Jack Ma's Shadow Looms Large on Southeast Asian Banks
Southeast Asia's banks have long been spared the competitive onslaught that saw their peers in China cede that nation's giant payments market to Ant Financial and Tencent Holdings. That's about to change. – June 30 / WAtoday.com
There is no Demographic Time Bomb
The global population is ageing, with life expectancy rising and fertility rates declining. Asia’s elderly population is projected to reach nearly 923 million by the middle of this century, but ANZ thinks there is no need to worry. – June 28 / ANZ Bluenotes
Hong Kong's Key Role in China's Belt and Road Initiative
Hong Kong plays a key role to help promote China’s Belt and Road Initiative, says the former head of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. – June 26 / HKTDC
How Asia Shapes up 20 Years After 1997 Financial Crisis
Financial systems are more robust, but new risks abound. – June 24 / Nikkei Asian Review
Singapore Eyes Regulatory Changes to Help Growth of Robo-Advisors for Investors
Singapore may make it easier for digital, or robo-advisory firms to manage funds on behalf of retail investors by waiving some minimum requirements, as the city-state steps up efforts to woo financial technology firms keen on expanding their operations in Asia. – June 24 / Nikkei Asian Review
Macron Morphs Into Trump on Chinese Investments
A free-trade advocate, Macron let several national corporate champions be taken over by foreign firms as a minister. But since his election he has sought to drum up support in Europe for what he calls a «protection agenda.» – June 23 / South China Morning Post
Asian Cities Dominate List of World's Most Expensive Places for Expats
Hong Kong is now the second-most expensive city worldwide for expatriates, according to Mercer’s latest cost of living survey. – June 22 /Bloomberg
Jack Ma: Here's How Humans Can Stay Ahead of Machines
Though artificial intelligence is continuing to grow smarter, it's no match for human wisdom, Jack Ma, founder and executive chairman of Alibaba, told CNBC in an interview. – June 21 / CNBC
Li Ka-shing Retirement Talk Divides Investors in Hong Kong
Responding to a report in the Wall Street Journal suggesting he plans to step down as chairman of the organisation by next year.Hong Kong’s best known business figure, who turns 89 in July, «will make his official announcement when he decides to retire.» – June 20 / Nikkei Asian Review
Pay Handed Out to SFC Staff is Out of Line With its Deficit
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission has incurred a HK$355.6 million loss while at the same time its 867 staff members were paid an average of HK$1.39 million. It is long past time that some restraints were imposed on these people. – June 19 / South China Morning Post
Japanese Bank to Consider Shrinking Headcount by 10,000
Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group is considering eliminating about 10,000 positions - about 7 percent of its workforce - over a decade as low interest rates and intensifying competition squeeze profit. – June 16 / Bloomberg
Worry Over no IPO Fees in Hong Kong
An American capital bank reportedly charged nothing to be a sponsor of China Tower Corp. Twelve investment banks from China and overseas tried to elbow each other out by lowering sponsor fees. – June 15/ The Standard Hong Kong
Cristiano Ronaldo Charged With Tax Fraud
The world's highest paid athlete, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been accused of tax evasion. The Real Madrid super star reeled in $93 million last year, putting him ahead of basketball giant LeBron James and La Liga rival, Lionel Messi. – June 14 / Forbes
What We Can Learn From Robo Advisors
What do they do right? What do they do wrong? Robo advisors challenge us to do better. Instead of throwing stones when one of them makes headlines, we should be looking at what we can learn from them. – June 13 / WealthManagement.com
In China, Firms Ask Workers to Buy Shares in a Bid to Raise Stock Price
Around two dozen mainly small listed Chinese companies have taken the unusual step of urging their employees to buy shares in a bid to prop up stock prices and help fend off collateral calls on stock-backed loans. – June 12 / Streetinsider.com
Hong Kong’s Home Prices May Fall by Half in Next 10 Years
Deutsche Bank says home prices in Hong Kong could fall by nearly half over the next 10 years as a rapidly ageing population coupled with rising supply of new flats will dent demand. – June 12 / South China Morning Post
Tokyo Plots Course to Become Global Financial Hub
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike is determined to make the Japanese capital a global financial city, the plan is to slash taxes and dismantle regulatory hurdles, aiming to draw in 40 foreign fintech or asset management companies by fiscal 2020. – June 9 / Nikkei
Cristiano Ronaldo Retains Top Spot in Sports Rich List
Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo, with earnings of $93 million, retains the top spot for the second consecutive year. – June 8 / Forbes
Divorce Is Pushing Hong Kong's House Prices Even Higher
The usual suspects for Hong Kong’s sky-high property prices are low interest rates, a housing shortage and demand from mainland China. But there’s another unforeseen factor: divorce. – June 7 / Bloomberg
This is The Billionaires Handshake
International watch specialist Frederic Watrelot marvels at the exceptional engineering of an early Richard Mille — known as the «billionaire’s handshake», and offered in New York on 21 June. – June 6 / Christies
South Korea's Second-Richest Man on Habits Behind his Success
Curiosity is a quality that has always helped in his leadership of one of Asia's biggest cosmetics companies, according to South Korean billionaire Suh Kyung-Bae. – June 5 / CNBC
EFG Banks on Hong Kong Professional Golfer
Hong Kong Olympian Tiffany Chan Tsz-Ching can focus on the job of competing in the paid ranks after signing a major sponsorship deal with Swiss private bank EFG. – June 2 /South China Morning Post
Markets Don't Trust Banks, and They're Right
The financial crisis should have led to fundamental change. It hasn’t happened. – June 1 / Bloomberg
Five to 10 Years From Now Asia Won't Need America: Nomura
Rob Subbaraman, chief economist for Asia ex-Japan at Nomura Holdings in Singapore, believes the rapid growth of Asia’s consumer markets will make up for the U.S.’s absence. – June 1 / Bloomberg
