In Focus

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

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

How exposed are Philippine banks to Iran war?

Debt in oil-sensitive sectors could spill into the banking system.

Expert Opinion

Philippine banks dodge Middle East risk but corporate debt is the backdoor

Foreign reserves and prudent FX intervention serve as important buffers, BSP said.

In Focus

Chinese banks climb as HDFC Bank sinks in Q1 2026 rankings

Agricultural Bank of China rose 36.5% on stimulus and infrastructure support.

In Focus

Chinese SMEs expand into ASEAN through digital-first model

Consumer goods, digital solutions, and logistics are driving outbound expansion.

Exclusive

Thailand payments forecast shows 36% CAGR through 2032

Cloud-based services are projected to post a 38.58% CAGR from 2024 to 2032.

In Focus

Global universal banks give way to 'continental' model: McKinsey

Wholesale banking is the one business line that remains consistently global.

In Focus

Which e-wallets did Malaysians use most in 2025?

Convenience remained a key factor in satisfaction with online payments

In Focus

Agentic AI could unlock $35t in wealth AUM capacity: Deloitte

About a quarter or half of advisers’ time could be freed from lower-value work.

In Focus

Malaysian bank asset quality holds but bad loans seen rising to 1.5%

The acceptance rate for repayment assistance remains low, said CGSI.

In Focus

Sri Lanka cuts vehicle and gold loan caps to strengthen lender buffers

Motor car financing LTV cap is lower to 60%, whilst gold-backed lending LTV limit was reduced to 70%.

In Focus

India wallets crush cards with 68% online share

UPI helped push wallets ahead of every other online payment method in 2025.

In Focus