Economy
Finance Ministry raises idle fund bank cap to 60%
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.
Philippine cybercrime cases triple as fintechs deploy AI to curb money mulling
Losses hit US$3.35m as regulators tighten controls.
Five takeaways from day 1 of the Singapore Fintech Festival
Tokenisation emerges as a key driver of future digital money systems.
Why finance leaders push tokenisation as next phase of digital money
Tokenised deposits invert the model, allowing banks to deliver liquidity directly where required.
Singapore builds a three-tier strategy to future-proof its workforce
The plan spans basic AI literacy to advanced development as technology reshapes jobs.
Singapore pursues digital economy ties with ASEAN and global blocs: DPM
DPM Gan also said Singapore is focusing especially on financial services to stay globally relevant.
Asia’s regulators need to match banks’ digital pace, GFTN says
Good regulation, he argued, should function as “a safety belt, not a brake."
Banks post record $1.2t profit in 2024: McKinsey
If banks fail to adapt AI, global profit pools could fall by about $170b.
China’s banks expand lending but struggle with weakening demand
UOB Kay Hian said banks remain cautious in extending long-term credit.
Why Indian banks are seen to absorb loan losses
S&P also said earnings are likely to moderate but remain above long-term averages.
Bank Negara launches upgraded RTGS system for continuous payments
Since 2024, Malaysia’s daily retail payment volume and value have grown by 49% and 22%.
Commentary
The future of Asian banking isn’t ‘AI-first’ – it’s ‘fearless-first’