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TOP NEWS

China Offshore Wealth Tax Push Forces Family Offices to Reassess Trusts

The China offshore wealth tax push is prompting wealthy mainland families to review offshore trusts and investment structures as Beijing strengthens scrutiny of overseas assets and capital flows. Rules introduced in late July impose a 20% tax on gains when shares, property or other assets are transferred into offshore trusts, while income generated by trusts is taxed annually at the same rate. Unpaid taxes relating to assets settled since January 2023 and income received befo

FAMILY OFFICES

15 hours ago

FOCUS

20 August 2026

Family-Office Business Ideas: The Coordinator of the Families

Many wealthy families already have lawyers, accountants, trustees, bankers and investment managers. What they often don't have is one person with the ability to keep…

VIDEO RECAP
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21st Aug 2026

HKEX Multi-Asset Expansion Could Include Longer Hong Kong Trading Hours

The HKEX multi-asset expansion strategy will broaden Hong Kong's financial market beyond equities, with the exchange also considering longer trading hours to increase its appeal to international investors. Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing CEO Bonnie Chan said the exchange intends to sharpen its focus on fixed income, currencies, commodities and other asset classes as it develops a more diversified market ecosystem. HKEX will also continue broadening its listing pipeline beyon

CAPITAL MARKETS

15 hours ago

Vietnam Small Business Tax Breaks Expand Under New Income Tax Rules

New Vietnam small business tax breaks will provide lower rates and exemptions for smaller enterprises while introducing additional compliance requirements under the country's latest income tax changes. Corporate income tax rates will range from 15% to 20%, depending on company size, while businesses involved in petroleum and precious-mineral activities will face rates ranging from 25% to 50%. Businesses generating annual revenue of no more than VND1bn (USD38,000) will be exem

ECONOMY

15 hours ago

Maybank Tokenised Supply-Chain Financing Deal Marks Malaysia First

The Maybank tokenised supply-chain financing transaction marks Malaysia's first such deal and demonstrates how tokenisation could improve access to working capital and trade finance. Maybank provided MYR1m (USD237,000) in financing to construction and building materials supplier Syarikat Logam Unitrade through Virtual Economy Technology's NexA platform for tokenised trade receivables. Operating through the Securities Commission's regulatory sandbox, the pilot demonstrated an

FINANCIAL

16 hours ago

PAG Asia Buyout Fund Targets USD4bn as Regional Strategy Diversifies

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

PRIVATE EQUITY

4 days ago

Singapore Fund Manager Tax Breaks and Visa Support Target Investment Talent

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

ASSET MANAGEMENT

4 days ago

Chinese Firms Overseas Expansion Plans Put Hong Kong First for Services

Chinese firms overseas expansion plans remain strong, with more than 80% of mainland companies intending to increase their international presence and Hong Kong emerging as their preferred professional-services platform, according to a Trade Development Council survey. Among 2,015 companies surveyed, 82% planned to expand existing overseas operations and 63% intended to establish new businesses abroad. Belt and Road markets are becoming increasingly important, with 94% targeti

ECONOMY

4 days ago

Malaysian Business AI Adoption Rises but Most Companies Remain at Basic Stage

Malaysian business AI adoption has accelerated, with 38% of companies now regularly using at least one artificial intelligence tool, compared with 27% a year earlier, according to an Amazon Web Services-commissioned study. More than 3.4 million businesses now use AI after nearly one million adopters were added over the year. However, 67% rely primarily on basic applications such as public chatbots or off-the-shelf tools, while only 19% have formal strategies for scaling AI ac

TECHNOLOGY

4 days ago

Singapore Family Office Onboarding Target Cut to About One Month

Singapore family office onboarding could be shortened to around one month by the end of 2026 as regulators and private banks streamline checks while retaining stronger scrutiny of wealth sources. The Monetary Authority of Singapore and Private Banking Industry Group initiative follows a review that found onboarding procedures had become excessive after the city-state’s 2023 money laundering scandal. Current processing can take more than six weeks. Lawyers said the reform repr

FAMILY OFFICES

5 days ago

Digital Yuan Network Expands as China Adds Eight Banks

China’s digital yuan network has expanded to 30 authorised operators after the central bank added eight financial institutions as it seeks wider adoption of the state-backed digital currency. New participants include Ping An Bank, Bank of Shanghai, Bank of Hangzhou and Bank of Changsha, according to the People’s Bank of China. The lenders will begin providing e-yuan services after completing required business and technical preparations. The expansion forms part of China’s 15t

REGULATION

5 days ago

Singapore Financial Sector Innovation Needs Calculated Risk-Taking, Says Gupta

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

ASSET MANAGEMENT

5 days ago

China Economic Slowdown Deepens as July Data Miss Forecasts

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

ECONOMY

5 days ago

Hong Kong Limited Partnership Funds Surpass 2,000 Registrations

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

PRIVATE EQUITY

6 days ago

EVENTS

INSIGHTS

PEOPLE MOVES

B2C2 Family Office Expansion Strengthened by Jason Lai Appointment

Aug 18

Hong Kong Finance Talent Returns as Capital Markets Recover

Aug 17

China Market Regulator Chief Luo Wen Removed After Hebei Appointment

Aug 12

AI Skills in Finance Overtake MBAs in Hiring Value, PwC Finds

Aug 5

Paragon Family Office Coverage Expands with Senior Partner Appointment

Aug 4

Societe Generale Strengthens Asia Transaction Banking with Joseph Chia Appointment

Jul 31

HSBC Singapore Hiring Adds 200 AI and Wealth Management Roles

Jul 29

RBC Wealth Management Asia Expands with Six Senior Private Banking Hires

Jul 29

Asia Private Equity Faces Executive Talent Shortage as Fundraising Rebounds

Jul 27

UOB Private Bank Hong Kong Appoints Judy Chan to Strengthen Wealth Business

Jul 23

Asia Wealth Transfer Drives Singapore Banks to Court Next Generation

The coming Asia wealth transfer is encouraging Singapore banks and wealth managers to build relationships with the children of affluent clients well before family assets change hands. DBS, UOB and OCBC now operate three- to four-day programmes covering investing, entrepreneurship, leadership and personal development for younger members of wealthy families. UOB’s sixth PriviGen programme attracted 63 participants aged between 18 and 25 from Singapore and Southeast Asia, while

FAMILY OFFICES

6 days ago

Hong Kong Treasury Centre Tax Proposals Generate New Corporate Interest

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

REGULATION

6 days ago

Japan Q2 GDP Misses Forecasts as Consumption and Investment Stall

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

ECONOMY

6 days ago

Singapore Business Sentiment Recovers but Cost Pressures Persist

Singapore business sentiment improved during the second quarter as cost expectations eased, although companies remained cautious about expansion, recruitment and the wider economic outlook. The Singapore Business Federation’s Business Sentiment Index rose two points to 53.3 for April to June, almost reversing the previous quarter’s decline but still indicating broadly neutral conditions. Banking and insurance, health and social services were among the most optimistic sectors,

ECONOMY

7 days ago

Prosper Family Office Hong Kong Presence Expands with New Office

Prosper Family Office Hong Kong operations have expanded with the opening of a new Tsim Sha Tsui office as affluent families seek more integrated succession planning and governance services. The multi-family office opened the premises on Aug. 12, with around 150 representatives from banking, asset management, trust, legal and accounting firms attending the ceremony. Prosper coordinates wealth structuring, trusts, succession planning, family governance and next-generation educ

FAMILY OFFICES

Aug 18

Korea Investment Holdings Targets KDB Life Insurance in Diversification Deal

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

ASSET MANAGEMENT

Aug 18

ALL NEWS

TOP NEWS

China Offshore Wealth Tax Push Forces Family Offices to Reassess Trusts

VIDEO RECAP w/e

21st Aug 2026

HKEX Multi-Asset Expansion Could Include Longer Hong Kong Trading Hours

Vietnam Small Business Tax Breaks Expand Under New Income Tax Rules

Maybank Tokenised Supply-Chain Financing Deal Marks Malaysia First

PAG Asia Buyout Fund Targets USD4bn as Regional Strategy Diversifies

Singapore Fund Manager Tax Breaks and Visa Support Target Investment Talent

Chinese Firms Overseas Expansion Plans Put Hong Kong First for Services

Malaysian Business AI Adoption Rises but Most Companies Remain at Basic Stage

Singapore Family Office Onboarding Target Cut to About One Month

Digital Yuan Network Expands as China Adds Eight Banks

Singapore Financial Sector Innovation Needs Calculated Risk-Taking, Says Gupta

China Economic Slowdown Deepens as July Data Miss Forecasts

Hong Kong Limited Partnership Funds Surpass 2,000 Registrations

EVENTS

INSIGHTS

PEOPLE MOVES

B2C2 Family Office Expansion Strengthened by Jason Lai Appointment

Hong Kong Finance Talent Returns as Capital Markets Recover

China Market Regulator Chief Luo Wen Removed After Hebei Appointment

AI Skills in Finance Overtake MBAs in Hiring Value, PwC Finds

Paragon Family Office Coverage Expands with Senior Partner Appointment

Societe Generale Strengthens Asia Transaction Banking with Joseph Chia Appointment

HSBC Singapore Hiring Adds 200 AI and Wealth Management Roles

RBC Wealth Management Asia Expands with Six Senior Private Banking Hires

Asia Private Equity Faces Executive Talent Shortage as Fundraising Rebounds

UOB Private Bank Hong Kong Appoints Judy Chan to Strengthen Wealth Business

Asia Wealth Transfer Drives Singapore Banks to Court Next Generation

Hong Kong Treasury Centre Tax Proposals Generate New Corporate Interest

Japan Q2 GDP Misses Forecasts as Consumption and Investment Stall

Singapore Business Sentiment Recovers but Cost Pressures Persist

Prosper Family Office Hong Kong Presence Expands with New Office

Korea Investment Holdings Targets KDB Life Insurance in Diversification Deal

VIDEO RECAP
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