News and Trends | Page 8

Fortude has earned the Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions designation, expanding its Microsoft cloud credentials and capabilities in enterprise cloud transformation. The designation, awarded by Microsoft, recognizes partners that demonstrate experience in designing, deploying, and managing Azure infrastructure aligned with enterprise requirements. The latest recognition adds to Fortude’s existing Microsoft credentials, including the Analytics on Microsoft […]

Dmitry Shubov Consulting announced that new electronic notarization rules issued by the Philippine Supreme Court will affect Southeast Asian startups preparing documents for U.S. transactions. The Court’s A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC establishes a regulatory framework for electronic notarization in the Philippines. The rules recognize accredited in-person Electronic Notarization Facilities (ENFs), Remote Electronic Notarization Providers (ENPs) using […]

Singapore-headquartered multi-family office WRISE Group has expanded its presence in Asia with the launch of a new client service center in Taipei, Taiwan. The center will offer client advisory and consultation services, alongside family wealth-focused educational and engagement initiatives designed to foster long-term perspectives and encourage next-generation dialogue. The Taipei center will be led by […]

Bank of Singapore, the private banking division of Oversea‑Chinese Banking Corporation, has appointed Bernard Heng as Head of Customised Solutions, effective 2 March 2026. The move is intended to bolster the bank’s capabilities in bespoke investment and alternative product solutions for ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) clients. In his new role, Heng will report to Lim Leong Guan, […]

Singapore-based AI-native company secures backing from global multi-stage venture capital firm Lightspeed to elevate APAC's enterprise customer engagement

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) today announced the expansion of its Equity Market Development Program (EQDP) from S$5 billion to S$6.5 billion, following a top-up to the Financial Sector Development Fund unveiled in the national Budget statement. The additional funding was announced by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong as part of […]

Artificial intelligence (AI) took center stage in Singapore’s 2026 Budget, with the government announcing a comprehensive national strategy to harness AI as a competitive advantage and accelerate transformation across key sectors, including finance. Delivering the Budget statement, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong unveiled a new set of national “AI Missions” focused on […]

Binance Co-CEO Richard Teng expressed confidence in the long-term outlook for digital assets, emphasizing sustained institutional engagement despite recent market volatility, during a fireside chat at Consensus Hong Kong 2026. Since peaking in October 2025, cryptocurrency markets have experienced a significant correction, with approximately $2 trillion in value erased and Bitcoin trading below $70,000 at […]

Barclays today announced the appointment of Werner Schlossmacher as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Barclays Private Bank Asia. Based in Singapore, he will report to Leo Müller, COO of Barclays Private Bank & Wealth Management. Schlossmacher brings more than 30 years of wealth management experience across Singapore, Hong Kong and Switzerland. He joins Barclays from […]

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) has appointed Salim Zaman as Global Head of Foreign Exchange, based in Singapore. Zaman will continue in his current role as Co-Head of Global Markets and Treasury for Asia Pacific. In his expanded position, he will oversee SMBC’s global FX strategy and work with regional leadership teams on the management […]

Securities and Futures Commission Chief Executive Officer Julia Leung said financial institutions must accelerate their adoption of digital assets and emerging technologies to remain competitive as younger investors increasingly dominate the market. Speaking at Consensus Hong Kong 2026, Leung said second- and third-generation investors, including Generation Z, are changing how financial services are consumed. She […]

Hong Kong’s fund industry could expand by adopting token-based finance, according to a white paper published by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Aptos Labs, with contributions from Hang Seng Bank. The report states that Hong Kong could double the size of its fund industry by transitioning from legacy infrastructure to tokenized systems. Findings draw on […]

Taiwan-based KGI has appointed Aaron Long as Managing Director, Wealth Management, as it expands its international business in Hong Kong. Based in Hong Kong, Long reports to James Wey, Head of International Wealth Management. Long joins from HSBC, where he was involved in building the bank’s China wealth management business and served as the inaugural […]

HSBC Singapore has appointed Suzy White to its board, the bank announced. White is currently Group Chief Operating Officer of HSBC. She has spent 25 years with the bank in senior leadership roles across operations, risk, finance and transformation. Her previous positions include Chief Operating Officer for Global Banking and Markets, Regional Chief Operating Officer […]

Basel-based private bank J. Safra Sarasin has appointed Dong Chen as Chief Investment Officer for Asia. Chen joins from Pictet Wealth Management, where he served as Chief Asia Strategist and Head of Asia Research. He brings more than 20 years of experience in macroeconomic research, investment strategy, and asset management. Prior to Pictet, Chen was […]

AIA has appointed Shu Khoo and David Ku as independent non-executive directors, the insurer announced. Shu Khoo currently serves as an independent non-executive director at Shangri-La Asia and as an independent director of CIMB Group. She previously served as AIA’s Group Chief Human Resources Officer from 2011 to 2018. David Ku is Chairman of WeBank. […]

Organisations across Asia are shifting focus from AI adoption to workforce capability as artificial intelligence becomes embedded in everyday work, according to workforce data from Singapore-based Epitome Global. The company’s skills assessments, conducted between 2023 and 2025 across Singapore and Malaysia, indicate that workforce readiness is now a critical constraint. While more than 70% of […]

Bangkok will host a series of cultural and retail activities for Chinese New Year from 12–22 February 2026, reinforcing its position as a regional destination during the Lunar New Year travel period. While Songkran is Thailand’s traditional New Year, Lunar New Year is widely observed across the country, reflecting longstanding Thai-Chinese heritage. The period draws […]

VinFast announced its entry into Indonesia’s e-scooter market through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with local dealers, marking the expansion of its electric two-wheeler business into the country. VinFast signed MoUs with K3, Citra Abadi Sedaya, PT Bevos Auto Mandiri, PT Sapta Jaya, MotorArt, PT Sinergies Dua Kawan, and PT HINU. The partners […]

Jakarta – Indonesia implemented a fiscal restructuring programme in 2025 under President Prabowo Subianto, generating an estimated fiscal impact of approximately US$30 billion while maintaining the fiscal deficit within the statutory 3 percent ceiling and keeping government debt at around 40 percent of GDP. The programme focused on expenditure rationalisation, enforcement measures, and recovery of […]

Swissquote, the digital financial services group, has appointed Rafael Weber as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of its Singapore business, further strengthening its leadership team in the region. In his expanded role, Weber will continue to focus on scaling Swissquote’s Singapore operations while overseeing all client relationships, ensuring continuity and the development of long-term partnerships in […]