In Focus

Stablecoins move into payment infrastructure

Stablecoins move into payment infrastructure

Visa says trust remains key to adoption.

Exclusive

Gold loan rules to hit Sri Lanka’s finance firms harder than banks

New rules order both to adopt similar risk weightings.

In Focus

Financial services insider costs hit $23.1m as shadow AI spreads

The sector ranked third amongst industries and exceeded the $19.5m global average.

In Focus

Chinese banks mask capital weakness with government injections

One-off government support does not address banks’ lower profitability and asset quality issues.

In Focus

New China rules no threat to Singapore banks' wealth businesses: Maybank

Singapore banks do not serve the investor segment most affected by the changes.

In Focus

How bigger deals pushed financial services acquisitions to $499b

Global transactions reached 612 in 2025 compared with 605 in 2024.

In Focus

Singapore banks face currency split as ringgit offsets losses

DBS is most exposed to IDR and INR, whilst the ringgit cushions OCBC and UOB.

In Focus

Philippine account ownership sinks as microfinance access weakens

E-money wallets stayed at 36% whilst bank access held at 23%.

In Focus

Singapore payments to hit $114b by 2030

Transaction value reached $39b in 2023 and is projected to grow 16.3% annually.

In Focus

APAC NBFI refinancing needs rise to $758b but risks stay contained

Most NBFIs should have adequate refinancing access and funding conditions, Fitch said.

In Focus

Energy shock exposes fault lines across APAC banks

The Philippines, Thailand, and Sri Lanka will be most negatively affected.

In Focus

Asia-Pacific M&A hits lowest Q1 level in at least three years

The quarter was dominated by smaller asset management and insurance activity.

In Focus

BofA sees treasury roles shifting toward strategic advisory

Clients are holding more liquidity in Singapore amid uncertainty.

Exclusive

Chinese banks pivot to state and green loans as consumer lending slows

Government exposure made up 16% of banks’ total assets as of April 2026.

In Focus

Investment banks handle $61.2b Asia-Pacific share sale boom

China raised $37.8b and accounted for 61.7% of regional proceeds.

In Focus

Singapore banks lean on wealth and higher global yields for growth

The sector is likely to see return on equity expansion thanks to NII growth.

In Focus

APAC cross-border payments stay upbeat as Japan lags

Hong Kong posted the highest positive share at 69% followed by Thailand at 67%.

In Focus