Hong Kong regulator pushes for fee transparency
Fund distributors in Hong Kong will have to disclose any monetary benefits they receive prior to, or at the point, of sale, under new proposals from the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC).
Asia
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Fiscal policy could drive Asian equities in 2017 – BlackRock’s Swan
A transition from monetary to fiscal policy, progress on reforms in the region and low valuations make Asian equities attractive in 2017, said Andrew Swan, head of Asian equities at Blackrock in Hong Kong.
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Australia unveils standards bill on degree-qualified advisers
Australia has introduced a new professional standards legislation that will require financial advisers to be degree-qualified.
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Bank of Singapore to open financial advice unit in Dubai
A subsidiary of one of Singapore’s largest banks, OCBC Bank, has confirmed it will offer financial advice to wealthy individuals in the Middle East when it opens a new office in Dubai next year.
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Mirae launches first-sharia compliant fund
Mirae Asset Global Investments has launched a sharia-compliant version of its flagship Mirae Asia Sector Leader Equity fund.
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Asia a key market for UK insurance sector growth, says ABI
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) has identified eight countries as priority markets for the expansion of the UK’s insurance and long-term savings markets, all of which are located in Asia.
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China meltdown `very unlikely’: Lombard Odier
China’s debt-to-GDP increased to 250% in the first quarter this year from 154% in 2008. But Lombard Odier believes the picture is not as bad as it seems.
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AIG agrees to sell Japanese life insurance unit to FWD
American International Group (AIG) has agreed to sell its Japanese life insurance business to one of Asia’s most prominent insurers FWD Group for an undisclosed sum.
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Regular premium sales up nearly 20% in Asia, reports Prudential
Prudential reported a 19% increase in new business profit for the first nine months of the year, driven mainly by a strong performance at its Asian life business.
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Sanlam increases stakes in two Indian insurance companies
South African financial services group, Sanlam has acquired bigger stakes in two Indian insurance companies, following recent regulatory changes that allow up to 49% foreign shareholding in insurance companies in the country.
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Cost of life policies in Taiwan expected to spiral by 20%
The cost of life insurance policies is expected to rise by as much as 20% next year as the Financial Supervisory Commission (FSC) tightens reserve requirements.
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What China’s debt pile and ’80s England have in common
There are a number of parallels to be drawn between the current debt overhang in China and 1980s Britain, particularly in the northeast, says Matthews Asia chief investment officer, Robert Horrocks.