Despite prolonged geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, Asia’s CIOs remained confident in US equities and gold, extending the trend seen in 1Q26, according to Asian Private Banker‘s review of major house views. While bullish sentiment on equities and gold lingered on, the constructive view on private markets from the previous quarter weakened amid recent headlines of private market stress. […]

The post CIO views 2Q26 visualised: PBs bullish equities, gold, but turn cautious on private markets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s private banking AUM has crossed the US$4 trillion mark, according to Asian Private Banker‘s 2025 League Tables. With J.P. Morgan Private Bank entering the top three for the first time and Nomura International Wealth Management (IWM) making its debut in the tables, the 2025 rankings saw widespread movements. J.P. Morgan Private Bank led this growth with a 41% increase […]

The post Asia 2025 AUM League Tables: Assets cross US$4tn, JPM enters top three, Nomura debuts appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As women come to control a growing share of Australia’s private wealth, Morgan Stanley’s Rebecca Hill said the industry must rebuild its pipeline of female advisors – a shift that will take years to reach senior ranks. As Australia’s wealth industry turns its attention to women as clients and creators of capital, one question lingers: why is the country’s private […]

The post IWD 2026 — “Private banking side is lagging”: Morgan Stanley Australia wealth head on gender gap  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker recognised leaders in Asia’s private banking and wealth management industries for their exceptional achievements at a glittering awards ceremony last night.  Over 270 guests attended the gala dinner on the top floor of The Henderson, a landmark in Hong Kong’s Central district, including private banking leadership from the likes of Julius Baer, Bank of Singapore, HSBC Private […]

The post Awards for Distinction 2025: Highlights from APB’s glittering gala dinner appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia (PWM Asia) has navigated a succession of market themes over the past few years, delivering consecutive double-digit growth in assets under management for its discretionary portfolio management (DPM) business despite heightened volatility. Speaking to Asian Private Banker, Wee‑Kiat Tan, CIO and head of DPM, said the bank tapped renewed interest in Japan in 2023 and […]

The post Morgan Stanley sees double-digit DPM growth — what’s driving it? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Galloping into the Year of the Fire Horse, the race continues among private banks and asset managers to see who can distribute the most spectacular red packets to clients. More than just traditional gifts for family and friends, these laisee, or hongbao, have morphed into cult collectables, often trading on secondary markets for prices that rival the currency inside. Horses […]

The post Vote now: Who has the best red packets in Year of the Horse? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite the shadows of a potential AI bubble and persistent valuation jitters, Asia’s chief investment offices are entering 1Q26 with a resolute pro-risk tilt in equities, according to Asian Private Banker‘s review of major house views. While most banks are clinging to US earnings growth as a principal driver, a deepening rift has emerged over the role of fixed income […]

The post CIO views 1Q26 visualised: Private banks double down on US equities amid AI fatigue appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia (Morgan Stanley PWM Asia) is targeting the bank’s investment banking and institutional clients for wealth planning services, betting on a cross-divisional strategy to drive asset growth in 2026. “Within PWM Asia, wealth planning and solutions is always a core competence for our UHNW clients. We are striving to extend this capability firmwide in 2026, given […]

The post Tax and geopolitics? That’s driving Morgan Stanley’s firmwide wealth planning push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In a strong year for client portfolios, top US banks closed out 2025 with double-digit revenue and income growth for their wealth businesses. J.P. Morgan Asset and Wealth Management (AWM) saw its net income grew 19% YoY, while Morgan Stanley Wealth Management doubled net new assets YoY on top of a 13% YoY top-line expansion. Citi Wealth saw a 14% […]

The post Wall Street giants capture wealth earnings surge in 4Q25 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker is delighted to present Final Word 2025, our year-in-review feature featuring regional heads from wealth management players across APAC. Click here to read Final Word 2025 In this exclusive feature, top executives reflected on what kept them up at night in 2025, covering everything from digital transformation to regulations, and business strategy to investment performance. Below are some […]

The post Final Word: Private banking leaders reflect on strong a 2025, reveal strategies for 2026 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

There is reason to believe that allocations to alternative investments among the private wealth segment in Asia will continue to increase in the coming year. This, according to panellists, may be one way of smoothing out returns and providing investors with exposure to assets and industries less correlated with traditional equities and deemed more protected from downside risks resulting from […]

The post APB Summit 2025: Morgan Stanley, Bank of Singapore spotlight Asia’s alts demand appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US banks saw double-digit growth in net revenue and net income for 3Q25, alongside increases in assets under management (AUM) and client advisor headcount, according to recent earnings reports. Citi Wealth and J.P. Morgan Asset and Wealth Management (AWM) saw net income for the quarter grow 32% and 23% respectively, on a yearly basis, while Goldman Sachs captured a 40% […]

The post 3Q25: US banks post another quarter of double digit wealth growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

North Asia’s private banking sector is observing a “golden moment,” fueled by increasing market strength and clients seeking diversification, private banking leaders said at the Asian Private Banker Summit 2025 in Hong Kong. “It’s a rising tide in the markets. I think much of the work we have collectively put in as an industry over the last few years, along […]

The post APB Summit 2025: HSBC, UBP, Morgan Stanley PWM on North Asia’s ‘golden moment’ appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Over 100 golfers braved the searing pre-typhoon heat at Clearwater Bay in Hong Kong on 18 September 2025, in support of The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament 2025. Despite the end-of-day thunderstorms and torrential rain that sent players and volunteers bolting back to the comfort of the 19th hole, St. James’ […]

The post Morgan Stanley champions giving back at St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament 2025 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The “One Bank” concept has become a central proposition for private banks in Asia, being widely adopted by international banks such as UBS and Goldman Sachs, as well as by regional private banks. While Morgan Stanley, too, adopts a ‘One Bank’ strategy, the US giant believes its central proposition is differentiated from its peers in its strategic emphasis on both […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM reaps benefits of ‘integrated platform’ as deal flow returns appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The market dynamics seen this year could mean that there is no longer a single one-size-fits-all playbook that fund selectors can refer to when choosing funds and speaking to clients. Amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty, a declining US dollar, and the United States Federal Reserve announcing on 18 September interest rate cuts by 25 basis points in a bid to weather […]

The post FSN SG 2025: Citi, Morgan Stanley, and RBC’s portfolio allocation strategies amid rate cuts appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

For 2H25 and 3Q25, most private banks are neutral on global and US equities with a preference for Asia ex-Japan and China. Most are also neutral on fixed income, with investment grade being the most preferred fixed income asset class. Short-term bonds and cash are the least preferred. A positive sentiment is seen for alternatives, with the majority of banks […]

The post Asset allocation 2H25: Private bank CIOs bet on Asia, China, and alts appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With US$5.8 trillion expected to be passed on to the next generation of wealth owners in Asia Pacific by 2030, private banks are faced with the task of staying close to future leaders or face the harsh reality of a shrinking client base. Just how this is achieved is another matter, with the younger generation wanting fewer banking relationships, not […]

The post Private banks turn summer into a next-gen bonding season appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong’s Stablecoins Ordinance was enacted on August 1, 2025. Asian Private Banker examines the reasons behind Hong Kong’s adoption of this emerging digital asset class. The new ordinance, which follows the Stablecoins Bill passed earlier this year, establishes a licensing regime for fiat-referenced stablecoin issuers. According to a recent Morgan Stanley report, these measures are expected to attract credible […]

The post What’s behind Hong Kong’s new stablecoins regime? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia. APB was accorded observer status to attend Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia’s prestigious Wealth Leaders of Tomorrow Programme (WeTOP) this summer. Here’s what we learnt. Despite the 7:15 am reveille, and with neither a necktie nor a dull eye in sight, around 100 under- and postgraduate offspring […]

The post Morgan Stanley graduates Summa Cum Laude appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

US banks reported double-digit growth in their wealth management earnings in 2Q25, while also demonstrating strong net new assets and AUM growth, according to recent earnings reports. At the forefront of this earnings growth, Citi’s wealth revenue increased 20% YoY. Morgan Stanley Wealth Management and J.P. Morgan Asset and Wealth Management (AWM) grew their net revenues by 14% YoY and […]

The post US giants score double-digit wealth and PB growth in 2Q25 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As private banking clients shift their focus away from the US amid rising policy uncertainty, Morgan Stanley is betting on China’s booming AI market as the next frontier for private wealth clients. Energy was high at Morgan Stanley’s recent China Best Conference in Shenzhen, where strong interest in China’s AI market was evident. Corporates from a broad range of sectors […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM Asia goes big on China’s US$2.4tn AI revolution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The head of Strategic Advisory Solutions (SAS) at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (PWM) Asia has left the firm. Singapore-based Joy Kwek, managing director, announced her departure from Morgan Stanley after six years on her personal LinkedIn page. Morgan Stanley confirmed Kwek’s departure. Asian Private Banker has been unable to determine the next chapter for Kwek. She joined Morgan Stanley […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM Asia’s SAS head departs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asia’s private banking AUM has surpassed US$3 trillion, according to Asian Private Banker‘s Asia 2024 League Tables, reflecting both the region’s growing wealth and strategic shifts among top players. In one of the most profound moves, Standard Chartered cracked the top five for the first time, showing how fast fortunes can change. The UK-based bank posted an AUM jump of […]

The post Asia 2024 AUM League Tables: AUM hits US$3tn, StanChart enters top five appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

While some major private banks focused on restructuring management and rejigging reporting lines in March, others focused on sweeping up talent. Among those shaking things up was Julius Baer, which flattened its management structure, while Citi Private Bank implemented a new structure for Asia-based market managers. Meanwhile, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia (Morgan Stanley PWM Asia) and RBC Wealth […]

The post Movers & Shakers: Julius Baer flattens structure while Citi PB tweaks market managers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia (Morgan Stanley PWM Asia) has hired a raft of bankers since the start of the year, Asian Private Banker has learnt. The new hires are mostly vice president or executive director level and come from major wealth players in the region, including HSBC Global Private Banking, J.P. Morgan Private Bank, and Citi Private Bank. […]

The post Morgan Stanley hires raft of bankers for private wealth in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Infrastructure investments and private equity are gaining traction among Asia’s increasing sophisticated private wealth clients due to benefits including diversification and income generation, alternative investment heads said during a discussion at Asian Private Banker‘s Alternatives in Focus 2025 event. The gala event, hosted at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Hong Kong, gathered around 100 of the leading alternative investment executives […]

The post Alts in Focus 2025: Infrastructure lays strong foundation for Asia wealth portfolios appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The re-emergence of Jack Ma in a public forum with Chinese president Xi Jinping could signal the return of animal spirits to the country’s markets and the end of a regulatory crackdown cycle. That is according to private bank CIOs, who believe that the country’s hosting of a rare private sector symposium on Monday featuring the country’s most prominent entrepreneurs […]

The post Jack is back: Why China’s markets are roaring back to life appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia. Sometimes contrarian, always enlightening, Morgan Stanley’s industry-leading private banking client conference in January set new standards in thought leadership and client experience. And the food and wine were out of this world. In its customary early start to the new year, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia hosted […]

The post Morgan Stanley Asia Wealth Summit 2025: Keep calm and carry on investing appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With the year of the snake approaching, competition between private banks in Asia is hotting up when it comes to who can distribute the most dazzling red packets to clients. These envelopes – known as laisee or hongbao – are traditionally given to family members and friends. However, they can also be highly sought-after collectors’ items and fetch a premium […]

The post Vote now: Who has the best red packets in Year of the Snake? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The snake is the sixth animal of the Chinese zodiac, known for its intelligence, elegance and mysterious nature. In 2025, the year of the snake will be in the element wood, representing a combination of wisdom, intuition and growth. As we approach the end of 2024, many unknowns lurk on the horizon for asset and wealth managers in Asia in […]

The post Top predictions in the Year of the Wood Snake appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management has hired an executive director in Hong Kong, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Based in Hong Kong, Joanna Chan has joined the US bank as executive director for its Greater China team, according to her LinkedIn update. A spokesperson for Morgan Stanley confirmed Chan’s appointment to APB. With almost two decades of experience, Chan was […]

The post Another Citi private banker joins Morgan Stanley PWM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A record number of golfers and supporters turned out for the annual Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong on 19 September 2024 to celebrate the tournament’s 21st year and 6th year with Morgan Stanley as a title sponsor. With 27 flights […]

The post Record numbers for Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Among the many challenges for private banks in Asia Pacific is connecting with the future generation of wealthy individuals. Expecting a great wealth transfer from the current generation of business leaders to their children – and fearing the youth of today may not want “their dad’s banker” – private banks are strategising how best to engage with the next generation […]

The post Summer camp? How Asian private banks are wooing next-gen clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (Morgan Stanley PWM) Asia hopes to hire 10 seasoned relationship managers (RMs) this year, as the bank continues to sharpen its focus on UHNW bankers with strong risk and asset management skills. The hiring market in 2024 turned relatively quiet for some large international private banks in Asia, particularly compared to 2021-2022 when most banks […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM targets 10 experienced RMs for growing Asia business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With investors pivoting towards a surging US market, private banks in Asia with a strong US capability stand to increase their wallet share, Vincent Chui told Asian Private Banker. Chui, head of Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia, believes the bank’s US credentials and the support of its investment banking and research capability give it an edge in Asia. The […]

The post Vincent Chui: Morgan Stanley PWM benefits from Asia investors’ US pivot appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With the announcement that UBS’s Iqbal Khan will be dispatched to Asia with the new title of president of Asia Pacific and co-head of GWM globally, all eyes are currently on the region’s biggest private bank. One of Khan’s major challenges will be retaining staff at the Swiss giant, which boasts an army of around 1,100 relationship managers (RMs) in […]

The post Movers & Shakers – May 2024: Which banks could gain from UBS’s pain? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With global sustainable investment (SI) assets under management (AUM) among private banks crossing US$1 trillion in 2023 – representing a sizeable opportunity for firms with the right offerings – questions still remain about SI progress in Asia as it is unclear how much of these funds come from the region. Private banks have indicated to Asian Private Banker that Asian […]

The post A US$1tn market: Here’s how private banks’ sustainability progress stacks up in Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks, wealth and asset managers are currently missing out on billions of dollars worth of potential revenue in Japan, a new industry report has found. This is according to Morgan Stanley MUFG’s new report, released on Friday, which found that Japan’s wealth and asset management industry has a potential revenue opportunity of US$42 billion by 2030. In the bull […]

The post US$42bn opportunity: But why aren’t private banks targeting Japan? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has hired a new head of institutional sales for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, following its appointment of a Greater China head last week. Based in Singapore, Vikram Lokur recently joined MSIM as managing director, head of institutional sales for Southeast Asia and Hong Kong, according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker.  […]

The post Morgan Stanley IM appoints Hong Kong and SEA institutional sales head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The private banking and wealth management industry in Asia has a significant number of women in senior leadership positions, from UBS’s Amy Lo and Jin Yee Young, J.P. Morgan Private Banking’s Harshika Patel, to Citi’s San-San Chan and DBS’s Carol Wu, to name but a few. Here, Asian Private Banker has gathered the views of ten leading women, who shared their […]

The post IWD 2024: What new PB female leaders can learn from Amy Lo and Harshika Patel appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Leading private banks in the US and Europe have, with a few notable exceptions, reported relatively weak earnings for FY23. While not quite the annus horribilis of 2022, behind the weaker-than-expected earnings is a nevertheless difficult year for private banks. Globally, markets were impacted by high inflation, quantitative tightening, geopolitical uncertainty, wars in Europe and the Middle East, and China’s stuttering […]

The post Deutsche Bank PB, Citi PB post disappointing FY23 earnings appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley continues to prefer Japan and India equity versus emerging markets (EM) and China this year as Japan has made a strong start to 2024 with TOPIX gaining +5.3% as of 18 January. Equity performers: Japan and India Japan remains a key overweight market for the US bank. The top 3 favourable sectors include automobiles & transportation equipment, commercial […]

The post “EM and China are lagging meaningfully”: Why Morgan Stanley still favours Japan, India appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

From the reshuffling of leadership roles across the private banking industry to wholesale changes in the competitive landscape, 2023 was characterised by heavyweight hirings in Asia Pacific. The Credit Suisse-UBS merger resulted in many of the former’s bankers jumping ship, creating some of the most impactful appointments of the year. From long-time Credit Suisse heavyweight Jin Yee Young joining UBS via Deutsche Bank […]

The post The biggest Hong Kong, Singapore private bank hires of 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Interest rates, China and sustainability are among the topics that will be top of mind for private bankers in the region next year, according to leading CEOs who took part in Asian Private Banker’s Final Word 2023. The year in review project, which collects the insights and views of private banking and wealth management leaders, covers trends ranging from investments, […]

The post Final Word 2023: What is keeping private bank CEOs up at night? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China is a market which splits investors, with some deterred by the ongoing property crisis and slower-than-expected growth, and others seeing attractive valuations and a still significant near 5% growth rate. BNP Paribas, Morgan Stanley and CSOP Asset Management weighed in on the conversation, laying their cards on the table during the panel discussion Cracking the code – Maximising investment […]

The post BNP Paribas, Morgan Stanley: Lack of confidence still weighs on China market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

It has been a busy 2023 for Asia’s private banking headhunters, and the most recent quarter showed no signs of slowing down. The period from July to September was characterised by heavyweight people moves in the region, from CEOs, to market heads, to veteran RMs. While the integration of Credit Suisse into UBS continued to be a source of major […]

The post Revealed: The biggest Asian private bank people moves of 3Q23 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Fortune favoured the charitable on 7 September 2023, as the annual Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament once again took centre stage at The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong. St. James’ Settlement, one of Morgan Stanley’s long-term, non-profit partners in Hong Kong, and the bank welcomed over 100 clients, employees, and guests to this […]

The post Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament raises funds to support underprivileged children appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A UBS veteran has joined Standard Chartered Private Bank to cover the Southeast Asia market, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Randy Stanley joined the UK lender last month as managing director, cluster lead for the Private Bank, Standard Chartered confirmed. People close with the matter revealed that Stanley will be covering the Southeast Asia market. Having spent 12 years at […]

The post Standard Chartered hires UBS veteran for Southeast Asia market appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The hiring strategy for private banks this year has been about finding the right top talent and bringing in the right cultural fit. Here, Asian Private Banker explores the differing hiring strategies among private banks and highlights Asia’s top at-large private banking talents. Speaking to Asian Private Banker about the bank’s hiring plan, Vincent Chui, the head of Morgan Stanley Private […]

The post Revealed: The top Asian private banking talent looking for new roles appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With rising wealth in Asia, private banks are presented with a strategic choice: focus on providing bespoke services to fewer ultra-high-net worth (UHNW) clients, or attempt to capture the mass affluent and early-stage HNW clients as their wealth increases. Asian Private Banker spoke to three banks – Citi Private Bank, Morgan Stanley and BNP Paribas – as they elucidated their […]

The post Private banks on mass affluent rush: Citi, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas have their say appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBS has revised its China 2023 GDP growth forecast due to a slower-than-expected economic recovery on the back of disappointing consumer data. UBS cut its GDP forecast from 5.7% to 5.2%, as China’s economic recovery fell short of expectations in May. Retail sales only grew 12.7% YoY, despite an end to China’s harsh COVID lockdown measures, while real estate sales […]

The post UBS downgrades China GDP forecast amid disappointing economic recovery appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (MSIM) has named a new Asia head, effective immediately. Based in Hong Kong, Michael Levin will join as head of MSIM Asia and be responsible for overseeing the regional investment management business with a focus on new market and product opportunities. Levin has over 25 years of asset management experience, most recently as a managing director […]

The post Morgan Stanley IM hires ex-Goldman Sachs executive as new Asia head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

If geopolitical tensions, rising interest rates and a US debt crisis were not enough for investors to deal with already, they have one more thing to weigh on their nerves: confusing economic data. That is according to Daniel Murray, deputy CIO and head of research at EFG Bank. “As we transition from one stage of the economic cycle to the […]

The post CIO Insight – Cautious investors have a new problem to worry about appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley has appointed a new head of discretionary portfolio management (DPM) for its private wealth management business in Asia, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Based in Singapore, Wee-Kiat Tan has also taken up the role of co-CIO together with Julie Lau. In his new roles, Tan will manage the Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (PWM) Asia DPM business, and […]

The post Morgan Stanley appoints veteran as DPM head for PWM Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (PWM) Asia has appointed a private banking veteran as sales manager for Greater China, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Harry Lai has taken up the new role in addition to his previous position as an advisor to PWM Asia focusing on investment representative recruitment, including mentoring efforts and sales management initiatives, people familiar with the […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM Asia adds veteran sales manager for Greater China appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

One of Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia’s (Morgan Stanley PWM Asia) co-heads of investment management services has left the US private bank, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Nathan Lim has departed after spending almost eight years at the bank, according to a personal LinkedIn profile update. Lim relocated to Hong Kong in February last year to take up his most […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM Asia investment management services co-head departs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The market rebound at the start of 2023 has raised hopes among private banks and asset managers that last year’s market rout is well and truly a thing of the past. Against that positive backdrop, Asian Private Banker‘s sixth APB Intensive saw four leading asset management groups pitch their funds to a select audience of the region’s most important private bank […]

The post Premium Pickers – Why fund selectors are calling 2023 the year of yield appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management (Morgan Stanley IM) has received approval from the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) to take a full controlling stake in its mainland China joint venture. Subject to business registration and other procedures required by Chinese regulators, Morgan Stanley IM will increase its stake in Morgan Stanley Huaxin Funds from 49% to 100%. Gokul Laroia, CEO of […]

The post Morgan Stanley gets nod to fully own China onshore mutual fund business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese markets have roared back to life in 2023 as the country has eased COVID-19 restrictions, but Morgan Stanley and other big investors think there could be even more gains to come. The Wall Street bank holds an overweight position on MSCI China within its overall bullish stance on Asia and emerging market equities. However, Morgan Stanley believes that investors […]

The post Morgan Stanley: Why the rally in China is not done yet appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management (PWM) Asia has bolstered its Greater China team with four hires in Hong Kong and Singapore, Asian Private Banker has learned. Sasha Zhao, Echo Hu and Sarah Si become relationship managers for Greater China coverage in Hong Kong. Zhao and Hu joined as executive directors, with Si named as a vice president. They all arrive […]

The post Morgan Stanley PWM Asia hires four new Greater China RMs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China‘s abrupt re-opening is adding to near-term headwinds, but the subsequent recovery may come earlier, according to Pictet Wealth Management (Pictet WM) and Morgan Stanley’s latest analysis. While there were signs of an economic rebound in Q3 last year, most Chinese data show continued weakness, possibly linked to tightened COVID-19 restrictions ahead of the Communist Party’s 20th Congress in October, […]

The post China’s growth story stays despite short-term pain: Pictet, Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Robin Xing, chief China economist at Morgan Stanley, believes the world’s second-biggest economy will see a meaningful growth recovery in 2H2023 following the end of its long-running zero-COVID policy. However, the US investment bank is also forecasting that GDP growth in 4Q2022 and 1H2023 will be fragile amid a chaotic re-opening of the economy and rising COVID-19 infections. Morgan Stanley […]

The post Morgan Stanley: Why we’re bullish on China in 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Welcome to Asian Private Banker‘s Final Word 2022. This year-in-review feature collects the insights and views of private banking and wealth management leaders from across the regional industry. As well as assessing 2022’s top trends – from investments, to products, to technology – it also provides an opportunity for top CEOs, COOs and investment heads to lay out their predictions […]

The post Final Word 2022: What’s in store for 2023? UBS, Credit Suisse, HSBC and other industry leaders have their say appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: China reopening plays that RBC WM likes; Interest rates to narrow in 2023: J.P. Morgan Asset Management; China to rebound sharply in March: Morgan Stanley China reopening plays that RBC WM likes As China rapidly pivots away from its hardline COVID-zero policy, RBC Wealth Management (RBC WM) has singled out sectors including e-commerce and casinos as likely outperfomers […]

The post CIO weekly – RBC WM is betting on a rebound for Macau casinos appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China residents are finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel. Authorities have announced an easing of zero-COVID measures including the removal of lockdowns in local regions, the reopening of venues & businesses, and the reduction of the requirement for daily PCR tests. While these moves may soon allow residents to return to their daily routine, does it mean […]

The post How and when China may reopen: Three private banks have their say appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley has upgraded its view on China equities to overweight, pointing to positive developments including a clear path towards a reopening from COVID-19 – even if bumps in the road continue to pressure corporate earnings into early 2023. The bank said in a research note on Monday that China is attractive in terms of valuations on a price-to-book (PB) […]

The post Why Morgan Stanley expects a “steep climb” for offshore China equities appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Morgan Stanley. The pandemic has added a sense of urgency to the need for succession planning of Asian HNW families, with more families anxious to start earlier with their preparations for passing on wealth to the next generation. Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia shared with Asian Private Banker what makes a good succession […]

The post This is how family legacy can be succeeded by Next Generations: Morgan Stanley PWM Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: Time to look at China again: EFG; Morgan Stanley thinks 2023 is a year for fixed income; The Fed to stop hiking rates next year: Julius Baer Time to look at China again: EFG Swiss pure-play EFG believes China is in a gradual process that will see it reopen next spring, which could benefit stocks in sectors including travel, […]

The post CIO Weekly – Stocks to buy for China’s re-opening: Moz Afzal of EFG appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

It takes more than an impending Typhoon 8 warning to stop bankers from coming to Hong Kong after almost three years away. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority is hosting banking’s top figures at the Global Financial Leaders’ Investment Summit this week, which started on Tuesday with a dinner at M+, the art gallery in the West Kowloon Cultural District. The […]

The post It takes more than a typhoon to keep bankers away from Hong Kong’s re-opening appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Morgan Stanley. The private wealth management industry is seeing changes in the wealth planning needs and priorities of HNW families. Morgan Stanley explains to Asian Private Banker how these changes affect the key roles of private banks. Susanna Fung, head of asset planning group, Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia, has been in the […]

The post Wealth planners as holistic navigators: Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investors should look to South Korea and Taiwan for Asian countries whose stock markets will recover best from the lengthy bear market, according to Morgan Stanley, which attached an overweight rating to both in a research report on Wednesday. “Both have substantially underperformed this year with a classic inventory cycle inflexion likely to be the catalyst over the next quarter […]

The post Asia’s bear market about to lose its bite: Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

After nearly three years of being closed off from the rest of the world, the Chinese government will likely reopen the country by spring 2023 at the earliest as it seeks to offset the impact of weakening exports and a property market crisis. That is according to Morgan Stanley, which said on Tuesday that a shift away from China’s zero-COVID […]

The post China to target spring 2023 re-opening: Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong-based fintech platform Altive aims to remove the hurdles to the alternative investment market by connecting with institutional asset managers that distribute alternative solutions to HNWIs and single family offices (FOs). On its third anniversary, the firm told Asian Private Banker what was behind its rapid AUM growth. “It has been a fruitful three years since our establishment: AUM […]

The post Alternative asset manager Altive eyes US$600 million in AUM after just three years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The fairways of The Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club were awash with talent on 4 August 2022, as the annual Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament returned to Hong Kong. St. James’ Settlement — one of Morgan Stanley’s long-term non-profit partners in Hong Kong — together with the bank, welcomed over 100 clients, employees, and guests to […]

The post Morgan Stanley St James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament raises over HK$900k appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s household wealth has grown with leaps and bounds over the last 20 years and that could translate into RMB 170 trillion (US$25 trillion) being addressable by wealth managers by 2030, according to Morgan Stanley estimates. Since 3Q21, mainland China’s zero COVID policy has thrown up particular challenges, but that has not stopped some international private banks from beefing up […]

The post Morgan Stanley and Pictet shed light on China growth strategies appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As it builds a wholly owned mutual fund business in China, Fidelity International has appointed a managing director for China to better capture the growing wealth in the country, according to a statement on Wednesday. Based in Shanghai, Helen Huang will provide overall leadership in investment management, distribution, operations, and other key functions. Huang was most recently CEO of Hwabao […]

The post Fidelity International names managing director to lead China mutual fund business appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Keen on making inroads into a market dominated by local players, some of the world’s largest private banks have been bulking up their presence in the potentially lucrative China onshore market in a bid to tap the country’s vast pool of wealth. By the end of 2021, the size of investable assets held by HNWIs in China reached RMB 96 […]

The post Prospect of US$27T in China onshore wealth tantalises international PBs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

An executive director-level relationship manager at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia (Morgan Stanley PWM Asia) has resigned in order to return to her native Thailand, people familiar with the matter told Asian Private Banker. Pradinan Arkarachinores, who covered UHNW clients in the Thai market, joined Morgan Stanley PWMA’s Hong Kong office from Julius Baer in February 2019, according to […]

The post Senior RM for Thai market departs Morgan Stanley PWMA for family reasons appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When Vincent Chui was crowned Private Banker of the Year at Asian Private Banker’s Awards for Distinction 2021, it was fresh from successfully navigating Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia (Morgan Stanley PWM Asia) and its clients through another turbulent year for markets. Despite China’s abrupt clampdown on its tech giants and a meltdown in high-yield bonds, the US lender’s […]

The post The world according to Vincent Chui: Morgan Stanley PWM Asia’s head on inflation, Omicron and how to hire RMs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The conflict between Russia and Ukraine and its economic fall-out have rocked capital markets around the global and could have a significant impact on the portfolios of private bank clients. Among the most affected asset classes, at least in the short-term, are commodities including oil and gas, as well as European and emerging markets (EM). While some market participants are […]

The post Here is what the Russia-Ukraine conflict means for private clients’ portfolios appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Many private banks are eager to expand their front office teams in view of the growing wealth creation in Asia. However, banks’ expansion plans in the past 12 months have been hampered by stringent quarantine measures in Hong Kong and mainland China, in addition to the relatively shallow private banking talent pool in Singapore. Asian Private Banker reached out to […]

The post Four PBs explain recruitment and retention strategies, differ on non-traditional hires appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

An industry veteran has resurfaced at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management to help with the bank’s front office talent prospecting and training, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Harry Lai joined the American lender as a consultant to support the bank’s sales recruiting team. In 2018, Lai retired from Standard Chartered Private Bank as the market head of Greater China and […]

The post Industry veteran resurfaces at Morgan Stanley PWM to boost RM recruitment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

KKR & Co has appointed a new head of its private wealth division in Southeast Asia, as the US private equity giant seeks to expand its footprint in private wealth. Jacqueline Zhuang started at KKR & Co in the latter half of December 2021. Her full job title is head of private wealth, Southeast Asia, and director of KKR & […]

The post KKR & Co hires head of private wealth for Southeast Asia from Credit Suisse appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks are betting that Japanese assets could shine in 2022. Count Stéphane Monier, CIO at Lombard Odier Private Bank, among the bulls as a number of stars align for Asia’s second-largest economy. However, the investment case is less about what Japan offers than the pitfalls it seems sure to avoid. The country is not suffering the surges in inflation […]

The post Private banks bullish on Japan as stars align for 2022 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

North Asia likely to see a deceleration in earnings growth in 2022: Morgan Stanley; At stake is not when the Fed will hike rates, but at which pace: J.P. Morgan Asset Management; High-quality growth companies combined with select cyclical stocks could prove winner in 2022: UBP; US scrutiny puts China’s biotech sector under stress: UBS GWM North Asia likely to see […]

The post CIO Weekly – Earnings growth to decelerate in 2022 and beyond for North Asia markets: Jonathan Garner of Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 In an interview with Jonathan Garner, Chairman of Asset Allocation, PWM Asia and Chief Asia & EM Equity Strategist at Morgan Stanley, we explore his Asia and EM equity markets outlook for 2022, as well as the impact of the Omicron variant, inflation risks, and the hot ESG themes in 2022.

The post APB Thought Leaders: Morgan Stanley 2022 Investment Outlook appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Morgan Stanley. Household financial assets have been growing in China at a higher pace than GDP in recent years, despite the impact from COVID-19 in the past two years. We believe the wealth management industry represents the best growth opportunity in the China financial services industry and see several key trends emerging in the […]

The post China’s wealth market: expanding opportunities but unique development path appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The heads of the leading private banks in Asia believe that onshore markets can provide the next major opportunities for their businesses, but they differ on how best to navigate the region’s domestic wealth landscape. “Today, a lot of people are talking about wealth from an offshore perspective, but we believe wealth is fundamentally domestic,” François Monnet told attendees at […]

The post Onshore markets offer great opportunities, if you know how to unlock them: Asia PB CEOs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Few Asian markets hold greater potential for private banks than Japan. And yet few places seem more impenetrable than the region’s second biggest economy. A bewildering tangle of regulations conspires with a risk-averse culture to keep nearly US$18 trillion of household assets beyond reach. The deflation of the last 20 years only exacerbated the temptation to stuff cash under tatami […]

The post Private banks get serious about Japan at opportune moment appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks and asset managers are predicting that a regulatory crackdown in China will continue to ease going into 2022, but their views differ on whether it is the best time to start investing in the world’s second-biggest economy again. Where next for China?  China’s economic rebound has stumbled this year as regulators in the country have pursued a clampdown […]

The post Investment outlook for 2022: Private banks bet China’s regulatory crackdown is over appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Morgan Stanley still prefers A-shares to offshore China equity. The bank sees lingering risks into 2022 — in the form of earnings headwinds, tight liquidity, US/China tensions unrelated to trade, and property market volatility in the near-term — but is bullish on A-shares for three reasons. “First of all, we think the A-share market has a better alignment in terms […]

The post Morgan Stanley remains bullish on China A-shares in 2022, despite the headwinds appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: Lombard Odier: The usual policy playbook in China is no longer working; Julius Baer: Defensive play will have the upper hand in 2022; Goldman Sachs turns bullish on China, projects accelerating ASEAN growth in 2022; Morgan Stanley cautious on China equity, prefers A-shares to offshore China Lombard Odier: The usual policy playbook in China is no longer working […]

The post CIO Weekly – The usual policy playbook in China is no longer working: Jean-Louis Nakamura of Lombard Odier appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China’s policy of prioritising “common prosperity for all” could lead to newly minted HNWIs in the country shifting some of their assets to Hong Kong or Singapore, according to investment manager Value Partners. “The plan does not emphasise wealth distribution and this is not about common poverty,” noted group co-chairman and co-CIO Dato’ Seri Cheah Cheng Hye during a media […]

The post China’s common prosperity drive could prompt inflows into Hong Kong and Singapore: Value Partners co-chairman appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The head of Asia wealth management of Morgan Stanley has named “people, technology, regulations” as key concerns for business growth, while expressing optimism that the UHNW client segment will sustain its “secular growth”. One of the “supply-side” challenges faced by the US lender is the difficulty of sourcing quality talents, Vincent Chui shared with Asian Private Banker. “We have to […]

The post “People, technology, regulations” are top concerns: Vincent Chui of Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of East Asia (BEA) Private Bank has appointed a Greater China market head from Morgan Stanley, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Diana Chan joined the Hong Kong bank’s private banking department as the market head of Greater China. The appointment has been confirmed by a spokesperson for the bank. Chan was most recently an executive director at Morgan Stanley. […]

The post Bank of East Asia PB picks market head from Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This is a sponsored article from Morgan Stanley. The world has experienced a significant growth in private wealth in recent years, especially in Asia as the region offers its entrepreneurs and their families exceptional investment and wealth management opportunities. The rapidly changing economic and business environment, coupled with continuing globalisation and interconnectivity, and the reform of tax regimes and regulations, […]

The post Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management Asia on Single Family Office trends in the region appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

 Vincent Chui, Head of Asia Wealth Management of Morgan Stanley and Chief Executive of Morgan Stanley Bank Asia Limited, discusses the bank’s market positioning in Asia’s ultra-high-net worth client segment, the Firm’s approach to risk and his prioritization on people, technology and regulation.

The post APB Thought Leaders: Morgan Stanley’s Vincent Chui on the private bank’s value proposition for clients and talent appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The Morgan Stanley St. James’ Cup Charity Golf Tournament made a welcome return to the Clearwater Bay Golf & Country Club in Hong Kong on 6 August 2021. The event was hosted by St. James’ Settlement, one of Morgan Stanley’s long-term non-profit partners in Hong Kong. Almost 100 participants — Morgan Stanley clients, employees, and guests invited by St. James’ […]

The post Industry out in support of charity for Morgan Stanley Golf Day appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

There are over 4,000 companies listed in China’s A-shares market. “By nature, that represents a wide spectrum of different corporate governance practices,” Laura Wang said. Morgan Stanley’s chief China equity strategist told Asian Private Banker on the first day of APB Change Makers that “in terms of ESG investing, in China’s case, the current focus is still on corporate governance”. […]

The post China’s ESG investing is still focused on “G”: Morgan Stanley appeared first on Asian Private Banker.