News

Hong Kong takes top IFC gong

Hong_KongHong Kong has been named as the leading international financial centre of 2018, corporate service provider, Vistra said. Hong Kong leapt one spot to take the lead from the UK, which dropped two places to be ranked in third place. The British Virgin Islands (BVI) came in second place. There has been a greater demand for transparency around the world due to the negative publicity around offshore centres and the changing regulatory landscape to meet these calls, Vistra said in a statement on March 18, 2019. The island’s lead is attributed to the growing number of Chinese companies listed on the island’s stock exchange and an increase of Chinese high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) with intricate needs. Brexit has had a significant impact on the UK ahead of its scheduled departure from the European Union on March 29, 2019. “Today, respondents take a dimmer view of Brexit’s implications with only 35% expect the UK to become more open to the industry and IFCs after Brexit,” said Vistra. “If the country cannot provide attractive conditions for business, it is expected that a greater number of organisations will switch to Luxembourg or Frankfurt as their European headquarters.” Hong Kong, the British Virgin Islands and the UK occupy the top three spots respectively. The remaining seven jurisdictions in order of ranking are: the US, Singapore, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Netherlands and Jersey. ©2019 funds global asia

Industry comments

Investing in tomorrow’s world

investmentAt times like these, HSBC Asset Management easily pivots towards emerging markets.

The spotlight on growth markets and the need to be nimble and dynamic is ever-sharper, given the difficulty in predicting monetary policy in the world’s major nations.

Sponsored feature: Navigating the complexities of FX execution and currency risk

A comprehensive, cost-effective, and transparent currency overlay hedging solution is crucial to mitigate FX exposure risks in the complex landscapes of Japan and China's FX markets, explains Hans Jacob Feder, PhD, global head of FX services at MUFG Investor Services.

Opinion

Transitioning to an era of scarcity

The world is transitioning from an era of commodity abundance to one of undersupply. Ben Ross and Tyler Rosenlicht of Cohen & Steers believe this shift may result in significant returns for commodities and resource producers over the next decade.

Asia credit: An outsized winner in the region’s energy transition?

Ross Dilkes, fixed income portfolio manager at Wellington Management, examines the opportunities and risks for bond investors presented by the region’s decarbonisation agenda.

A quiet revolution in Japan’s corporate governance

revolution, Japan, corporate governance, Shareholders, corporate, governance, standards, improvement, Tetsuro Takase, SuMi TrustShareholders in Japan no longer accept below-par corporate governance standards. Changes are taking place, but there are still areas for improvement, says Tetsuro Takase at SuMi Trust.

Why rising demand for healthcare is creating investment opportunities in China

rising demand, healthcare, investment, opportunities, China, Robert St Clair, Investment Strategy, Fullerton Fund ManagementRobert St Clair, head of investment strategy at Fullerton Fund Management, explores the reasons investors should be paying attention to the rising demand for healthcare in China.

Executive Interviews

Executive interview: PGIM CEO on where the ESG flowers should bloom

Sep 27, 2021

David Hunt, president and chief executive of PGIM, tells Romil Patel about leading a top 10 global asset manager in times where “empowering and encouraging the kind of investment decisions as...

Executive interview: Nicolas Moreau’s orderly transition

Jul 12, 2021

Nicolas Moreau, CEO of HSBC Asset Management, is moving to Asia as the firm looks to connect more directly with the region’s growth story. ESG is also a key focus – including the ‘just’ carbon...

Roundtables

India: An “obvious choice for global investors”

Jun 22, 2023

Funds Europe, the sister publication of Funds Global Asia, hosted an India investment discussion with two seasoned experts and asked if India is the ‘last one standing’ from the Brics phenomenon. We also hear that for India, the inclusion of Indian bonds in a major index may not be the desired...

Roundtable: Singapore comes of age as an Asian ESG hub

Dec 01, 2021

Strong ESG credentials strengthen the case for Singapore as a leader in Asia of the post-Covid recovery. Our panel discusses the risks and opportunities.