Singapore investment banking fees increased 9% to USD693.8m during the first nine months of 2026, reaching their highest level for the period since 2021 as stronger mergers and acquisitions activity boosted advisory revenues. Singapore generated 69.3% of Southeast Asia’s investment banking fee pool, according to LSEG Deals Intelligence. M&A advisory fees increased 23.7% to USD256m, while equity capital markets underwriting revenue rose 11.5% to USD159.8m. Syndicated lending f

APAC banks digital services are becoming increasingly important to customer retention as consumers demand more personalised financial advice and AI-enabled banking capabilities, according to research by Temenos and Celent. The study found 72% of Asia-Pacific consumers were only moderately satisfied or less satisfied with their primary financial institution. Better online and mobile banking would persuade 43% of APAC consumers to switch institutions, while 58% want more financ

Singapore next-generation wealth hub credentials have been strengthened after the city-state ranked first in Asia-Pacific and sixth globally in Savills’ Next Generation Wealth Hubs Index. The index assesses more than 100 wealth centres across business, governance and connectivity, wealth management and taxation, wealth clusters and lifestyle. Singapore led six Asia-Pacific cities that placed among the global top 30. Savills said investment patterns among wealthy people under

Hong Kong fundraising reached a record USD47.5bn during the third quarter as the artificial intelligence boom encouraged Chinese companies to raise larger amounts and return more frequently to equity markets, Bloomberg data showed. Share sales pushed Hong Kong’s 2026 total above USD92bn, bringing the market within reach of the USD112.5bn annual record established in 2021. Alibaba’s USD10.2bn follow-on offering was the quarter’s largest transaction, while optical-networking eq

Singapore private bank account opening times are shortening, with nearly half of new accounts opened between June and August completed within one month, according to the Association of Banks in Singapore. The improvement comes as the Private Banking Industry Group targets a median account-opening time of one month by the end of 2026. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and the industry group established a working group in 2025 to tackle onboarding delays, which can extend fro

Malaysia SME borrowing is increasingly shifting towards short-term loans as smaller companies face shrinking cash buffers, higher operating expenses and greater working-capital requirements, according to Bank Negara Malaysia data. Short-term facilities accounted for a growing proportion of new SME borrowing as companies sought financing to bridge cash-flow gaps rather than fund longer-term expansion. The trend provides an important indicator of financial pressures within Mala

SEI Singapore asset management operations have launched as the US asset management technology company seeks to expand its services and investment products across Asia-Pacific. The new Singapore office will initially provide asset servicing, professional services and distribution of SEI’s UCITS funds. The company expects to add locally relevant products and broaden its enterprise asset management, technology, operations and professional services as regional demand develops. SE

Hong Kong and Malaysia dual listings will become simpler under a new regulatory framework designed to reduce duplication and compliance costs for companies seeking simultaneous access to both equity markets. The Securities and Futures Commission, Securities Commission Malaysia and Hong Kong’s stock exchange have introduced streamlined procedures covering companies pursuing a primary listing on either Hong Kong’s Main Board or Bursa Malaysia’s MAIN Market alongside a simultane

North American family offices are raising investment expectations following strong 2025 performance while simultaneously preparing for generational wealth transfers, new wealth creation and rapid technology adoption, according to RBC and Campden Wealth. Their 2026 report, based on 155 family offices, found 84% expect direct private equity to match or outperform its 2025 performance. Artificial intelligence is another major focus, with 85% identifying AI as a leading investmen

Hong Kong AI financial planning is becoming increasingly accepted by banking customers, although users continue to demand human oversight and strong protection of personal information, according to the Hong Kong Institute of Bankers. An HKIB survey of 400 people found more than 60% use AI daily or weekly, while half have already used artificial intelligence tools for financial planning. However, customers continue to place importance on human involvement. About 48% said acces

Citi Taiwan investment banking ranked first in market revenue year-to-date as the US bank expanded its role in cross-border financing and mergers and acquisitions involving Taiwanese companies, according to Dealogic data. Citi said it has raised more than USD12bn for Taiwanese clients this year, including financing through convertible bonds and global depositary receipts, with technology companies accounting for a significant proportion of activity. Since 2020, the bank has r

Citi agentic AI Hong Kong initiatives are expanding as the bank works with regulators and industry partners to accelerate adoption of artificial intelligence across the city’s financial sector. Citi’s annual fintech forum, themed “Beyond AI-Ready: Shaping the Agentic Future of Finance”, brought together regulators, financial institutions and fintech companies to discuss applications across wealth management, banking and payments. The bank showcased Citi Sky, a conversational

The Singapore private markets hub remains a leading regional base for investment funds and start-ups, although competing Asian markets are developing increasingly sophisticated investment ecosystems, according to panellists at SuperReturn Asia. Singapore continues to concentrate investment functions and professional services, supported by its talent pool, regulatory infrastructure and international reputation. However, expertise is becoming more widely distributed as private-

The Asia private credit market is expanding as insurers, pension funds and other institutional investors seek long-term financing opportunities across the region, according to Fitch Ratings’ Monsur Hussain. Asian private-credit funds generally have less exposure to software and high-growth technology businesses than their US counterparts and face less competition for transactions, supporting more conservative lending standards, Hussain said. Private-credit exposure among majo

A Singapore family office multi-strategy model is being developed by former Goldman Sachs and Vitol commodities trader Kelvin Chiu as he seeks to attract independent investment teams overlooked by larger hedge funds. Chiu’s SilverCape Investments now operates six trading pods alongside his own commodities strategy. They include a Japanese activist investing team that managed more than USD200m at the end of August. Chiu said his commodities strategy has generated a 78% compoun

Asia-Pacific hotel investment increased 21% year-on-year to USD8bn during the first half of 2026 as strong travel demand and constrained new supply supported investor interest, according to CBRE. Japan, mainland China and South Korea led activity, while investors increasingly targeted existing properties for repositioning and conversion as higher construction and financing costs restricted new development. Hotel supply across Asia-Pacific is expected to grow by around 2.3% an

Family office cybersecurity has emerged as the leading operational concern for wealthy families even as they remain optimistic about investment returns, according to a 2026 report from RBC Wealth Management and Campden Wealth. The survey of 155 single- and multi-family offices, representing average wealth of USD2.25bn, found 56% ranked cybersecurity and data breaches as their biggest near-term risk, up sharply from 16% a year earlier. Half reported experiencing phishing attem

New Philippines structured warrants rules have established a regulatory framework allowing broker-dealers and investment houses to offer products linked to listed shares, bonds, indices and exchange-traded funds. Under Securities and Exchange Commission Memorandum Circular No. 27, Series of 2026, issuers and guarantors must maintain at least PHP400m (USD6.4m) in unimpaired paid-up capital while structured warrants remain outstanding. Non-collateralised warrants generally requ

APAC family office returns are outperforming global peers, with 26% reporting year-to-date investment gains above 15%, double the worldwide proportion, according to Citi Wealth. Citi’s 2026 Global Family Office Report also found that 22% of Asia-Pacific family offices target annual returns exceeding 15%, almost twice the global average. Asia-Pacific family offices were particularly bullish on artificial intelligence. Some 80% identified AI as a primary sector for direct inves

Hong Kong digital green bonds could reach HKD20bn (USD2.55bn) as the government prepares what could become the world’s largest digital green bond transaction, Bloomberg reported. The planned offering is expected to total between HKD15bn and HKD20bn and comprise US dollar, Hong Kong dollar, euro and offshore yuan tranches. The transaction could be priced as early as Monday, according to people familiar with the plans. The government has asked several banks to arrange fixed-inc