Why a hawkish US Fed won’t derail Hong Kong’s property recovery

South China Morning Post - Sep 21, 2026

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority, the city’s de facto central bank, probably anticipated the rise in US interest rates last week. However, it is unlikely it foresaw the extent to which the Federal Reserve shifted in a hawkish direction. Even Fed watchers were surprised by the unanimous vote to increase borrowing costs and the unambiguous signal that the central bank plans to raise interest rates further in the coming months. While the HKMA, which moves in lockstep with the Fed to safeguard the...

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Once the world’s most-visited city, Hong Kong now converts hotels into student dorms

Sep 21, 2026

Once the world’s most-visited city, Hong Kong now converts hotels into student dorms

Late last month, an open tender for Hotel Cozi Harbour View in Kwun Tong was announced, with interested parties given until October 15 to submit bids. The 598-room hotel, located in Hong Kong’s eastern Kowloon Peninsula, a former industrial area, was taken over by Nanyang Commercial Bank for HK$1.87 billion (US$238.4 million) in 2025, with the bank now looking to dispose of the asset to the highest bidder. Just a week after the announcement of the tender, Nina Hospitality, one of the largest...

4 mainland Chinese firms jump into cooling Hong Kong IPO market

Sep 21, 2026

4 mainland Chinese firms jump into cooling Hong Kong IPO market

Four Chinese companies launched initial public offerings (IPOs) in Hong Kong on Monday, aiming to raise as much as HK$14 billion (US$1.8 billion) in total, with strong backing from cornerstone investors countering apparent weakness in the market so far this month. Automated equipment manufacturer RoboTechnik has the biggest target, planning to raise as much as HK$5.18 billion. The new entrants are braving a market that shows signs of slowing. After a blistering year so far – Hong Kong listings...

Geopolitical risks see institutional investors rush to stockpile cash, survey finds

Sep 21, 2026

Geopolitical risks see institutional investors rush to stockpile cash, survey finds

Global institutional investors and wealth managers are stockpiling cash at the fastest pace on record while quietly retreating from US and UK equities as persistent inflation and mounting geopolitical risks dominate portfolio decisions, according to a report by Marsh Investments. The institutional investment consultancy polled 430 asset owners managing a combined US$5.76 trillion and found that 37.8 per cent planned to increase cash allocations over the next 12 months, up from just 9 per cent in...

Think tank to gov’t: Protect middle class to prop up growth

Sep 21, 2026

Think tank to gov’t: Protect middle class to prop up growth

MANILA, Philippines — The government should protect middle-class purchasing power through targeted aid to prevent weaker household consumption from becoming a bigger drag on economic growth, the Asian Development Bank Institute (ADBI) said. ADBI dean and CEO Bambang Brodjonegoro said the government should direct its efforts toward the middle class because it accounts for the

China’s collection of stock stamp duty jumps more than 80% as AI frenzy boosts trading

Sep 21, 2026

China’s collection of stock stamp duty jumps more than 80% as AI frenzy boosts trading

China’s revenue from stamp duty on stock sales jumped more than 80 per cent in the first eight months this year as improved sentiment bolstered trading activities. China collected 216 billion yuan (US$32.3 billion) from the tax between January and August, up 82 per cent year on year, data released by the Ministry of Finance showed. Average daily trading values on mainland China’s stock markets rose 72 per cent in the first eight months of the year as the artificial intelligence boom bolstered...

PH ships first commercial batch of Carabao mangoes to Canada

Sep 21, 2026

PH ships first commercial batch of Carabao mangoes to Canada

The Philippines made its first commercial shipment of Carabao mangoes to Canada as the government seeks to expand market access for the country"s agricultural products, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

InstaPay, PESONet transfers soar to P22 trillion as fees fall

Sep 21, 2026

InstaPay, PESONet transfers soar to P22 trillion as fees fall

MANILA, Philippines — Filipinos moved more than P22 trillion in funds through the InstaPay and PESONet systems from January to August, underscoring the rapid adoption of digital payments after regulators had pushed for lower transaction fees. Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed that the combined value of transactions coursed through the two automated

PH, Canada hit breakthrough on free trade agreement

Sep 21, 2026

PH, Canada hit breakthrough on free trade agreement

MANILA, Philippines — Manila and Ottawa have resolved major roadblocks to a landmark free trade agreement (FTA) during the fourth round of negotiations earlier this month, putting the deal on track for conclusion before year-end. That leaves both parties with only “very few remaining issues” to resolve in the coming months through smaller meetings and online

BOP deficit narrowed in August despite Middle East woes

Sep 21, 2026

BOP deficit narrowed in August despite Middle East woes

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines’ dollar deficit narrowed in August despite continued volatility tied to the Middle East conflict, as resilient inflows from key sources like remittances may have helped offset the outflows. The country’s balance of payments (BOP), a broad measure of money flowing into and out of the economy, registered a deficit of $596

Stop adding AI, start redesigning your business

Sep 21, 2026

Stop adding AI, start redesigning your business

MANILA, Philippines — Artificial intelligence (AI) is moving so quickly that many CEOs are asking the wrong question. They ask: “Which AI tools should my people use? The better question is: “If we were building this company today, with AI available from Day One, how would we design it differently?” That is the difference between an

Making the RCEP work for the Philippines

Sep 21, 2026

Making the RCEP work for the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines — This article draws on my presentation at the 1st Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Business and Investment Summit, organized by the East Asia Business Council and the Management Association of the Philippines and held in Metro Manila on Sept. 9, 2026. Somewhere in East Asia, a buyer is choosing a supplier and

As Chinese consumption of gold jewellery slumps 34%, sellers look to markets abroad: WGC

Sep 21, 2026

As Chinese consumption of gold jewellery slumps 34%, sellers look to markets abroad: WGC

Chinese gold jewellers are seeking opportunities in the Middle East and India, leveraging their advanced crafting technologies as the industry struggles amid the precious metal’s price volatility, according to an international association for the sector. At the most recent Jewellery & Gem World Hong Kong fair, buyers from the two regions accounted for most visitors, said Wang Lixin, China CEO of the World Gold Council, in a recent interview with the South China Morning Post. The interest was...

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