Economy
Taiwan deposits hit $2.1t as forex falls
Taiwan deposits hit $2.1t as forex falls
Foreign currency holdings were NT$8.91t versus NT$9.11t in March 2025.
Indian banks hit 1.4% ROA as profit pressure builds
The 2025 return on assets was the sector’s highest level in over a decade
Commercial banking dominates M&A with 179 deals worth $190b
The segment captured 38% of the 2025 value.
Singapore banks and insurers expect slower profits in 2026
Finance confidence slipped to 54.3 in Q4 2025, whilst the wider economy rose to 52.1
APAC dominates financial centre list but growth slows
Eight of 15 centres tipped to rise are based in the region.
Singapore banking sentiment slips in Q4 2025
Banking and insurance posted 55.7 whilst the wider business reading climbed to 53.4.
Financial-services M&A rises 40% as APAC recovery stays cautious
Average transaction size climbed to $815m as larger deals dominated the market.
Singapore finance hiring outlook drops to 11% in Q2 survey
Finance job demand weakens even as national hiring expectations climb to 24%.
How much salary should banking job seekers expect in 2026?
Front office recruitment rose slightly, but risk compliance and legal demand increased.
Singapore finance firms struggle as 72% face talent gap
Survey shows 94% are revising financial and operational plans to secure workers.
Finance Ministry raises idle fund bank cap to 60%
After that, the funds will remain in banks until maturity.
Retail banks complete rollout of Money Safe anti-scam service
Mandatory face-to-face verification adds new layer of deposit protection
HKMA launches IP financing sandbox for innovative SMEs
Sandbox aims to assist pilot sectors in leveraging IP assets
Malaysia’s central bank says FATF outcome supports financial system confidence
The upgrade reflects stronger compliance and effectiveness in tackling money laundering.
Tight credit conditions drive Asia-Pacific corporate insolvencies
Higher interest rates and weaker demand strain corporate balance sheets across the region.
Hong Kong banks race to hire AI-ready talent as skill gap widens
Software development will be the biggest talent shortfall by 2030.
Singapore vital in Southeast Asia’s digital economy: report
The city-state led in digital payments last year as the region’s economy is projected to reach $1.299t by 2030.
Thought Leadership Centre
Most Read
1. UOB and HSBC complete live HKD transactions on Swift ledger 2. DBS and Stripe partner to capture Asian cross border payments 3. UOB Hong Kong ties services to win cross-border business 4. StashAway buys digital wills platform MakeGoodwill 5. HSBC Private Bank makes four senior hires across AsiaResource Center
Read Here
Advertise
Sign Up
Event News
Inside bolttech Indonesia’s win at the Asian Banking & Finance Fintech Awards 2026
bolttech Indonesia puts customers first with flexible protection, EV-ready insurance, and award-winning innovation.
Commentary
From automation to agency: Asia’s wealth leaders can reinvent, not just streamline
Singapore aced its FATF evaluation — now comes the hard part
Are Asia’s digital banks prepared for the stablecoin era?
Why APAC is building home-currency stablecoins
Why Southeast Asian wealth managers must design the business before buying the technology
Why trust in Asian banking increasingly gets built off the record
Hong Kong cleared stablecoins for take-off. Getting them to work across Asia is the hard part
The financing challenge behind Asia’s wealth transfer
Banks need to rethink identity governance for AI agents
From stablecoins to sovereignty: The rise of trust-based digital dollar systems