Taiwan’s financial firms posted record first-quarter pretax profits as a rally in local equities lifted investment returns, wealth management income and brokerage activity, the Financial Supervisory Commission said. The Taiwan financial firms result showed combined pretax profit across banking, insurance and securities rising 37.09% from a year earlier to NTD370.997bn (USD11.81bn), beating the previous first-quarter record set in 2021. Banking pretax profit climbed 28.5% to N

Singapore’s national accountancy body has formed a task force with finance and business leaders to strengthen Singapore financial reporting standards and improve how listed companies communicate long-term value to investors. The Strengthening Financial Reporting Taskforce, launched by the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants in partnership with the Singapore Exchange, will examine ways to improve disclosures on financial performance, governance, risks and strategy. Ta

Investors are turning to Asian equities for the next leg of the global stock rally, with Taiwan and South Korea emerging as key targets because of their exposure to artificial intelligence hardware, Bloomberg reported. The Asian equities rally has lifted shares in both markets, helped by gains in Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. Derivatives strategists are recommending bullish trades on Taiwan’s TAIEX, South Korea’s KOSPI 200 and Japan’

Bank Negara Malaysia and Bank Indonesia have signed a memorandum of understanding to deepen cooperation across central banking functions. The BNM BI cooperation agreement covers monetary policy, financial stability, macroprudential policy, payment systems, digitalisation, financial sector development, capacity building and information sharing. BNM Governor Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said the MoU reaffirms the long-standing partnership between the two central banks and expands coo

Invest Hong Kong will increase engagement with Africa as Associate Director-General Loretta Lee begins an eight-day visit to Johannesburg and Kigali to promote the city as a gateway for African companies expanding into mainland China and Asia-Pacific markets. The InvestHK Africa ties push includes meetings with chambers, banks, financial institutions, fintech firms and professional services groups in Johannesburg from May 10 to 13, before Lee attends the Africa CEO Forum in R

Singapore has retained the Financial Action Task Force’s highest monitoring rating despite the SGD3bn (USD2.2bn) money laundering scandal uncovered in 2023. The Singapore FATF rating review covered the period from 2020 to July 2025 and placed the city-state on regular follow-up, the watchdog’s most favourable category. FATF said Singapore achieved seven substantially effective ratings across 11 measures and was compliant or largely compliant on 38 of 40 technical recommendati

Hong Kong SME credit conditions remained broadly stable during the first quarter of 2026, according to the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Around 73% of SMEs said banks’ credit approval stance was similar or easier than six months earlier, compared with 70% in the previous quarter. Only 27% perceived approvals as more difficult, down from 30%. Among SMEs with existing credit lines, none reported a tighter bank stance. Of firms applying for new credit, 91% reported fully or part

Thailand virtual banks are being given greater flexibility as the central bank allows successful applicants more time to meet pre-licensing requirements. Governor Vitai Ratanakorn said the three approved groups may delay operations by two to three months beyond the initial June target as they work to comply with regulatory conditions. The applicants include consortiums led by Charoen Pokphand, Krungthai Bank and SCB X. Regulators require firms to consolidate financial busines

Hong Kong SME financing support is expanding as the banking sector raises dedicated lending funds to more than HKD450bn (USD57.7bn) from HKD370bn in October 2024, amid oil price volatility and a weaker external environment. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said 18 banks in its SME taskforce will provide credit relief measures including flexible repayment terms, loan tenor extensions and trade facility extensions, with particular focus on transport, logistics and manufacturing

South Korea financial stability remains intact as the country’s financial institutions have sufficient capacity to withstand crisis scenarios despite volatility in financial and foreign exchange markets, Finance Minister Koo Yun-cheol said. Koo made the remarks after a macroeconomic policy meeting with Bank of Korea Governor Shin Hyun-song and the heads of financial regulators. He said volatility in government bond yields and the won-dollar exchange rate has persisted as the

Taiwan family wealth reached a record NTD183.7tr (USD5.82tr) at the end of 2024, rising 7.35% from a year earlier as gains in equities and property lifted household balance sheets, government data showed. Securities holdings surged 21.76% to NTD37.28tr, supported by a 28% jump in the TAIEX and strong demand for AI-related technology stocks. Housing assets reached NTD55.03tr, representing about 30% of household net worth, while financial assets accounted for around 67%, reflec

China financial regulator Li Yunze has been demoted over a suspected disciplinary violation, Reuters reported, citing people familiar with the matter, in the latest sign of Beijing’s widening crackdown on the financial sector. Li, 55, headed the National Financial Regulatory Administration, which oversees banks, insurers and trust firms across China’s USD79tr financial industry. Reuters said his name and photo were removed from the regulator’s leadership page. Li was appointe

Vietnam forex rules are set for overhaul as the central bank proposes easing procedures for foreign investors while strengthening oversight of capital flows. The draft circular would allow eligible investors to open investment capital accounts before receiving registration approval, although usage would initially be limited. Investors may also open multiple foreign-currency accounts for different currencies. The revised Vietnam forex rules aim to align with recent legal chang

Hong Kong IPO market activity remains strong, with listings raising more than HKD140bn (USD18bn) so far this year, maintaining the city’s position as the world’s top fundraising venue. Financial Secretary Paul Chan said average daily turnover has exceeded HKD280bn since last month, reflecting renewed market momentum after volumes reached a four-year high in 2025. The rebound in the Hong Kong IPO market is boosting investment banks and intensifying competition for dealmakers,

China offshore financing conditions are tightening as regulators lengthen approval timelines for bonds and loan quotas with maturities of one year or more. Reviews now take four to six months, with some extending up to nine months, as authorities increase scrutiny on repayment plans and use of proceeds. The shift comes as companies face around USD100bn in offshore bond maturities this year. To avoid delays, some firms are turning to shorter-term issuance below 12 months, whic

Malaysia capital market growth reached 2.4% in 2025, bringing total size to MYR4.3tr (USD1.09tr), supported by stronger corporate bond issuance and rising assets in the fund management sector, according to the Securities Commission Malaysia. Corporate bond issuance increased to 26 deals worth MYR64.33bn, up from 23 issues valued at MYR48.8bn in 2024, while assets under management rose 6.9% to MYR1.14tr. The Malaysia capital market remained resilient despite global volatility,

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

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

Hang Seng options are set for expansion as Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing plans to introduce contracts that expire within a day by the first quarter of 2027. The products, known as zero-days-to-expiry or 0DTE contracts, allow traders to take short-term positions on intraday market movements, volatility and economic data. HKEX declined to comment on the plans. The Hang Seng options initiative follows the exchange’s expansion of weekly options in 2024 and reflects efforts to