Global upgrades outpace downgrades for non-financial companies in Q2. For the first time in 18 months, the trend in global corporate credit ratings turned positive in the second quarter, says Fitch Ratings. In a new report, the rating agency reported that...
Swift, whose messaging system is used by banks for millions of transactions a day, said a blockchain-based network designed to facilitate round-the-clock money transfers across borders is ready for initial use. The Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication said Thursday...
Standard Chartered has completed its first batch of gold transactions and settlements through Hong Kong’s Gold Central Clearing and Settlement System. The bank said the transactions formed part of the system’s trial operation and supported Hong Kong’s development as a...
With oil prices now easing, policymakers expect some relief for households and businesses. New Zealand’s central bank raised its benchmark official cash rate by 25 basis points to 2.5 per cent and made clear that further rate hikes are necessary...
Renewable energy continued to be the most cost-competitive source of new electricity generation in 2025, with more than 90 per cent of newly added utility-scale renewable capacity proving cheaper than the lowest-cost new fossil fuel alternatives, according to the...
Dubai maintained its strong economic performance in the first quarter of 2026, with the emirate's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reaching AED232 billion, representing a 2.4% increase from the same period last year. The performance reflects the strength, resilience, and adaptability...
Global foreign direct investment rebounds 6% to $1.6T in 2025, ending 2-year decline Developed economies see 11% rise in foreign direct investment, while flows to developing economies edge up 2%. Global foreign direct investment (FDI) rose 6% in 2025 to $1.6...
Announced transactions rose 9.4%, with mid-market activity driving much of the increase. Deal-making by investment banks in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan rose to a four-year high in the year to date, with announced mergers and acquisitions (M&A) reaching $469.5b. That was 12.4%...
Standard Chartered has teamed up with BlackRock to launch an Asia-Pacific (APAC) multi-asset fund that includes liquid alternatives. The fund, named the Signature Select APAC Allocation Plus Fund, offers investors exposure to the APAC region through investments in equities, fixed...
Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management industry managed a record HK$42.2 trillion (US$5.4 trillion) of assets last year, 20% more than in 2024 and erasing the previous all-time high set in 2021. It was driven partly by a 193% surge...
