12/27/2018
Thailand catching up fast and Singapore ever more expensive for expats
ECA’s recently released Cost of Living Survey provided shocks and surprises as well as the predictable rises in already expensive expatriate locations.
Comment, Analysis & Research
12/27/2018
Having scaled new heights in 2018, fintechs face a tectonic shift in future
As the year of the dog melts into the year of the pig, you will see more drama in the digital space
12/27/2018
Life insurance: Looking back, looking ahead – Regulatory support leading to new possibilities
Product guidelines like similar minimum death benefit across all ages and differentiated pricing of protection products for those who use wearables are good steps.
12/27/2018
A majority of banks are undergoing digital transformations
Tim VanTassel, Vice President and General Manager for Risk at analytics software company Fico, shares three areas of tactical concern within consumer banking that executives will make progress addressing in 2019.
12/27/2018
SMFG weighs acquiring Asia banks to use some of US$12b surplus capital
SMFG has been trying to build a bigger presence in emerging Asia economies, which it hopes will become its next major market besides Japan.
12/27/2018
Five Singapore statistics that stunned in 2018
With so much wealth, Singaporeans have invented some fairly exotic ways to spend it.
12/27/2018
Anand Rathi’s wealth management arm calls off IPO
It has filed an application through its merchant bankers -- Equirus Capital and Jefferies India
12/27/2018
China's social net wealth ranked 2nd worldwide in 2016: report
To improve net wealth productivity, the report calls for improving production efficiency for non-financial firms, cutting inefficient investment and shifting away from investment-led growth model.
12/27/2018
Top 5 Singapore mergers and acquisition deals in 2018
China’s Ant Financial has become the biggest unicorn company in the world
12/26/2018
Global economy set to feel delayed trade war pain in 2019
And volumes are tipped to slow further even as the United States and China seek to resolve their trade spat, with companies warning of ongoing disruption.
12/26/2018
Mukesh Ambani: Here’s how much Asia’s richest person added to his wealth in 2018
Mukesh Ambani, the multi-billionaire business magnate, became the richest person in Asia in calendar year 2018 surpassing Jack Ma, Chairman of Alibaba Group.
12/26/2018
Crouching Tiger star Chow Yun-fat promises to donate £565m wealth to charity after he dies
The famously frugal actor reveals he will give away his fortune, reported to be HK$5.6bn (£565m), after he dies.
12/26/2018
MYOB recommends KKR’s marked-down US$1bil buyout offer
MYOB said in a statement it would now recommend the offer, given a 10% drop in the Australian equity market since KKR first made a higher indicative bid in October, and the cost of a company restructure still underway.
12/26/2018
Here are 4 epic ways to draw the curtains on 2018 in Singapore
The carnival will feature a brand new ride – the wave swinger. Marina Bay Carnival
12/26/2018
‘Who is this stupid God?’ / Southeast Asian leaders’ most controversial quotes 2018
The Philippine president has been running a long-standing verbal battle with the country’s Catholic Church, a powerful institution in a nation where four in five people are Catholic.
12/23/2018
Qatar partners Malaysia, Turkey to conquer Islamic finance market
Gas-rich Gulf state aims to escape blockade by diversifying economy
12/23/2018
6 books to read in 2019 if you want to get rich
The majority of wealthy people devote at least 30 minutes a day to reading.
12/23/2018
China’s private firms shy away from bank borrowing, delaying investment
Since November, top Chinese leaders have made a point of stressing Beijing’s support for private ownership and small businesses.
12/23/2018
China to ensure economic stability with countercyclical adjustments
The People's Bank of China, the country's central bank, may lower the interest rates for open market operations, the CICC said.
12/23/2018
Asia’s Worst Currency Isn’t Stopping Bond Bulls From Pouring In
“Foreign investors bought South Korean bonds this year looking at the nation’s high credit rating and current-account surplus,” said Kim Sanghoon, a fixed-income strategist at KB Securities Co. “These will not change in the new yea