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Helping boost Hong Kong are a pegged exchange rate, free capital flows and support from China’s economic strength. Photo: Jelly Tse
Banking & finance

Hong Kong reasserts role as safe haven in global finance amid Iran conflict

The city’s safe-harbour appeal for capital and investments grows as China’s support strengthens its edge while Dubai faces pressure.

Banking & finance

Cash holdings rise amid war, but Asia remains key for wealthy: Schroders CEO

China’s private sector

Chinese drug makers take on Western dominance in US$16 billion Parkinson’s race

China’s private sector

China’s drug makers are speeding up – will AI be their secret weapon?

Chinese biotech firms are striking big global deals as drug makers, but could artificial intelligence take them to the next level?

Illustration by Henry Wong
Illustration by Henry Wong
Banking & finance

HKEX proposes halving settlement cycle to boost Hong Kong’s financial profile

Bourse operator launches a consultation on shortening the share settlement cycle to one day, aiming to implement the reform in late 2027.

Business of climate change

Asia-Pacific firms face credit pressure from Iran war energy shock, S&P says

Higher energy prices ratchet up pressure on manufacturing businesses to maintain their profit margins amid rising raw material costs.

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Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s lithium giant Ganfeng sees profit jump as EV, ESS battery demand soars

The world’s top lithium producer forecasts a strong turnaround as global decarbonisation and AI-driven energy storage fuel demand.

Ganfeng Lithium has forecast an estimated profit of up to 2.1 billion yuan in the three months to March. Photo: Shutterstock
Ganfeng Lithium has forecast an estimated profit of up to 2.1 billion yuan in the three months to March. Photo: Shutterstock
Electric & new energy vehicles

China’s EV battery giant CATL to set up mining arm to secure supply chain

Global energy shock accelerates CATL’s upstream push as demand for EV batteries and storage systems surges.

Banking & finance

Global funds fuel Hong Kong IPO rebound as investors rebalance China portfolios

AI, robotics and energy storage firms make up most of the record-high IPO pipeline in Hong Kong, says Chan.

Fintech

How PayMe’s 3.3 million users and Hong Kong firms could start using stablecoins

HSBC eyes retail stablecoin roll-out via PayMe in second half of 2026, as Standard Chartered-led joint venture focuses on institutions first.

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HSBC is looking to introduce stablecoins by integrating them into its popular PayMe app. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Electric & new energy vehicles

Shanghai Gigafactory has potential to build humanoid robots: Tesla China head

Shanghai Gigafactory could be a ‘golden key’ to advancing Elon Musk’s hopes of commercialising the technology swiftly, Tesla China head says.

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A Tesla robot on display at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Tesla has said it is transforming itself into a physical AI firm. Photo: AFP
A Tesla robot on display at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai. Tesla has said it is transforming itself into a physical AI firm. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

HSBC stays the course in the Middle East despite war

The bank will continue to invest in the UAE, alongside India, China and Singapore, says Surendra Rosha, co-CEO for Asia and the Middle East.

China’s private sector

China’s tea-drink shops thirst for profits as price wars dry up prospects

‘I am learning a hard lesson of how involution can destroy my business,’ a Shanghai shop operator says.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Hyundai spearheads foreign EV comeback push in China with Ioniq brand

South Korean carmaker bets on local partnerships and technology as global brands prepare fresh push into China’s fast-moving EV market.

The new cars will be “shaped specifically for the Chinese market, integrating local technologies and partnerships”, according to Hyundai. Photo: Handout
Banking & finance

Calls grow for HKMA to go further on stablecoins after conservative first batch

Analysts and investors say the HKMA’s cautious approach prioritises risk control, but limits Hong Kong’s digital asset ambitions.

Analysts say the HKMA has prioritised risk management , even as it seeks to promote financial innovation through stablecoins. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Analysts say the HKMA has prioritised risk management , even as it seeks to promote financial innovation through stablecoins. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Fintech

HSBC, StanChart-led group among first to get stablecoin licences in Hong Kong

HSBC will launch its Hong Kong dollar stablecoin in the second half of this year, integrating it into its PayMe and mobile banking platforms.

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Banking & finance

China healthcare stocks shine in Hong Kong amid Middle East turmoil

Hang Seng Healthcare Index outpaces broader market as Akeso, Innovent, Hansoh provide refuge for global investors.

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Banking & finance

OKX Ventures, HashKey Capital back Vietnam crypto platform’s pilot scheme bid

Under pilot rules, at least 65 per cent of capital must come from institutional investors and foreign ownership is capped at 49 per cent.

This photo taken on February 12, 2026 shows a Vietnamese cryptocurrency investor looking at the latest bitcoin values on a smartphone in Hanoi. Photo: AFP
This photo taken on February 12, 2026 shows a Vietnamese cryptocurrency investor looking at the latest bitcoin values on a smartphone in Hanoi. Photo: AFP
Electric & new energy vehicles

China amps up battery buildout to ‘10 times US 2025 capacity’

China’s battery expansion plans highlight a widening gap with the US, as renewable energy demand fuels rapid growth in storage systems.

Banking & finance

Mainland China and Hong Kong IPOs drive Citic to the top of banking fee rankings

Citic leads Asia-Pacific in fees in the first quarter as IPOs in Hong Kong and mainland China offset weaker debt and M&A activity.

Banking & finance

Yiwu market owner eyes Hong Kong IPO to support overseas expansion

Hong Kong listing plan comes after the company reported net profit of 4.2 billion yuan for 2025, up 36.8 per cent from a year earlier.

A shop owner holds a toy depicting US President Donald Trump at the Yiwu International Trade Market in Yiwu, Zhejiang province on April 10, 2025. Photo: AFP
Banking & finance

Everest’s US$250 million buy signals rising global appetite for China biotech

Sovereign wealth funds from Singapore and Abu Dhabi join Chinese state capital as cross-border biotech licensing reaches record highs.

Cross-border out-licensing by Chinese drugmakers has reached a record US$60 billion in the first three months of the year. Photo: Shutterstock
Cross-border out-licensing by Chinese drugmakers has reached a record US$60 billion in the first three months of the year. Photo: Shutterstock
Banking & finance

More global firms eye Hong Kong for cheaper yuan loans, bonds: StanChart

The HKMA yuan facility charges an interest rate equal to the Shanghai interbank rate, which is 200 basis points lower than the US fed rate.

Electric & new energy vehicles

Chinese carmakers bet on solid-state batteries to drive next EV phase

Carmakers push next-generation battery tech as they chase longer range and improved safety, despite high costs.

Banking & finance

Stricter Chinese scrutiny of offshore vehicles a blow for tech IPO candidates

Mainland’s stock market watchdog is discouraging establishment of ‘red-chip-structured’ companies in sensitive industries.

Many Chinese biotech and tech firms favour red-chip structures. Photo: Shutterstock
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