A massive intergenerational wealth transfer in China is fundamentally altering the wealth-planning landscape, as globally educated, next-gen heirs increasingly bypass traditional family generalists in favour of institutional-grade, specialised advisors, according to Union Bancaire Privée (UBP). Previously, Chinese clients were guarded, often gathering fragmented information from different sources for wealth planning in the past, observed Nelson Hon, senior wealth planner for North […]

The post China’s next-gen heirs driving shift to specialised advisors, says UBP appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

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.

Swiss pure play UBP has made a series of senior appointments for its Middle East business, including hiring an investment veteran from UBS. Fahd Iqbal has been appointed as head of investment services in Dubai. In this role, he will embed the bank’s Global Investment Committee’s investment approach locally, reporting to Arfat Qayyum, senior executive officer of the UBP Dubai […]

The post UBP taps UBS veteran in Middle East wealth push 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.

If there is one asset class that is experiencing a renaissance because of its higher-than-expected yields lately – and one that wealthy individuals should consider in 2026 – it is emerging market (EM) debt. “If you look at the asset class in 2022, 2023, and 2024, there were significant outflows across the board. That trend clearly reversed in 2025,” Thomas […]

The post Weak dollar, stronger EM debt? UBP sees yield boost in 2026 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Amid high performance dispersion, a weakening US dollar, and heightened geopolitical uncertainty, private bank fund selectors across the region are taking different approaches. Some are focused on optimising and refining their fund shelves, while others aim to capture broader opportunities through innovative, expanded fund offerings. Fund selectors from UBS, Morgan Stanley, and UBP, who also serve as members of Asian Private […]

The post UBS, Morgan Stanley, UBP: 2026 fund selection focus – optimise or expand? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Despite the dramatic capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro by US forces, Asia’s private banks are urging UHNW clients to stay the course, dismissing the event as a “localised” shock with minimal impact on global supply chains. In a major escalation on 3 January 2026, US forces launched a military raid in the capital city of Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President […]

The post Venezuela raid or not, private bank CIOs see a clear path to 2026 growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has launched its first fund under the Singapore Variable Capital Company (VCC) framework to serve family offices and ultra high net worth (UHNW) clients. With the new fund, UBP aims to combine its investment capabilities with the flexibility of the VCC structure, the Swiss pure-play bank said in a statement on Wednesday. The investment strategy will be led by […]

The post UBP enters Singapore VCC space with debut fund for UHNW clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Within the space of just a few weeks, Indosuez Wealth Management (Indosuez WM) hired seven Bank of Singapore bankers, representing a significant injection of talent helping support the boutique bank’s AUM and DPM business growth. Last month also saw some other notable movements in Asia. Bank of Singapore hired former UBS co-head of the UHNW solutions group, Claude Andre Harbonn, […]

The post Movers & Shakers: Spotlight on Indosuez WM as it scoops up Bank of Singapore RMs appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has opened a new office in Riyadh as part of its long-term regional growth strategy to deepen its presence in Saudi Arabia. With the new office, UBP has appointed Mishal Alhawas as CEO and head of advising for Saudi Arabia, the Swiss pure play announced in a statement on Tuesday. Based in Riyadh, Alhawas will be overseeing UBP’s operations […]

The post UBP appoints CEO for new Saudi office 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.

UBP has launched a dedicated external asset management (EAM) dealing team to support its Singapore and Hong Kong desks, targeting Asia’s surging EAM market. To lead the new team, Mark Ruddock joined the bank as head of EAM dealing Asia on 8 September 2025. He will report to Dimitri Platonoff, head of treasury and trading Asia at UBP, according to […]

The post UBP bolsters Asia EAM push with dedicated dealing team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In August, pure-play private banks, including UBP and Lombard Odier, led the hiring scene, ramping up relationship manager appointments and selectively adding senior talent as they continued to expand their Asia businesses. Among key hires last month, Lombard Odier named Indosuez veteran Alfred Low as Hong Kong CEO and head of North Asia. Meanwhile, Lombard Odier’s Asia private client CEO, […]

The post Movers & Shakers: Pure plays lead August hires, but selectivity rules appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Swiss pure play UBP is innovating client access to private market evergreen strategies through a new investment offering. Responding to rising demand for the asset class, the bank introduced an offering of evergreen strategies that pool high-quality private equity, private credit and infrastructure funds. The structure is designed to help clients build a diversified portfolio, according to Jacky Leung, UBP’s […]

The post “Stay ahead of the curve”: UBP innovates evergreen alts access 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.

Swiss pure-play UBP has made a senior appointment for its Dubai office as the bank looks to drive growth in the Middle East. Arfat Qayyum has been appointed as the senior executive officer of the bank’s Dubai office, subject to regulatory approval. He succeeds Mohamed Shoukry and will report to Walid Shash and Mohamed Abdellatif, co-heads of the Middle East […]

The post UBP hires ex-Credit Suisse banker for Middle East wealth push appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has hired three bankers in Hong Kong to strengthen its wealth services for ultra high net worth individuals (UHNWIs) in Greater China. Aaron Lee has joined UBP as a team head, according to a statement on Monday. He will report to Teresa Lee, chief executive of Hong Kong and regional head of North Asia. Having spent two decades in […]

The post More Bank of Singapore bankers join UBP in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With market uncertainty emanating from the US continuing to rattle private wealth investors, the obvious question is, where have the fund flows been going? Well, according to UBP’s Paras Gupta, markets have proven remarkably resilient, and US trades are still very much alive. “We haven’t seen significant shifts in client flows, which reflect this uncertainty. We have seen minor adjustments […]

The post Clients making only “minor adjustments” as US trades stay active: UBP’s Paras Gupta appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A senior private banker has left Swiss pure play UBP after less than two years in the role, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Lawrence Goh, market head for ASEAN at UBP, has recently departed the bank, multiple sources confirmed with APB. Goh joined UBP in late 2023. Previously, he served as the deputy market head for Southeast Asia at Standard […]

The post UBP’s Southeast Asia market head departs in under two years appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The external asset management (EAM) space in Asia may still be in its early stages, but its rapid growth is creating “tremendous opportunity” for private banks that know how to serve this emerging client segment, according to senior executives from leading private banks. While EAMs in Asia are less mature than their European counterparts, panellists at the Family Office Association […]

The post Bank of Singapore, StanChart, and UBP tap North Asia EAM growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP is taking a three-pronged approach to elevate its private market business as the Swiss bank seeks to deliver a high-quality experience in the increasingly competitive alternatives space, where virtually all private banks are now offering access to differentiated private market investments. Under this approach, the pure-play private bank is targeting discretionary portfolio management (DPM) offerings, synergies between hedge fund […]

The post “Like a fine dining restaurant”: UBP serves up private markets strategy appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Specialised alternative strategies are gaining popularity with private wealth clients in Asia, as private equity firms seek to differentiate their offerings amid increasingly fierce competition, leading private bank alts heads told Asian Private Banker. “The growth of specialist alternative investment players is a significant trend in Asia’s private wealth market,” said Jason Ng, co-head of the alternatives and strategic solutions […]

The post Specialised alts strategies gaining popularity in Asia – PB alts heads appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

More than six months into her role as region head for North Asia at UBP, Teresa Lee is wasting no time making her mark across the markets of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan – and even the Philippines. Her first priority has been front office expansion. This includes hiring relationship managers (RMs) covering Greater China, as well as bankers and […]

The post Teresa Lee hits the ground running as UBP’s North Asia boss 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.

Discretionary portfolio management (DPM) is gaining momentum at private banks like DBS and UBP, but scaling adoption remains a challenge. Innovation is critical to driving inflows, especially amid shifting client preferences in risk tolerance, asset allocation, and return expectations, factors further complicated by macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties. At Asian Private Banker’s DPM 2025 Leaders Conversation in Singapore, industry leaders shared […]

The post DPMLC 2025: DBS and UBP’s DPM tactics for 2025  appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Some of Asia’s wealthiest families are looking to scoop up private investment opportunities in Europe and the US, anticipating a pick up in M&A activity will fuel growth for mid-market opportunities, according to industry experts and leading family offices. “The families I have behind me are Asian families. They’re looking at diversification outside of Asia, going into the US and […]

The post Wealthy Asian families hunt for private mid-market gems in Europe and US 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.

In a conversation on regional growth strategies and evolving priorities, UBP’s Michael Blake explores the balance between technology, geographical expansion, and core market strengths with Asian Private Banker. With a focus on Greater China as a key driver of business inflows and emerging opportunities in Southeast Asia, the Asia CEO remains optimistic about sustaining growth through strategic hiring, innovative solutions, […]

The post Michael Blake keeps it simple to drive UBP’s Asia growth appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Swiss pure play UBP has bolstered its coverage in Hong Kong with a senior banker appointment. Jamian Lai joined the bank as market head, the Philippines in Hong Kong this week, according to an internal memo sent by Teresa Lee, regional head of North Asia, UBP. Based in Hong Kong, Lai will report to Ricardo Choi, head of the Philippines. […]

The post UBP appoints market head for Philippines in Hong Kong appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Swiss pure play UBP has named a recently-resigned Bank of Singapore veteran to lead its investment services for North Asia. Based in Hong Kong, Jacky Leung will join UBP effective 2 January 2025, according to an internal memo seen by APB and confirmed by the bank on Tuesday. Leung will succeed Andy Lee, who has decided to leave UBP to “pursue […]

The post UBP appoints BoS veteran as North Asia investment services head appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker is delighted to unveil the members of its debut Alternative Investments Council (AIC), a new regional initiative that brings together Asia’s leading private bank selectors of alternative investment products. The council, which follows on from the launch earlier this year of APB‘s first-of-its-kind Fund Selection Council, comprises prominent fund selection leaders from the likes of UBS Global […]

The post Asian Private Banker unveils debut Alternative Investments Council appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Swiss pure-play UBP has hired an industry veteran from Santander Private Banking for its Middle East team. Based in Dubai, Antony Avinash Louis joined the bank as market head for the Middle East, effective 18 November, according to a company statement on Thursday. Louis functionally reports to Mohamed Abdellatif, co-head of Middle East and Africa with a local reporting line […]

The post UBP appoints ex-Julius Baer veteran as market head for Middle East appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Hong Kong authorities in October expanded the scope of the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) to include investments in residential properties and said they are considering further tax breaks for single-family offices in the city. The CIES aims to attract investment by granting residency status to applicants who make investments in the city under qualifying criteria. In his policy address […]

The post Hong Kong expands scope of CIES, weighs single-family office tax breaks appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

At the 2024 Asian Private Banker Summit in Singapore, top leaders from UBP, HSBC, Bank of Singapore, and Apollo Global Management gathered to discuss their business performance this year, the strategies that have proven effective, and what holds promise for the future. UBP reported a notable rise in transactional volumes and a shift toward private markets, while HSBC highlighted the […]

The post APB Summit 2024: HSBC, BoS and UBP on their winning business strategies appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With an estimated US$83.5 trillion in assets to be passed down to the next generation over the next 20 to 25 years, private banks recognise the urgency of capturing the next-gen opportunity, private banking CEOs said at Asian Private Banker’s Hong Kong Summit. However, understanding the wants and needs of next-gen clients, as well as how to cater to them, […]

The post APB Summit 2024: BNP Paribas WM, Julius Baer, UBP on engaging next-gen clients appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Following a wave of high-profile exits disrupting an otherwise tranquil summer, Asia’s pure-play private banks began ramping up hiring efforts in September. Last month, Julius Baer hired Reto Beurer as a team head for Asia Switzerland from Credit Suisse, where he was a senior relationship manager and head of private banking, South Asia Switzerland. In addition, four new hires were […]

The post Movers & Shakers: Pure plays pick prominent professionals appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has made three new hires for its Hong Kong team from HSBC, Deutsche Bank and Bank of Singapore, the firm said on Thursday. Based in Hong Kong, Ivan Tam has been appointed as team head at UBP, while Calvin Poon has been appointed as a relationship manager, the Swiss pure play said in a note. Poon will report to […]

The post UBP hires Greater China bankers for Hong Kong team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has hired a wealth planning specialist in Hong Kong from Bank of Singapore, Asian Private Banker has learnt. Nelson Hon has recently been appointed as managing director, senior wealth planner at UBP in Hong Kong, according to his LinkedIn update. Before that, Hon worked for Bank of Singapore for over three years as a wealth planning specialist. He has […]

The post UBP hires senior wealth planning specialist from Bank of Singapore appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Asian Private Banker is proud to announce the line-up of its inaugural Fund Selection Council, a first-of-its-kind initiative that brings together the leading gatekeepers from the region’s top private banks. The council, which encompasses some of the most senior private bank fund selection executives in Hong Kong and Singapore, includes prominent members from the likes of UBS Global Wealth Management, […]

The post Asian Private Banker unveils first-of-its-kind Fund Selection Council appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The private banking landscape in the Middle East is set to boom, driven by a surge in Asian high net worth individuals (HNWIs) seeking new opportunities, industry leaders in the region told Asian Private Banker. Rajesh Mahadevan, Deutsche Bank’s global head of South Asia and Africa (GSA&A), predicts sustained growth as more Asian HNWIs are drawn to the region, particularly […]

The post UAE set for private banking gold rush on Asian U/HNWI influx appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

When it comes to interest rates, Japan and the US are heading in opposite directions. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) this week delivered a 15 bps rate hike and raised the upper bound of its target rate to 0.25%, in addition to announcing plans for quantitative tightening to gradually reduce its monthly outright purchases of Japanese government bonds. That could […]

The post Japan hikes rates, US set to cut: Here’s what it means for markets appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks and asset managers are questioning whether China can meet its GDP growth target of “around 5%” for 2024, after new data showed a marked deceleration in household spending and a continued downturn in the property market. According to official 2Q24 data released on Monday, annualised GDP grew at 4.7%, down from 5.3% YoY. The result fell far short […]

The post “Not good…”: Private banks and fund managers downbeat on Q2 China data 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 a rise in popularity for alternative investments in recent years, UBP is tapping the private market space with a mixture of specialist in-house expertise and a highly selective approach to third-party manager solutions. “One key factor that truly sets us apart is that we don’t develop products for specific clients or groups of clients. We design products with all […]

The post How UBP brings in-house expertise to private market offerings 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.

The Chinese government’s efforts to stimulate its struggling property market have often been dismissed by private banking analysts as not going far enough. However, the latest batch of measures announced last Friday has been met with much more enthusiasm than previous attempts. Last Friday, the Chinese government unveiled a package including a re-lending programme totalling RMB 300 billion to support […]

The post China’s latest property stimulus package is different – it might just work appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Dubbed “China’s Hawaii” by some for its pleasant tropical and sandy beaches, the resort Island of Hainan is aiming to become a premier wealth management hub, having issued a slew of Qualified Domestic Limited Partnership (QDLP) licences in recent years. However, with heavy regulation and cross-border capital controls, can it take on the likes of rising wealth hubs such as […]

The post Can “China’s Hawaii” become the next big wealth hub? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

It is no secret that the key to success as a private banker in Asia is your network. But increasingly that concept has spread to the digital age, with the region’s top relationship managers, market heads and executives all seeking to expand their influence on social media. That is most evident on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network, which is […]

The post Influencer power list: The private bankers you need to follow on LinkedIn appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Bank of Singapore’s recently-resigned vice-chair for Greater China is joining UBP to lead its business in North Asia, Asian Private Banker has learned. Teresa Lee will join the Swiss pure-play in August as regional head of North Asia and subject to regulatory and board approval, chief executive for Hong Kong, succeeding Ivan Wong, who will retire soon, according to an […]

The post UBP hires BoS Greater China vice-chair for North Asia job appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The head of North Asia at UBP will retire from the bank soon, according to people familiar with the matter. Ivan Wong joined the Swiss pure-play in November 2022 as North Asia head and Hong Kong branch chief executive, replacing former North Asia head Eric Morin, who moved to Singapore to take up the role as head of South Asia […]

The post UBP’s North Asia head to retire from the bank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

In 2023, discretionary portfolio management (DPM) industry conversations were dominated by the topic of how to get clients out of cash and put their money back to work. Meanwhile, much time and energy was spent promoting sustainable investments (SI). Amid all the chatter, have banks managed to increase their Asia DPM penetration? And have more funds really been directed towards […]

The post Asia 2023 DPM and SI League Table: Sustainable investments break US$1 trillion, while DPM penetration stays stuck in the mud appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

2023 was a year that saw an intense war for talent among private banks in Asia Pacific. The merger of UBS and Credit Suisse formed the region’s largest private bank, allowing the banking behemoth’s competitors to woo ex-Credit Suisse bankers left adrift amid the fallout. Now the dust has settled – and taking a close look at the hard data – […]

The post Asia 2023 RM Headcount League Table: PB headcount edges higher amid industry shakeup appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks in Asia-Pacific saw their AUM jump by a total of about US$400 billion in 2023, reversing outflows from the previous year, as competition for the top spots in Asian Private Banker‘s Asia 2023 AUM League Table intensified. However, while some institutions achieved double-digit growth, others grappled with outflows. By the end of December 2023, the Asian private banking […]

The post Asia 2023 AUM League Table: Private banks see US$400bn asset windfall appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banking analysts are rethinking the big shift towards India, as China’s efforts to stabilise Asia’s largest economy are now gaining traction. On Monday, the closely watched Caixin purchasing managers’ index returned to expansion territory in March. The increase to 51.1 marks the fifth straight month of improvement – the best winning streak for Chinese manufacturing in more than two […]

The post Private banks rethink India pivot amid improving China data appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The beauty of working for a pure play is the core focus on wealth management, where the business is not subjected to the aggressive risk culture associated with investment banking nor exposed to the cyclical corporate lending of commercial banking. This is according to Ivan Wong, the regional head for North Asia and chief executive of Hong Kong branch at […]

The post From trading to pure play: UBP’s Ivan Wong shares the beauty of a boutique bank appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) decision to end its negative interest rate policy is unlikely to stop the strong rally in Japanese equities, Bank of Singapore’s (BOS) chief economist has said. The Bank of Japan lifted its deposit rate from -0.10% and set its key interest rate at a range of 0.00% to 0.10%. Other measures included scrapping its yield […]

The post Bank of Singapore: BOJ rate hike unlikely to stop Japan’s equity rally appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

“One should not invest in China.” This view, offered by Sharmin Mossavar-Rahmani, chief investment officer of Goldman Sachs Group’s wealth-management business, is exactly the sort Beijing hoped to dispel at this week’s National People’s Congress. So far, the China sceptics may be feeling more vindicated than the bulls. Granted, Mossavar-Rahmani made her comments to Bloomberg on 4 March, a day […]

The post “One should not invest in China”: But will Two Sessions convince PBs otherwise? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

China has announced an ambitious 5% growth target for 2024, leading to some raised eyebrows among the investor community as the world’s second-biggest economy battles a property crisis, deflation and geopolitics. Private banks such UBS Global Wealth Management (GWM) and UBP believe China will fail to hit this growth target. Premier Li Qiang announced the growth target on Tuesday at […]

The post Why UBS GWM and UBP think China will fall short of 5% growth target appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Fixed income will perform well in 2024 after several years of challenged returns, particularly three-to-five year investment grade credit. Meanwhile, Japan and India equities offer meaningful alternatives to China. This is according to fund selectors attending Asian Private Banker‘s eighth Intensive event, which gathered professionals from Asia’s fund selector community across more than 20 institutions. At the exclusive virtual event, three […]

The post APB Intensive 8.0 – Fund selectors favour fixed income in 2024 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Investors should be ready for a significant and lasting pendulum shift in Asian markets, as clients begin to look beyond China, UBP’s chief strategist has said. “Three to four years ago, the focus for global investors in the region was very China-centric. Over the last year, conversations have broadened to markets such as India, Japan, [and] Latin America. We believe […]

The post CIO Insight: Pendulum has shifted away from China for the long term: UBP appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What is the hottest area of competition between private banks in Asia at Chinese New Year? DPM market penetration? Wallet share? The fastest growing net new money? You guessed it, custom red packets. These ornately-adorned envelopes, known as laisee in Cantonese or hongbao in Mandarin, are presented – often containing money – to friends, family members, colleagues and clients as […]

The post Poll: Which private bank has the best red packets in the year of the dragon? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP is launching a new hedge fund solution for clients of Hong Kong-based Blackhorn Wealth Management (Blackhorn) as the Swiss boutique private bank sees promising opportunities in alternatives this year. “The new partnership with Blackhorn will be our first-ever distribution deal with an external asset manager in the city, and we will monitor clients’ sentiment closely before planning new strategies,” […]

The post UBP partners with rising Hong Kong IAM to launch hedge fund solution appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Private banks and asset managers have been adding on-the-ground teams onshore in China in recent years with Asia’s largest economy simply too big to ignore for many. However, China is proving a tough nut to crack for global firms as progress remains limited and restricted to piecemeal and select schemes. Moreover, areas in which China has opened its wealth market […]

The post Deep Dive: Is onshore China more trouble than it’s worth? 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.

Asian Private Banker is proud to present its inaugural Women in Wealth Management report. In this report, we sought to identify, analyse and celebrate companies that are paving the way when it comes to supporting the valuable and unique role that women play in the regional industry. For the first time, industry practitioners have access to granular details on the […]

The post Women in Wealth Management: Three key takeaways appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

For many non-Chinese private banks and wealth managers like UBP, the first foray into the Chinese wealth market is to target local wealthy family office clients. Wang Chao, head of wealth management (China), UBP, shared with Asian Private Banker how the Swiss pure play private bank has been forging its path in Asia’s largest economy by catering to family office […]

The post Family offices are the first step to tap onshore Chinese wealth: UBP appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Since Eric Morin took over as head of Southeast Asia, UBP has significantly expanded its team of relationship managers, rapidly increasing its headcount for Southeast Asia as part of its ambitious strategy to capitalise on wealth opportunities in key markets like Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand. The RM team in Singapore has grown “by over 50% since the beginning of […]

The post UBP doubles down on RMs to capture Southeast Asia wealth boom appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

As the rout in Chinese assets puts Asia’s largest economy in the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Beijing is mulling a familiar strategy: rolling out a giant stock-buying fund to support markets. Yet it might not work this time as the financial cracks undermining shares deepen. Private bankers are on the frontlines of China’s economic downshift. As 2023 began […]

The post Why a Chinese stock bailout fund might not work this time appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The highest US Treasury bond yields in sixteen years are the latest reminder that all private bank strategists thought they knew about 2023 continues to go awry. The spike in 30-year rates toward 5% is one of many borrowing-cost-related data points putting Asia’s portfolios at risk. In Germany, for example, 10-year yields are the highest since 2011, a crisis period […]

The post Rising US yields upend private bankers’ best laid 2023 plans appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

With foreign investors’ aversion to China now a defining market narrative of 2023, private banks confront a daunting question: Is Asia’s biggest economy the next financial crisis hotspot or a buying opportunity? Global investors are pulling out of China at a record pace. From a December 2021 peak, foreign holdings of equities and debt plunged by nearly US$190 billion, or […]

The post The US$190bn question for private banks: Is China cheap enough to buy? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Chinese property is under spotlight with investors becoming nervous of the troubles at Country Garden, China’s largest private property developer. With the ongoing liquidity problems, uncertainties and inefficiency of central policy, in addition to the slower-than-expected post-Covid economic recovery, APB brings you the best of our coverage of the ongoing China property crisis. 1. Time to rebalance your portfolio CIO […]

The post Five things you need to know about the China property crisis appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Swiss pure-play UBP is looking to launch a private market discretionary portfolio mandate in response to growing client interest. “Private market is an area that has seen a lot of interest over the last couple of years,” Paras Gupta, head of investment services, Southeast Asia, who oversees discretionary portfolio management (DPM), told Asian Private Banker. Over the past two years, […]

The post DPM Corner: UBP to launch first private market discretionary mandate appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP remains cautious on Chinese property names as the country’s slower-than-expected GDP and recent slump in contracted sales put pressure on bond prices, Anitza Nip, head of fixed income research Asia at UBP, told Asian Private Banker. “And over the last three months, we have also seen a few more property developers having liquidity issues and failing to make payments […]

The post UBP favours quality credits in face of China property crisis appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has named a new head of equity advisory, North Asia, the Swiss bank said in an announcement on Thursday. Linda Lam, based in Hong Kong, will take on the role and will report to Andy Lee, head of investment services, North Asia. Prior to joining UBP, Lam was an equity specialist at HSBC Global Private Banking Hong Kong, with […]

The post UBP names head of equity advisory North Asia appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Japan remains an enigma in the private banking space. The world’s third-largest economy, yet few international banks or wealth managers have significant footholds there. With China’s reopening proving a disappointment, many eyes turned to Japan as an alternative way to capture the Asian growth story. This – along with improving corporate governance and attractive valuations – has injected momentum into […]

The post Japan: The next frontier for Asia’s private banks appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has made three senior appointments to its investment services team in Asia, the Swiss pure play said on Monday. Andy Lee has taken on the role as head of investment services, North Asia, in Hong Kong. He will be responsible for driving investment service offerings in North Asia while leading a team of around 20 people. He will report […]

The post UBP makes three senior hires for Asia investment services team appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

A senior executive has left EFG Bank and joined a regional independent asset manager, Asian Private Banker can reveal. Rohit Punjabi, who was most recently executive director, global South Asia at EFG Bank, has joined Centrum International Services (Centrum) as managing partner. EFG Bank has confirmed his departure. Centrum is a wealth manager for HNW and UHNW clients in SEA and […]

The post EFG global South Asia executive joins regional IAM appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Much of what Asian wealth managers thought they knew about the globe’s two largest economies in 2023 is steadily going awry. The US economy’s pivot toward recession has yet to materialize. And, more importantly for the region, China’s much-hyped post-COVID boom is looking more like a series of pops. “China’s recent economic data show an uneven economic recovery,” Jasmine Duan, […]

The post China’s muted COVID rebound a disappointment for private bankers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Leading private banks shared their views on why discretionary portfolio management (DPM) still holds its value, despite challenging market conditions throughout 2022 and 2023, at Asian Private Banker‘s DPM Leaders Conversation 2023 in Hong Kong. Juicy deposits won’t last forever Over the past year, one of the significant challenges for product managers was the shift in client attention to cash […]

The post DPMLC Hong Kong: Private banks still value DPM in the long run appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Following UBP’s recent appointment of Andrew Chin as North Asia team head, the bank has added another four relationship managers (RMs) in Hong Kong to drive regional coverage. Since January, UBP has named Cindy Tam, Yvonne Yan, Carolina Lam, and Leo Chow as relationship and senior relationship managers. The new RMs have diverse backgrounds, with Tam joining from Julius Baer, […]

The post UBP nabs four RMs from rivals including Credit Suisse, Julius Baer appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has made organisational structure changes to its investment services team in Asia following a senior departure, according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker.  Edouard Hoepffner, senior managing director, Asia head of investment services at UBP, will be stepping down to pursue opportunities outside the bank. Hoepffner joined UBP in 2016 following the acquisition of Coutts’ international […]

The post UBP shuffles Asia investment services team after key departure appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

During a Mandarin-language interview with Asian Private Banker, Carlos Casanova, senior economist for Asia at UBP, shared his views on China GDP’s forecast, as well as the investment risks and opportunities in ASEAN markets. Coming from the West but having spent several years in China, Casanova also shared his thoughts on studying the country’s economy compared to that of the […]

The post The China rebound story: UBP’s Carlos Casanova appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Events at the Bank of Japan (BOJ) headquarters in Tokyo are rapidly climbing the charts of  uncertainties facing private bankers. It has been at least 16 years since Asia’s wealth managers worried about BOJ “tapering” or even outright tightening. The arrival of a new governor in April, Kazuo Ueda, has markets betting that zero Japanese borrowing costs could disappear as […]

The post How Bank of Japan “game changer” could disrupt 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Decades ago private bankers could survive with a limited investment skill set and a good network, but today they have to master several layers of expertise on top of relationship management skills, Guy de Picciotto has observed. Starting with investment knowledge, bankers also need tax and estate planning, and now sustainability expertise, de Picciotto, who has been UBP CEO since […]

The post UBP CEO: The skills private bankers need to survive in 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Clients are asking wealth managers more questions about relocation and residency planning following the pandemic, wealth managers at UBP told Asian Private Banker. UBP’s Asia business has a focus on serving UHNWIs and family offices in its offshore hubs of Hong Kong and Singapore. According to Fan Choi, UBP’s head of wealth planning, North Asia, based in Hong Kong, the long […]

The post Clients asking wealth managers how to relocate in wake of pandemic: UBP appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Inflation captured everyone’s attention in 2022, but UBP believes this risk will recede this year, Norman Villamin, Chief Investment Officer Wealth Management, of UBP, said in a webinar for the media on Thursday (January 12). “That’s going to be replaced by concerns about economic growth [pressure] and recession that we expect in both the US and Europe, as well as […]

The post UBP sees economic recession as major concern 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.

Nomura International Wealth Management (Nomura IWM) is set to become the latest private bank to expand into the Middle East. The bank said on Tuesday (December 13) that its Singapore unit would open a branch at the Dubai International Financial Centre in the United Arab Emirates. It will commence operations when it receives the licence for a wealth management relationship […]

The post Nomura expands wealth business to Dubai appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

If private bankers were hoping for a tamer, more opportunity-rich 2023 in Greater China, two recent events suggest it could be time to think again. One is the worst social unrest seen in China in decades, fuelled by more than two years of lockdowns as part of the country’s relentless “zero-COVID” approach to handling the pandemic. Clashes with police in […]

The post Will China rebound in 2023? Not so fast, say private bankers appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

What impact have the unprecedented global social, political and fiscal challenges had on your bank this year? What are your key growth markets in terms of net new money? What will your focus be in 2023? The heads of five private banks addressed these and other questions at the Asian Private Banker Summit 2022 in Singapore on 1 December. Kiatnakin Phatra Securities Narit […]

The post Five private banking heads look back at 2022 and forward to 2023 appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The 12th annual APB Summit returns to its in-person format in Singapore on 1 December. In this year’s iteration of Asian Private Banker’s flagship event, our carefully selected speakers will look back at the seismic events that have jolted the industry over the past year, as well as identify the potential opportunities, and challenges, that 2023 may bring. The market […]

The post What to expect from the 12th annual APB Summit in Singapore appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

UBP has made leadership changes in Hong Kong and Singapore, including the appointment of a former HSBC Global Private Banking (HSBC GPB) executive as its North Asia head, according to an internal memo seen by Asian Private Banker.  After 12 years with UBP, Ranjit Khanna, head of South Asia and Singapore branch chief executive, will step down from the role. […]

The post UBP appoints former HSBC banker as North Asia head in leadership reshuffle appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

AUM of more than US$10 billion means the Middle East is now a core part of the UBP group, according to Mohamed Abdellatif, who oversees its business there. “The management of this wealth is split between Geneva and Dubai, so it is a business of significant scale, especially as we have built on the success of our private banking services […]

The post Middle East now a core part of UBP’s business: CEO Mohamed Abdellatif appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Traditional balanced portfolios have underperformed so far in 2022. In that light, the top of UBP’s agenda is rebalancing and substantially de-risking clients’ portfolios, and increasing allocation into alternatives. “For us, alternative investments have always been part of our DNA, and these strategies are not new. We have a really well-established team covering both hedge funds and private markets, and […]

The post Premium Pickers – How UBP pushes alternatives to the forefront: Edouard Hoepffner appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

The Communist Party of China (CCP) Congress, which began this weekend in Beijing, is expected to install Xi Jinping as leader of Asia’s biggest economy for a third successive five-year term. But for private bankers, what Xi and his government do over a much shorter term is far more important. Priorities include the future of China’s zero-COVID policy and what […]

The post For private bankers, all eyes are on Beijing’s next move appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

This week: China to wait until after party congress to announce new economic policies: Deutsche Bank IPB; Developed countries to face recession risks: UBP; Position for reopening in China: Lombard Odier  China to wait until after Congress to announce new economic policies: Deutsche Bank IPB Deutsche Bank International Private Bank (Deutsche Bank IPB) does not expect any new announcements during […]

The post CIO Weekly – Don’t hold your breath for new measures from CCP’s National Congress: Deutsche Bank IPB appeared first on Asian Private Banker.

Recent events have made for quite a split screen for Hong Kong. One was that the city was finally scrapping its tough COVID-19 hotel quarantine rules. The other was research showing that Singapore had overtaken Hong Kong as Asia’s top financial centre. Ending lengthy hotel isolation policies for inbound travels has been a point of contention for banks remaining committed […]

The post Hong Kong ends hotel quarantine. What next for the Asian wealth hub? 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.

Global markets this year have been rocked by decades-high inflation, rising interest rates and a plethora of geopolitical challenges ranging from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine to fresh tensions between Washington and Beijing. What is an asset allocator to do? Against a backdrop of plunging equity and bond markets, Asian Private Banker looks at some of the key allocation trends for […]

The post War, inflation and rising interest rates: What does Q4 hold for private banks? appeared first on Asian Private Banker.