October 6, 2026 @ 10:51 am By Michael Wong  |  

Stablecoins could put significant pressure on traditional payment companies as their use expands, with financial markets suggesting that the passage of new U.S. rules for digital assets could reduce the value of incumbent payment firms by about $300 billion, an IMF study said. The study,… Read More

October 5, 2026 @ 7:25 am By Michael Wong  |  

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) is considering a commitment of up to €25 million to a new private equity fund targeting lower mid-market companies in Turkey, as the country’s private equity industry seeks to recover from a prolonged downturn in investment. The proposed investment in… Read More

October 5, 2026 @ 6:23 am By Michael Wong  |  

Kenanga Research said the artificial intelligence investment cycle is entering a second phase in 2026, with demand broadening beyond graphics processing units (GPUs) to inference, AI agents, and commercial applications. The demand, it added, creates opportunities across optical connectivity, power, advanced packaging and semiconductor equipment, the… Read More

October 5, 2026 @ 3:27 am By Michael Wong  |  

Hong Kong-listed Web3 Meta Limited reported an 80% increase in annual revenue as it expanded its digitalization platform and cultural industry business, although higher operating expenses pushed its net loss wider. Revenue for the year ended June 30, 2026 rose to HK$80.1 million from HK$44.5… Read More

October 4, 2026 @ 10:14 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) will make changes to its senior management team from Nov. 1, including appointing new leaders for corporate development, financial crime policy, and the development of Singapore as an international financial centre. Jacqueline Loh, currently deputy managing director for corporate… Read More

October 4, 2026 @ 9:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Georgia Banking Company, an Atlanta-based bank holding company, filed with U.S. regulators to list its shares directly on the Nasdaq Capital Market, according to a registration statement filed on Friday. The company said existing shareholders are seeking to register the resale of up to 7.04… Read More

October 4, 2026 @ 12:18 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Menos AI, an artificial intelligence platform for institutional investors, has raised $5.1 million in a pre-Series A funding round led by returning investor Copper Sky Capital, with participation from Alpha Square Group. The startup said the fresh funding brings its total funding to more than… Read More

October 4, 2026 @ 5:58 am By Michael Wong  |  

FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, will provide a $10 million equivalent loan in Vietnamese dong to Vietnam-based microfinance institution Tinh Thuong One Member Limited Liability Microfinance Institution (TYM), according to project information seen by CrowdFund Insider. The loan will support lending to rural micro-entrepreneurs,… Read More

October 1, 2026 @ 8:30 am By Michael Wong  |  

Asia Pacific businesses are demanding faster cross-border payments as a wider range of payment providers and methods reshapes the international payments market, according to new research from Nium and financial research firm Celent. The study found that 73% of businesses in the region want international… Read More

September 30, 2026 @ 1:26 am By Michael Wong  |  

Singapore’s financial institutions should plan for their workforce alongside artificial intelligence adoption as AI changes jobs across the sector, Deputy Prime Minister and Monetary Authority of Singapore Chairman Gan Kim Yong said. Speaking at the Institute of Banking and Finance Distinction Evening on Sept. 24,… Read More

September 29, 2026 @ 8:56 am By Michael Wong  |  

Banking software provider Oradian says banks need to overhaul their core technology infrastructure to move generative artificial intelligence from experimentation to production, as most enterprise AI pilots fail to generate measurable returns. Oradian, citing data from MIT’s Project NANDA 2025 report, said 95% of enterprise… Read More

September 29, 2026 @ 12:07 am By Michael Wong  |  

International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-sector investment arm of the World Bank Group, is set to provide an unfunded risk participation facility of up to $200 million to Visa, according project documents seen by CrowdFund Insider. The facility will cover settlement risk exposure on a… Read More

September 28, 2026 @ 3:17 am By Michael Wong  |  

Global financial stability risks have increased as higher sovereign borrowing needs, an investment-intensive artificial intelligence cycle and geopolitical tensions push up the cost of capital, the Monetary Authority of Singapore said in its latest financial stability review. Long-term nominal and real sovereign yields have risen… Read More

September 28, 2026 @ 2:20 am By Michael Wong  |  

Private equity major Warburg Pincus is hard‑wiring artificial intelligence into every stage of its investment process, treating AI as a mandatory lens for both new deals and portfolio value creation. Senior managing director Vishal Mahadevia, speaking at DealStreetAsia’s Asia PE-VC Summit in Singapore, said the… Read More

September 28, 2026 @ 12:14 am By Michael Wong  |  

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has set a minimum capital requirement of ₱1 billion (about $16 million) for thrift, rural and cooperative banks that shift to business models similar to digital banks, as the central bank moves to strengthen safeguards around digital transformation in… Read More

September 27, 2026 @ 7:05 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Artificial intelligence is changing how private equity and venture capital firms assess investments and monitor portfolios, but human judgment, proprietary relationships, and data remain critical to investment decisions, investors said at the Asia PE-VC Summit in Singapore. AI is increasingly being used to speed up… Read More

September 27, 2026 @ 12:34 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Private equity firms operating in Asia are increasingly deploying artificial intelligence (AI) to boost portfolio company earnings and secure exits, executives said on Tuesday, as the region’s deal-exit environment splits sharply between favored and lagging sectors. Speaking at DealStreetAsia’s Asia PE-VC Summit in Singapore, senior… Read More

September 27, 2026 @ 10:24 am By Michael Wong  |  

Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) has raised $500 million through a five-year Sukuk, attracting orders worth $1.3 billion as investors showed strong demand for the Islamic bond, the United Arab Emirates-based lender said. The order book was 2.6 times the size of the offering, allowing the… Read More

September 26, 2026 @ 3:42 pm By Michael Wong  |  

Asia-Pacific’s economic growth is expected to remain resilient as an artificial intelligence-driven technology export boom supports the region, although weak domestic demand in China, elevated energy prices, and tighter U.S. monetary policy pose risks, S&P Global Ratings said. S&P raised its baseline 2026 growth forecast… Read More

September 26, 2026 @ 12:39 pm By Michael Wong  |  

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and Bank Indonesia (BI) have signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation on QR code-based cross-border payments between Hong Kong and Indonesia, as both sides seek to make transactions faster and more affordable. The MoU aims to establish… Read More