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Yoong had been one of the named leaders on UBS Global Wealth Management’s Indonesia market structure unveiled after the Credit Suisse integration. In that 2023 reorganisation, Conrad Huber was appointed head of Global Wealth Management Indonesia and Japan International, with Lionel Yoong listed among the Indonesia market team leaders. That structure reflected how central the Indonesia book had become to UBS’s Southeast Asia wealth ambitions, particularly from Singapore, a long-established hub for serving affluent Indonesian clients offshore.

The latest exit follows earlier turnover in the same coverage area. Industry publication Hubbis reported in July 2025 that two Singapore-based bankers focused on Indonesia, Lionel Poh and Edy Panggabean, were set to leave UBS Global Wealth Management, describing the departures as part of ongoing restructuring within the Indonesian market team. That report said UBS declined to comment at the time and noted that both bankers specialised in the Indonesia market, underscoring how staff churn has persisted well after the initial merger phase.

Additional reporting circulating on Friday indicated that Yoong was the third market head for Indonesia to leave UBS since the beginning of last year. While Bloomberg’s full report was not accessible through the browsing tool, that detail appeared consistently in syndicated summaries of the story, aligning with the pattern already visible from prior trade reporting on the unit. The broad direction is clear even if some specifics around internal timing remain private: UBS is still contending with personnel changes in a business line that sits at the intersection of Southeast Asian entrepreneurial wealth and Singapore’s offshore private banking market.

That matters because Indonesia has long been one of the more attractive yet more delicate pools of wealth in the region. Reuters Breakingviews wrote in 2023 that Credit Suisse had been particularly strong in Indonesia and neighbouring countries before the rescue takeover by UBS. Reuters also reported that Southeast Asia was among the regions where UBS and Credit Suisse had some of their greatest overlaps in wealth management and investment banking after the emergency deal in March 2023. Those overlaps made departures and selective restructuring all but inevitable as UBS sought to fold rival teams, cut duplication and keep high-value client relationships intact.

UBS’s challenge is not simply to stop people leaving. It is to do so while preserving momentum in an Asian wealth market that remains strategically important to the group. Chief executive Sergio Ermotti said in March 2024 that UBS planned to increase assets sourced from clients in Asia by 20% over five to six years, highlighting wealth and asset management as a core pillar of growth. That ambition helps explain why departures from specialised country teams are watched closely by rivals and recruiters: in private banking, senior relationship managers often carry client loyalty, local networks and revenue visibility that are not easily replaced.

At the same time, UBS has signalled that it is willing to invest where it sees stronger near-term return. Bloomberg reported in February that the bank planned to hire about 50 bankers for its Hong Kong wealth business after record revenue in North Asia, with a greater focus on high-net-worth clients. That hiring drive suggests the group is not retreating from Asian wealth management as a whole. Rather, it appears to be recalibrating where resources are deployed, even as parts of Southeast Asia continue to absorb the after-effects of the Credit Suisse acquisition.

There is also a broader industry angle. Asian Private Banker wrote this month that the region’s private banking sector saw a spike in exits over the past month as hiring slowed in March, a reminder that movement among senior bankers is not confined to UBS. Still, turnover draws sharper scrutiny when it affects a market as valuable as Indonesia, where wealthy entrepreneurial families often require cross-border booking, succession planning and sophisticated capital-markets access. Singapore remains a key booking centre for that business, so departures there can reverberate beyond one desk or one reporting line.

1. Constituent Review – ixCrypto Index Series

1. 1. ixCrypto Index (“IXCI”)
The number of constituents will remain at 19 with no additions and deletions.

Additions:
No addition

Deletions:
No deletion

The free float adjusted market capitalization coverage is 84.26%* (excluding stablecoins, which represents 10.90% of the total crypto universe), while the 90-day-average volume is 77.36%*. The recapping at 40% will take effect on the effective date.

Since the last review, there has been a decrease in the crypto total market capitalization from USD3.38T to USD2.62T (-22.53%)^#, and a decrease in the daily volume from USD157.69B to USD108.17B (-31.40%)^#. Bitcoin remains the largest crypto in the constituent list, with its price decreased by 24.58% since the last review.

1.2. ixCrypto Portfolio Indexes

1.2.1 ixCrypto 5 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW5”) and ixCrypto 5 Square Root Index (“IXSR5”)

Additions:
No addition

Deletions:
No deletion

1.2.2 ixCrypto 10 Equal Weight Index (“IXEW10”) and ixCrypto 10 Square Root Index (“IXSR10”).

Additions:
No addition

Deletions:
No deletion

1.2.3 ixCrypto Altcoin 10 EW Index (“IXAEW10”) and ixCrypto Altcoin 10 Square Root Index (“IXASR10”).

Additions: Monero

Deletions: Chainlink

1.3. ixCrypto BTC/ETH Indexes
As of the cut-off date on 31^st March 2026, the ixCrypto BTC/ETH 50/50 Index (“IX5050”) maintains a 50%/50% weighting for the ixBitcoin Index “IXBI” and ixEthereum Index “IXEI”. The ixCrypto BTC/ETH Proportional Index (“IXPI”) has a weighting of 83.12% and 16.88% for IXBI and IXEI, respectively.

At the upcoming effective date, IX5050 weightings will remain unchanged at 50%/50%. IXPI weightings will be adjusted to 84.53% and 15.47% for IXBI and IXEI, respectively, reflecting the market capitalization proportions of Bitcoin and Ethereum at the cut-off date.

1.4. ixCrypto Stablecoin Index
The number of constituents will remain at 6 (Appendix 5). Stablecoin comprises 10.90% of the total crypto universe, and ixCrypto Stablecoin Index covers 98.26% of the 90-day average market capitalization in the stablecoin universe.

2. Exchange Review
To ensure the fairest price objective, all indexes are calculated based on average of multiple exchanges. As a result of exchange review, 10 exchanges passed the review process, which are as follows:

1. Binance
2. Pionex (ADDITION)
3. BitMart (ADDITION)
4. MEXC
5. LBank
6. Bybit
7. Gate.io2
8. Kucoin
9. Crypto.com Exchange
10. Coinbase Exchange

Deletion

1. Huobi Global
2. OKEx

The selected 10 exchanges will be used to generate each of the fair average prices for the IX indexes’ constituents. The exchange review covers volume rankings, exchange background checks, founders’ background checks, USD/USDT/USDC/BTC pair coverage, overconcentration rules, exchange API coverage checks, and stability, among other aspects, for an exchange.

For more details about our exchange selection criteria, please email [email protected]. More information on the ixCrypto Indexes, including their constituents and constituents’ weights, is provided in the Appendices, or refer to the website https://ix-index.com/.

*Exclude stable coins and coins that trigger conflict of interest (based on conflict-of-interest rule methodology 3.9, effective on Oct 2, 2020)
#As of 31^th March 2026, based on the past 90 days average
XXXX ^(ADDITION)Newly introduced exchanges as of 2026 Q1

Appendix 1

Appendix 2

As of 31 March 2026

# Weighting (%) after 40% Cap is adjusted according to the cut-off price, the arrangement of order may not the same as 90-day-average-Market Cap

Selection of index constituents is based on the past 90-day-average market capitalization and volume.
For the calculation methodology of the index, please refer to the “ixCrypto Index Methodology Paper” on our website

Appendix 3

As of 31 March 2026

Appendix 4

As of 31 March 2026

Appendix 5

As of 31 March 2026

Appendix 6

Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second interval for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. The real-time indexes are available for viewing on the IX Crypto Index official webpage and Bloomberg Page IXCI <GO>. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI” and “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged.

The vendor tickers are shown below:

For further information about ixCrypto Index and other available indexes including IX Crypto spot price index series and EOD indexes, please visit company official webpage https://ix-index.com or subscribe to LinkedIn: IX Asia Indexes

For data licensing and product, please contact us at [email protected].

For free API use on academic research or trial, please contact [email protected]



Hashtag: #ixCryptoIndex

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About IX Asia Indexes and IX Asia Index Advisory Committee

IX Capital International Limited is an award-winning index and investment advisory company. The index business arm- IX Asia Indexes, providing real-time digital asset and innovative indexes, disseminated 24×7 globally and built on robust infrastructure. Since the launch of the first crypto benchmark index (“IXCI”) launched in Hong Kong in December 2018, the ixCrypto index series expand into over 40 indexes designed for exchange futures products, mark-to-market, and fund managers’ portfolio construction purposes. To ensure the professionality and impartiality of the index methodologies and operations, IX Asia Indexes has established its index advisory committee with representation from different industries, including fund management, exchanges, brokerage, financial blockchain experts, crypto service providers, etc. The committee will meet quarterly a year to discuss matters relating to the IX Asia Indexes, including to review and to comment the data sources, methodologies, and operations of IX Asia Indexes, to provide guidance to the future development of new IX Asia Indexes and to handle other issues and decisions on an as-needed basis.

IX Asia Indexes was awarded the Fintech Award (wealth investment and management) 2019 and 2021 organised by ETNet. It as well won an award for Startup of the Year and Basic Technology (Big Data) from Hong Kong Fintech Impetus Awards 2022 by Metro Broadcast and KPMG. It also won Asia Pacific Enterprise Achievement Award 2024 by Echolade. IX Asia Indexes completed its IOSCO compliance statement and obtained ISO/IEC 27001:2022 UKAS certification.

Website: https://ix-index.com/

Advisory Committee: https://ix-index.com/committee.htm

About IX Crypto Indexes

The ixCrypto index (“IXCI”) is the first crypto index launched in Hong Kong. It was launched on 12 December 2018. It is denominated in USD with a base value of 1000 and a base date on 3 December 2018. Designed to be easy to understand while providing a good representation of the crypto market, ixCrypto index aims to cover the top 80% of the cumulative free-float adjusted market capitalization in the crypto universe and, at the same time, the crypto currencies should fall within the top liquid cryptos ranked by trading volume in the 90 days preceding the review date. The index is to be reviewed quarterly and with a fast entry rule. Real time indexes are disseminated every 5-second for 24×7 since 23 June 2022. Real time index data together with ixBitcoin Index and ixEthereum Index can be obtained from IX Asia Indexes Data Services and Bloomberg terminal on IXCI <GO>. For IXCI, IXBI and IXEI, the indexes are also available through Nasdaq Global Index Data Service (GIDS) with the tickers “IXCI”, “IXBI”, “IXEI”, with dissemination interval kept at 15-second unchanged. Wechat: 信昇亞洲指數.

China’s economy expanded faster than expected in the first quarter, giving Beijing a firmer platform as it confronts the fallout from the war involving Iran, but the details beneath the headline number pointed to a recovery still leaning heavily on industry and exports while households remain cautious. Official data released on Thursday showed gross domestic product grew 5.0% from a year earlier in January to March, above the 4.8% forecast in a Reuters poll and up from 4.5% in the final quarter of 2025. Quarterly growth came in at 1.3%, slightly ahead of the previous quarter.

The stronger reading suggested that the first shockwaves from the conflict in the Middle East have not yet knocked China off course. Markets took the figures as a sign of resilience. Mainland share indices rose after the release and the yuan held near its strongest levels in three years, reflecting confidence that the world’s second-largest economy has, for now, absorbed higher energy risks better than some had feared.

Yet the composition of growth was less reassuring. March industrial output rose 5.7% from a year earlier, beating expectations, but retail sales slowed to 1.7%, well below forecasts and down from 2.8% in the first two months of the year. Fixed-asset investment in the first quarter rose 1.7%, also missing expectations, while property investment fell 11.2%. Those figures reinforced a pattern that has defined China’s economy for months: factories, infrastructure and technology manufacturing are carrying more of the load than domestic consumption or housing.

That imbalance matters because Beijing has repeatedly signalled that stronger household demand is essential to putting growth on a steadier footing. Economists cited in the reporting on Thursday said the first-quarter strength was driven largely by momentum built in January and February, especially through exports and industrial activity, while March showed signs of softer conditions. The slowdown in shop spending is particularly sensitive because consumer confidence has remained fragile even as policymakers talk up support for incomes, jobs and services-led demand.

The war has complicated that task without yet derailing it. Since hostilities erupted on 28 February, China has faced a familiar vulnerability: it is the world’s largest energy importer and still relies on stable global shipping and manageable oil prices to protect factory margins and household purchasing power. Reuters reported that economists believe China has so far weathered the shock because of large oil reserves, a diversified energy mix and price controls, but they also warned that persistently higher oil costs are beginning to filter through supply chains and squeeze profits.

Evidence of that pressure is already visible. Reuters noted this week that factory-gate prices in March rose for the first time in more than three years, a signal that energy-driven cost increases are feeding into production. Export growth, which had been one of the brighter spots, also lost momentum in March after a very strong start to the year, raising the possibility that manufacturers will find it harder to sustain their pace if shipping costs stay elevated and overseas demand weakens.

Beijing’s response is likely to stay measured unless the conflict worsens. Policymakers have already set a budget deficit of about 4% of GDP for 2026 and planned heavy bond issuance to support activity. Analysts polled by Reuters expect the central bank to keep the one-year loan prime rate steady through the year, with only a modest cut to reserve requirements anticipated later on. A stronger first quarter gives officials more room to avoid large-scale stimulus at this month’s Politburo meeting, though that calculus could change if oil prices climb further or exports weaken more sharply.

The broader international backdrop is not especially forgiving. The IMF said in its April World Economic Outlook material that the Middle East conflict is lowering growth expectations for advanced economies in 2026, even if the aggregate effect is described as modest. For China, that matters less through direct battlefield exposure than through energy costs, shipping uncertainty and the health of major overseas markets. A prolonged conflict would test the durability of China’s export-led strength at the same time as its consumer recovery remains incomplete.

“SIAM PARAGON SUMMERBEATS MUSIC FEST 2026” Captivates Thai and International Tourists

A Resounding Success Merging Tradition, Fashion, Music, and Lifestyle in the Heart of Bangkok

BANGKOK, THAILAND – Media OutReach Newswire – 16 April 2026 – Siam Paragon reaffirms its status as a world-class global destination and a top-of-mind landmark for both Thai and international visitors, celebrating the remarkable success of the “SIAM PARAGON SUMMERBEATS MUSIC FEST 2026.” This grand Songkran festival, held from April 10–15, 2026 at Parc Paragon and throughout the shopping center, attracted an overwhelming number of attendees from around the world. The event’s success highlights Siam Paragon’s ability to deliver extraordinary experiences that seamlessly integrate fashion, music, arts, culture, and lifestyle into one vibrant destination—solidifying its reputation as a world-class experiential hub.

This achievement was made possible through a strong collaboration between Siam Paragon, Kasikornbank Public Company Limited, alongside esteemed partners from both the public and private sectors. Together, they created a vibrant and distinctive contemporary Songkran phenomenon. One of the festival’s standout highlights was the “SUMMERBEATS FASHION SHOW” at Paragon Department Store, showcasing curated looks from Spring/Summer 2026 collections by leading brands. The runway came alive with appearances from renowned celebrities and talents from The Face Men Thailand Season 4, setting the stage for six consecutive days of electrifying performances by top artists.

Beyond fashion, “SIAM PARAGON SUMMERBEATS MUSIC FEST 2026” also gained widespread recognition as a premier urban music festival, featuring over 150 artists including Masu–Tee, DJ Crossthy, DICE, JOEY BOY, Purpeech, Enjoy–June, Khana Bierbood, DJ Chin Chinawut, KT Kratae, LE7EL, Sweezdream, Paradise Bangkok, Tilly Birds, Billy–Babe, SONS, ALTERS, Tattoo Colour, Krit–Phop, 4MIX, Shine Boys, and Pijang Kritsana.

These artists ignited the summer energy throughout the festival, supported by world-class light, sound, and color production. The festive atmosphere became a major “magnet,” drawing people in to celebrate Songkran with unparalleled excitement and creating lasting impressions.

Throughout the festival, Siam Paragon transformed its spaces into a dynamic lifestyle landmark and one of Bangkok’s must-visit check-in destinations. The creative design blended Thai craftsmanship with contemporary aesthetics, offering a diverse range of activities, entertainment, and exclusive experiences tailored to shoppers, tourists, and the new generation alike, reflecting Siam Paragon’s role as a leadership in premium lifestyle experiences.

Another significant highlight was at NEXTOPIA on the 5th and 5A Floors, under the concept “NEXTOPIA: Culture of Tomorrow.” This area showcased a new dimension of Songkran by integrating Thai culture with innovation and sustainability. Through creative workshops and the landmark Crystal Pagoda, visitors actively engaged with the Circular Economy concept. This completed the Songkran vision, balancing entertainment and inspiration with genuine environmental responsibility.

The success of “SIAM PARAGON SUMMERBEATS MUSIC FEST 2026” not only reflects Siam Paragon’s strength in creating world-class magnet events that attract global audiences, but also reinforces its leadership as the premier destination. Siam Paragon remains dedicated to driving Bangkok’s vibrancy during every major festival, delivering extraordinary experiences that remain in the memories of Thai people and tourists from across the globe.

Hashtag: #SiamParagonSummerBeats2026 #SiamParagonSongkran2026 #SiamParagonSummer2026

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

The rally reflected a market view that the worst-case economic fallout from the conflict may yet be avoided if negotiations regain momentum. Investors were encouraged by signs that talks between Washington and Tehran could resume after earlier efforts faltered, easing some fears over energy supply disruptions and allowing attention to swing back to earnings, economic data and the resilience of household demand in the United States and Asia. That shift in mood helped lift US stock futures and underpinned broader gains from Tokyo to Mumbai.

Japan led the advance, with exporters and technology names benefiting from stronger risk appetite and the market’s belief that any easing in Middle East tensions could reduce pressure on fuel costs and shipping. The Nikkei’s record level also reflected investor confidence that large Japanese companies remain well placed to benefit from global demand for semiconductors, automation and artificial intelligence infrastructure. Elsewhere, South Korean and Hong Kong shares also moved higher, while mainland Chinese markets were supported by data showing the economy expanded by 5.0 per cent in the first quarter, beating expectations and offering some reassurance that domestic activity has retained momentum despite the geopolitical shock.

Wall Street’s lead mattered. The S&P 500 closed at 7,022.95 on Wednesday, a record that marked a full recovery from losses triggered after the conflict began in late February, while the Nasdaq posted another record finish and extended a powerful winning streak. Strong results from major banks, including Bank of America and Morgan Stanley, reinforced the idea that corporate America is entering the earnings season on firmer footing than many investors had feared when oil prices spiked and risk assets sold off. Reuters reported that 84 per cent of companies that had reported by then had beaten expectations, helping to steady nerves about margins and consumer activity.

The earnings story is now sharing the stage with geopolitics. Markets are effectively pricing a narrower range of negative outcomes than they were only weeks ago, but that optimism remains conditional. Oil prices, while off their most alarming levels, are still elevated by historical standards, and every diplomatic headline continues to carry outsized weight because the Strait of Hormuz remains central to global crude flows. Reports that Iran may allow shipping through the waterway helped calm traders, though supply risks have not disappeared, especially with refinery disruptions in Australia and the threat of fresh sanctions or military miscalculation still present.

That tension between relief and caution is visible across asset classes. The dollar was broadly steady, the euro stayed firm, gold edged up and cryptocurrencies drifted lower, all signs that investors have not fully abandoned hedges even as they add exposure to equities. In India, shares opened higher as lower oil prices and hopes of renewed dialogue supported all major sectors, with the Nifty 50 and Sensex building on gains from the previous session. For economies that import large volumes of energy, any sustained cooling in crude would ease inflation pressure, support currencies and give central banks more room to focus on domestic growth rather than external shocks.

Technology remains a central pillar of the market’s confidence. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. was in focus ahead of results that investors expected to show a sharp profit jump, driven by demand tied to artificial intelligence chips. That anticipation has fed into a broader belief that the AI investment cycle can continue to offset weakness elsewhere in the global economy. Yet the strength of that narrative also creates a vulnerability: richly valued technology shares leave little room for disappointment, and any sign of slowing orders or tighter capital spending could quickly change the market tone.

Pressure on the economy is already visible in trade and commodity data. Merchandise trade with the Middle East has been hit by shipping disruption linked to the conflict, even as stronger exports to the United States helped keep March’s overall trade deficit lower than expected. At the same time, the fertiliser bill has jumped sharply: urea import offers to Indian Potash Ltd clustered near $1,000 a tonne this week, roughly double the level seen two months ago, raising the prospect of a larger subsidy burden just as the kharif cycle approaches. For policymakers, that combination matters because it hits both external accounts and domestic costs, especially in food production.

Energy remains the central fault line. The Strait of Hormuz handles about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments, and for India it is a vital corridor for roughly half of crude and LPG imports. That vulnerability has been laid bare by delays to vessel movements and the stranding of India-flagged ships in the Gulf. Iran’s envoy in New Delhi has denied any toll demand on tankers, and India has also said no such payments were made, but the broader message from the episode is that the route can no longer be treated as a routine artery for commerce when conflict risk is this high.

Oil traders have taken some comfort from ceasefire diplomacy and indirect talks between Washington and Tehran, yet prices remain elevated because markets do not believe a durable fix is close. Brent crude was still around $95 a barrel on April 16, and analysts say disruptions to flows through Hormuz remain severe. That leaves New Delhi facing a familiar but uncomfortable calculation: protect households from a fuel shock and risk wider fiscal stress, or let higher import costs work their way through the system and accept stronger inflation. The International Monetary Fund and World Bank have both warned that the conflict could scar global growth, raise prices and impose lasting damage even if the battlefield quietens.

Those warnings matter because the shock is broader than petrol and diesel. Wholesale prices are already climbing, and manufacturers are absorbing costlier freight, energy and feedstock. Fertiliser is a particular worry. If elevated urea prices persist, the state may have to spend more to shield farmers, while any squeeze on supply would carry risks for sowing costs and food inflation later in the year. Economists have argued for targeted support rather than broad subsidies, but that is easier said than done in a country where energy and fertiliser costs have immediate political as well as economic consequences.

There are, however, offsets that could soften the blow. March trade numbers showed that stronger shipments to the United States helped compensate for weaker business with the Middle East, and India continues to diversify its energy basket through Russian supplies and other alternatives where pricing works in its favour. A sanctioned LNG cargo from Russia is heading to Dahej, underlining the government’s willingness to prioritise supply security and consumer interests over diplomatic noise around purchasing patterns. That flexibility has given India more room than many pure importers, though it does not erase the strategic dependence on Gulf routes.

By Nitya Chakraborty President Donald Trump as usual has been talking in conflicting voices on his immediate stand on Iran war. The U.S. President ordered naval blockade of Iranian ports after the failure of the Islamabad peace talks on Sunday but on Tuesday, he indicated that another round of talks would be held in the […]

The article Trump Can’t Afford Escalation Of US War With Iran At The Moment appeared first on Latest India news, analysis and reports on Newspack by India Press Agency).

Regulatory milestone paves the way for launch of Aspire Yield, enabling businesses to earn attractive returns on idle cash balances

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 15 April 2026 – Aspire, the finance stack for global founders, today announced that its subsidiary, AFT HK Treasury Limited, has been granted Type 1 (dealing in securities), Type 4 (advising on securities), and Type 9 (asset management) licences by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) of Hong Kong.

Hashtag: #Aspire

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Aspire