Hong Kong’s Financial Firms Adapt to AI’s Rewards and Risks
Hong Kong’s financial institutions are accelerating AI adoption, moving beyond simple automation to reshape deal marketing, client relationship management, and trade execution. The shift mirrors a broader global AI arms race that began on Wall Street and now targets Asia’s financial hub. Firms are balancing the promise of faster insights and cost savings against heightened regulatory scrutiny and operational risk. Executives see AI as a strategic differentiator, but successful integration requires robust governance and new talent pipelines.
Apac Property Investors Recalibrate as Data Centres Go Mainstream: CBRE Survey
Asia‑Pacific property investors are entering 2026 with a cautiously firmer outlook, shifting capital toward sectors that still offer supply constraints and structural demand. A new CBRE survey shows data‑centre assets have become mainstream, attracting the strongest investor interest across the...
Oil Tops $100 a Barrel as Middle East War Risks Mount
Oil prices have surged past the $100 per barrel mark, with West Texas Intermediate climbing above $108 and Brent exceeding $107, reflecting a 16‑18% rise since the start of the year. The jump is driven by escalating war risks in...
IWD 2026: Cecile De Sousa, COO, Apac, Natixis CIB on DEI, AI and Decarbonisation
On International Women’s Day 2026, Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking’s APAC chief operating officer, Cecile De Sousa, sat down with FinanceAsia to outline the bank’s strategic focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), artificial intelligence, and decarbonisation. She detailed a new DEI...
Market Turmoil Continues in Asia Amid More Middle East Strikes
Asian markets slipped further on March 4 as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalated. Iran’s continued attacks and heightened Israeli‑U.S. pressure pushed energy prices higher, while airlines kept flights grounded. South Korea’s KOSPI index dropped again, marking a second consecutive...
SGX Kicks Off 2026 with Record ETF Trading
Singapore Exchange (SGX) reported a 66% jump in trading turnover for January 2026, driven by robust activity across both retail and institutional segments. The exchange posted record exchange‑traded fund (ETF) turnover, marking its highest level ever. Derivatives volume also surged...
FA at 30: How Dim Sum Bonds Unlocked Liquidity without Opening China’s Capital Account
Nearly two decades after China Development Bank issued its first RMB‑denominated bond in Hong Kong, dim sum bonds have become a cornerstone of offshore liquidity. The initial issuance was modest, but it demonstrated that Chinese sovereign and policy banks could...