolerance for risk following sharp market corrections and substantial losses, Kwok said. Regulators have tightened controls covering leveraged exchange-traded funds, while brokerages, banks and insuran

A proposed Hang Seng Tech Index expansion would increase the Hong Kong technology benchmark to 50 constituents from 30 and introduce revenue growth as an additional selection criterion. Hang Seng Indexes Company has proposed a dual-selection framework under which the 40 largest eligible companies by market capitalisation would qualify, while another 10 constituents would be selected according to revenue growth. The index compiler said the changes would improve representation

Hong Kong & Dubai climate finance cooperation will deepen when financial regulators from the two centres hold their third Joint Climate Finance Conference in Hong Kong on Sept. 10. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will bring together corporate leaders, investors and policymakers to discuss partnerships, financing solutions and innovations supporting the transition towards lower-carbon economies. HKMA Chief Executive Eddie Y

Hong Kong shareholding concentration is attracting increased regulatory scrutiny as the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) warns that highly concentrated ownership can expose small- and mid-cap stocks to sharp price movements. The SFC had flagged 13 cases by August, compared with 15 during all of 2025 and just one in 2023. The regulator warns that when controlling shareholders and a small number of investors hold most of a company's issued shares, relatively small transa

Asia-Pacific CFO resilience remains strong despite growing geopolitical and economic risks, with finance leaders investing in digital transformation, artificial intelligence and operational efficiency. A Deloitte Taiwan survey found that chief financial officers were more optimistic about their own organisations than about the global economy, reflecting confidence in their ability to withstand external shocks. Companies are prioritising cash-flow management, supply-chain resi