HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – 30 January 2026 – Alternative finance provider F88 continued its strong growth momentum in the fourth quarter of 2025, reporting higher profits, expanding lending operations and surpassing its full-year business targets, reinforcing its position in Việt Nam’s non-traditional financial services market.
F88 continued to expand across three main channels: its nationwide transaction office network, partnerships and digital services via the My F88 application. — Photo courtesy of F88
The company announced pre-tax profit of VNĐ304 billion (US$12 million) for the final quarter, up 47 per cent year-on-year. For the whole year, pre-tax profit reached VNĐ907 billion, more than doubling 2024’s figure and exceeding the annual plan by 35 per cent.
These results highlight F88’s rapid expansion in serving mass-market customers who remain underserved by traditional banking institutions.
As of December 31, outstanding customer loans totalled VNĐ7.2 trillion, up 57 per cent from the beginning of the year, reflecting rising demand and the company’s growing operational capacity.
Disbursements in the fourth quarter alone reached nearly VNĐ5 trillion, up 40 per cent year-on-year and marking the highest quarterly level since the firm’s establishment. Total disbursements for 2025 rose 37 per cent to VNĐ16.5 trillion.
Revenue growth also accelerated. Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 53 per cent to nearly VNĐ1.21 trillion. Lending activities remained the main driver, contributing VNĐ1.05 trillion, or 86.4 per cent of total revenue, up 51 per cent. Insurance services generated VNĐ149 billion, surging 62 per cent and accounting for 12.2 per cent.
This diversified income structure has helped the company reduce reliance on a single revenue stream, while improving overall resilience.
Alongside expansion, F88 maintained a focus on risk management and portfolio quality. The on-time repayment rate remained stable at around 84 per cent. Net write-offs in the fourth-quarter stood at 3.1 per cent of average outstanding loans, slightly higher than previous quarters due mainly to prolonged storms and flooding through November, which temporarily affected borrowers’ repayment ability in impacted regions.
Operating efficiency improved, with the cost-to-income ratio declining to 45.3 per cent from 48.7 per cent a year earlier.
The combination of stronger scale, tighter risk controls and cost optimisation underpinned the company’s record annual performance.
Customer growth was another key driver. Nearly 76,700 new borrowers were added during the quarter, up 26 per cent year-on-year. New contracts almost doubled to 269,000. The proportion of repeat customers increased significantly, with returning borrowers accounting for 67 per cent of contracts, compared to 58 per cent in the first quarter, indicating rising customer trust and satisfaction.
F88 continued to expand across three main channels: its nationwide transaction office network, partnerships and digital services via the My F88 application. The blend of technology and physical outlets has enabled the company to scale while maintaining control over operations.
By the end of the year, the firm operated 950 transaction stores nationwide, up 82 from the start of the year and exceeding its 2025 target.
Strategic partnerships also strengthened distribution. Cooperation with e-wallet provider MoMo now allows more than 30 million users to directly access F88’s secured lending services through the MoMo app. Meanwhile, collaboration with Military Bank (MB) has enabled F88 to operate a agent banking model at all transaction points, processing over 100,000 transactions for MB customers during the year.
F88 Chairman Phùng Anh Tuấn said the results reflected the company’s consistent strategy of balancing expansion with financial discipline.
“Our fourth-quarter and full-year performance demonstrates our commitment to sustainable growth, customer-centric services and prudent risk management,” Tuấn said.
“In 2026, we will continue selective expansion, improve portfolio quality, develop complementary financial services and deepen strategic partnerships to reinforce our leadership in Việt Nam’s alternative finance sector.”
Beyond its business performance, F88 also gained recognition for corporate governance and workplace standards. The company was named a Best Managed Company by Deloitte Private and ranked among the top 100 best places to work nationwide by Anphabe and the Việt Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Hashtag: #F88
Abu Dhabi’s main stock exchange and Italy’s bourse have taken a formal step towards closer capital-market integration, signalling ambitions that extend beyond headline listings to the plumbing of cross-border settlement and custody. The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange Group, ranked among the world’s top 20 exchanges by market capitalisation, and Borsa Italiana, part of the Euronext group, signed a letter of intent during the Abu Dhabi Investment Forum […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth fund is arranging a sizeable Australian dollar loan backed by a clutch of local assets, underscoring the depth of global appetite for infrastructure-linked credit tied to long-term institutional owners. People familiar with the matter said the AD Investment Authority is seeking an A$3.75 billion facility secured against four Australian assets held by a wholly owned subsidiary. The borrowing is […]
HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 2 February 2026 – CPA Australia has today submitted a set of forward-looking recommendations for consideration in the Hong Kong SAR Government’s 2026-27 Budget. With an estimated HK$0.9 billion fiscal deficit for 2025–26 and solid fiscal reserves of HK$653 billion, CPA Australia propose a series of policy measures under the theme of “Power Hong Kong’s Growth” focusing on four pillars:
Connecting China and global markets to power growth
Strengthening Hong Kong as a global trade and wealth hub
Diversifying the economy and boosting workforce competitiveness
Raising living standards for a healthier and liveable city
(from left to right) Ms Karina Wong, Divisional Councillor and Deputy Chair of Taxation Committee of CPA Australia Greater China; Mr Janssen Chan, Co-Chair of Taxation Committee; Mr Anthony Lau, Co-Chair of Taxation Committee of CPA Australia Greater China; Mr Adam Chiu, Member of Taxation Committee of CPA Australia Greater China
Connecting China with global markets and powering Hong Kong’s future economic engine
CPA Australia emphasises that Hong Kong must reinforce its position as the premier gateway connecting China with global markets. As China’s 15th Five Year Plan places greater focus on high-quality opening up, Hong Kong is uniquely positioned to help Chinese enterprises expand overseas while attracting foreign direct investment into the Mainland through Hong Kong. Strengthening this gateway function will be critical to driving the city’s next phase of economic growth.
Mr Anthony Lau, Co-Chair of CPA Australia’s Greater China Taxation Committee stated,
“Developing a unified and coherent tax incentive framework for Corporate Treasury Centres (CTC) and regional headquarters (RHQ) would further strengthen Hong Kong’s appeal as a base for multinational operations. In addition, the effectiveness of re-domiciliation has attracted many overseas companies to move their legal domicile to Hong Kong. As there is no clear guidance on whether re-domiciliation will trigger Mainland tax liabilities and tax reporting obligations, we recommend the Hong Kong Government engages with the Mainland tax authorities to clarify that no actual transfer of assets occurs during the process, and therefore no Mainland tax should arise.”
“We also recommend advancing market connectivity measures such as allowing a tax deduction specifically for IPO-related expenses for companies that list on the Main Board of the HKEX, and continuing to enhance existing cross boundary financial mechanisms such as introducing an IPO Connect scheme.”
A streamlined approach would reduce complexity, improve tax certainty and encourage overseas and Mainland enterprises to centralise management, financing and strategic functions in Hong Kong.
CPA Australia also highlights the importance of positioning the Northern Metropolis as a flagship cross‑border innovation zone that will drive Hong Kong’s future growth. Mr Lau said, “To support the infrastructure development, we suggest the Government adopts forward‑looking financing tools that ease pressure on public finances. These may include issuing bonds targeted at with an estimate amount for example USD2 billion at different maturity to international investors, and providing a tax exemption for bond holders on interest income and trading profits derived from bonds issued for Northern Metropolis infrastructure projects, whether issued by the government or the private sector.
“To attract leading innovation and technology enterprises to the zone, we further recommend broadening the scope of qualifying R&D expenditures to include activities outsourced to related parties based and operating in other cities within Greater Bay Area. This reflects the increasingly integrated nature of cross boundary innovation and supply chains.”
Strengthening Hong Kong as a global trade centre and a hub for wealth retention
Hong Kong’s long‑standing role as a free, open and trusted trading and financial gateway remains central to its international relevance.
Ms Karina Wong, Deputy Chair of the Greater China Taxation Committee said, “Hong Kong should build on its unique status as a global trading centre by strengthening the free trade port regime and expanding support for high-value commodity trading, which would help diversify the city’s economic base and enhance market depth. Qualifying commodity items such as silver and rare-earth materials remain outside the current scope, the qualifying list needs to be reviewed regularly, with sufficient legislative flexibility, to ensure timely updates in response to market developments. The Government could also consider whether the scope should extend beyond physical trades and incidental income to cover derivative driven transactions, which form a significant part of global commodities activity.”
A stronger family office ecosystem is central to reinforcing Hong Kong’s role as Asia’s preferred hub for wealth management and succession planning. “We recommend introducing a preferential 8.25 per cent profits tax rate for Single Family Office, Multi Family Offices (MFOs) and fund managers to enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness relative to other regional wealth management centres.
“Aligning the permissible investment asset classes under the family office tax concession regime with those under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES) would also streamline operations, provide greater investment flexibility and further strengthen Hong Kong’s appeal among global wealth owners managing long term capital,” added Ms Wong.
Modernising Hong Kong’s philanthropy framework would encourage a more caring and compassionate community and strengthen the city’s appeal to long-term capital. “The generous donations supporting residents and the reconstruction of Wang Fuk Court show that Hong Kong is a caring city. To encourage greater philanthropic participation, we suggestremoving the current 35 per cent cap on cash donation deductions and allowing a full 100 per cent deduction, while introducing a 300 per cent enhanced deduction for contributions to designated funds, such as the Community Care Fund and Disaster Relief Fund. This would direct more resources toward areas of social need.
“These reforms will strengthen Hong Kong’s ecosystem for trade, wealth management and philanthropy, helping the city attract and retain long term capital and strengthen Hong Kong’s competitive edge,” Ms Wong said.
Diversifying the economy and enhancing workforce competitiveness
As advanced economies accelerate digital transformation and adopt emerging technologies, Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness will depend on the city’s ability to scale innovation, raise productivity and strengthen the capacity of its workforce and enterprises.
“We propose to relaunch a revamped Technology Voucher Programme to help businesses, in particular SMEs, accelerate digitalisation and adopt artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that enhance efficiency and competitiveness.
“Strengthening R&D related tax incentives is equally important in driving innovation, therefore we propose increasing the cap for the highest rate of the R&D super tax deduction by raising the threshold for the 300 per cent deduction on qualifying R&D expenditure from HK$2 million to HK$4 million.” said Mr Janssen Chan, Co‑Chairperson of CPA Australia’s Greater China Taxation Committee.
SMEs remain the backbone of Hong Kong’s economy, yet many continue to face cost pressures and increasing competition.
“We recommend raising the cap under the two-tier profits tax regime for concessional 8.25 per cent half-rate from HK$2 million to HK$4 million of assessable profits. Extending the SME Financing Guarantee Scheme beyond March 2026 is another move that would ease operating pressures for smaller businesses and encourage reinvestment,” added Mr Chan.
By raising the two-tier profits tax cap, extending financing support and retooling tech programmes for AI adoption, the Government can give SMEs the room to grow and strengthen their long-term resilience.
Raising living standards and building a healthier and more liveable city
Mr Adam Chiu, member of the Greater China Taxation Committee, said the Budget should introduce targeted tax and subsidy measures that deliver practical support to households while encouraging healthier and more productive lifestyles.
“To provide direct relief to taxpayers, we recommend maintaining the 100 per cent salaries tax rebate on the 2025/26 final salaries tax, capped at HK$6,000. This would help offset rising living costs and support disposable income, particularly for middle‑income earners. We also propose introducing a tax deduction of up to HK$60,000 for working families who employ domestic helpers specifically to care for children, elderly family members or persons with special care needs. This would help ease caregiving pressures, support labour‑force participation.” Mr Chiu said.
He added that lifelong learning and skills upgrading are increasingly important in a rapidly evolving economy. “To enable individuals to undertake more advanced or specialised training, including in emerging areas such as AI, we recommend increasing the subsidy ceiling under the Continuing Education Fund to HK$30,000 per eligible applicant, and increasing the cap on the self-education tax deduction to HK$150,000 per year. To promote physical wellbeing, we also propose a tax deduction of up to HK$2,000 for sports‑related expenses.”
“By supporting working families, encouraging lifelong learning and promoting healthier lifestyles, these measures can collectively enhance quality of life and help build a more resilient and inclusive Hong Kong,” Mr Chiu said.
CPA Australia believes these recommendations will strengthen Hong Kong’s ability to engage more effectively with global markets, enhance its competitiveness as an international financial and business hub, and improve quality of life for residents. Taken together, these measures will help ensure Hong Kong is well positioned for a more sustainable, innovation driven and inclusive future.
Hashtag: #CPAAustralia
The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
About CPA Australia
CPA Australia is one of the largest professional accounting bodies in the world, with more than 176,000 members in over 100 countries and regions, including more than 22,500 members in Greater China. Our core services include education, training, technical support and advocacy. CPA Australia provides thought leadership on issues affecting the accounting profession and the public interest. We engage with governments, regulators and industries to advocate policies that stimulate sustainable economic growth and have positive business and public outcomes. Find out more at cpaaustralia.com.au
OpenNebula Systems has formalised a collaboration with OVHcloud that places European digital sovereignty at the centre of enterprise cloud deployment, as the open-source cloud platform becomes available through OVHcloud’s infrastructure under the Hosted OpenNebula Cloud – Ready Certification Program. The move reflects mounting demand from public bodies and regulated industries for cloud environments that guarantee data residency, jurisdictional control and operational transparency within Europe. The partnership allows […]
Jupiter’s vast, banded clouds have long obscured the true nature of the giant planet beneath, but a new atmospheric model is changing that picture by pointing to a deep chemical imbalance that carries implications for how the solar system formed. The work indicates that Jupiter likely contains far more oxygen than the Sun, challenging earlier assumptions drawn from limited measurements and offering a clearer view of the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has received five awards from the British Safety Council for 2025, reinforcing its standing in occupational health, environmental management and organisational wellbeing, according to official announcements from the utility and the London-based safety body. The awards include the Sword of Honour for Health and Safety, the Globe of Honour for Environmental Management and the Shield of Honour, […]
Worldcoin’s native token WLD has entered 2026 carrying a mix of ambition and unease, shaped by sharp price swings, regulatory scrutiny around biometric data, and the project’s long-term bet on global digital identity. Trading far below its earlier peak, the token’s trajectory over the next four years has become a focal point for investors weighing whether the network can convert technological promise into sustained demand. WLD touched […]
Women in Games has unveiled a new manifesto urging game studios, publishers and platform holders to confront entrenched gender imbalance and workplace inequities, arguing that the long-term health of the global video games sector depends on structural change rather than symbolic gestures. The document sets out a framework aimed at reshaping hiring practices, leadership pathways and creative decision-making across an industry that employs millions but continues to […]
Google has begun opening access to Project Genie, an artificial intelligence system that generates interactive, game-like environments from simple prompts, signalling a fresh push by the company to redefine how digital worlds are created while reigniting debate over the use of copyrighted material in generative AI. Project Genie allows users to describe a scene, upload an image, or sketch a rough layout and then play inside a […]
By K Raveendran The sharp note of disappointment sounded by Scott Bessent over the India–European Union free trade agreement says less about a single deal and more about a changing geometry of power in the global economy. At one level, Washington’s frustration reflects a familiar concern that sanctions and trade penalties are losing their bite […]
UAE and India have moved to deepen cooperation in civil aviation as senior officials reviewed capacity, connectivity and regulatory coordination, underlining the scale and strategic importance of one of the world’s busiest air travel corridors. The discussions highlighted sustained growth in passenger flows and the need to align policy, infrastructure and airline strategies to keep pace with demand.
Speaking during the engagement, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the United Arab Emirates, said air traffic between the UAE and India continues to show strong momentum, with around 1,231 direct flights operating each week between cities in both countries. Those services are spread across multiple carriers and hubs, reflecting the depth of commercial, tourism and people-to-people ties that underpin the aviation relationship.
The scale of connectivity has few parallels globally. The UAE serves as a critical transit and destination market for travellers from India, while Indian cities form the largest single source of international passengers for UAE airports. Industry data indicates that traffic has surpassed pre-pandemic benchmarks on several routes, driven by a rebound in business travel, a sustained flow of expatriate workers, and rising leisure demand in both directions.
Officials discussed measures to ensure that bilateral air services arrangements remain responsive to market realities. Capacity management, slot allocation at congested airports, and coordination on safety and security standards featured prominently. There was also a focus on ensuring that regulatory processes keep pace with airline expansion plans, particularly as carriers introduce new wide-body aircraft and add frequencies to secondary cities.
Bin Touq noted that aviation cooperation has spillover benefits for wider economic engagement, supporting tourism, trade in services and cargo connectivity. Air freight was identified as a growing pillar, with belly-hold capacity on passenger aircraft playing an increasing role in moving high-value and time-sensitive goods, including pharmaceuticals, electronics and perishables.
From the Indian side, officials emphasised the importance of predictable access to UAE hubs for carriers as they scale up international operations. India’s airport expansion programme, which has added new terminals and greenfield airports across several states, is expected to unlock further growth in outbound travel. That expansion has altered traffic patterns, enabling more direct international services from tier-two and tier-three cities, many of which already have links to the UAE.
Airlines operating on the corridor include network carriers and low-cost operators, creating a competitive landscape that has helped keep fares in check while expanding choice. The presence of multiple hubs in the UAE has also diversified routing options, strengthening resilience during peak travel periods and operational disruptions.
Beyond capacity, the talks addressed cooperation on sustainability and workforce development. Both sides acknowledged mounting pressure on the aviation sector to curb emissions and improve fuel efficiency. While sustainable aviation fuel remains limited in supply and expensive, officials discussed the importance of policy alignment, pilot projects and knowledge sharing to accelerate adoption over time.
Training and skills were another area of interest, as airlines and airports face shortages of pilots, engineers and air traffic management professionals. Partnerships between training institutions and recognition of certifications were flagged as practical steps to ease bottlenecks without compromising safety standards.
Technology and digitalisation also featured, with attention on passenger processing, biometric systems and data sharing to improve the travel experience. As passenger volumes rise, authorities are seeking to reduce congestion through smarter border controls and interoperable systems that can be scaled across airports.
The civil aviation dialogue sits within a broader economic partnership that has deepened over the past two years, including trade and investment initiatives across manufacturing, energy and digital services. Aviation remains a visible barometer of that relationship, given its sensitivity to economic cycles and consumer confidence.
Austria’s Supreme Court has ruled that loot boxes in the FIFA video game series do not constitute gambling under national law, holding that the mechanics require a degree of player skill and therefore fall outside the legal definition of games of chance. The judgment by the Oberster Gerichtshof, Austria’s highest civil court, addresses a long-running dispute over FIFA’s Ultimate Team mode, where players can acquire virtual packs […]
OpenAI has introduced an internal data agent known as Kepler, designed to let employees interrogate one of the largest private data estates in the technology sector through natural-language queries. The system, powered by a GPT-5.2 class model, is built to handle more than 600 petabytes of internal information, a scale that reflects both the company’s rapid growth and the expanding complexity of training, safety, product telemetry and […]
Project: Gorgon has made a significant milestone in its development with the launch of its 1.0 version, marking its transition out of Early Access and broadening its world with a substantial new map, expanded progression systems and deeper endgame mechanics. The update introduces Statehelm, a sprawling capital city designed as the largest and most intricate area the indie fantasy MMO has ever seen, featuring over 200 quests […]
Federal authorities have taken legal control of assets valued at roughly $400 million that prosecutors say were generated through a darknet cryptocurrency mixing service known as Helix, marking one of the largest forfeiture actions tied to illicit crypto activity. The Department of Justice said the haul spans digital currency, cash-equivalent instruments and property interests traced to transactions that laundered proceeds from online drug markets. According to court […]
Civil aviation stands at the centre of economic expansion, tourism development and global connectivity as governments and industry leaders recalibrate policies to meet rising passenger demand and shifting trade patterns, Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri said while addressing a high-level ministerial gathering in Hyderabad. Speaking at the “Wings of India 2026” conference, the Minister of Economy and Tourism and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the […]
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Abu Dhabi has approved the consolidation of Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Group’s portfolio under a newly created sovereign investor, L’IMAD, a move designed to sharpen capital allocation and scale the emirate’s investment reach across strategic sectors. The decision was issued by the Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs, the body that sets public policy on finance, investment, the economy, petroleum and natural […]
Sony is keeping the PlayStation 6 firmly out of public view even as speculation over its arrival intensifies, with industry signals suggesting the company is prioritising longevity and performance gains for the PlayStation 5 rather than rushing a generational shift. Market expectations have clustered around a PS6 launch window between 2027 and 2029, but Sony’s current strategy points to a longer runway for the PS5, underpinned by […]
By T N Ashok WASHINGTON: In the corridors of power, where messaging is currency and optics are everything, President Donald Trump faces a political paradox that threatens to undermine his party’s prospects in November’s midterm elections: his administration’s economic achievements are being systematically overshadowed by images of masked federal agents confronting protesters in Minneapolis. The […]
A materials engineering breakthrough that allows perforated aluminium structures to float indefinitely is prompting fresh thinking about ship safety, offshore platforms and ocean-energy systems, with researchers demonstrating that ordinary metal can be made effectively unsinkable by altering its surface at the microscopic level. The advance centres on aluminium tubes whose surfaces are engineered to repel water so strongly that air becomes permanently trapped inside them. Even when […]
Donald Trump has chosen former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh to succeed Jerome Powell as chair of the US central bank when Powell’s term concludes in May, signalling a sharp shift in tone at the Fed and reviving a long-running debate over the institution’s independence and policy direction. The selection places a frequent critic of the Fed’s crisis-era interventions at the helm of the world’s most influential […]
Nvidia has issued urgent security updates for its GPU display drivers after identifying multiple high-severity flaws that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code and gain elevated privileges across a wide range of systems. The vulnerabilities, disclosed in a security bulletin dated January 27, affect drivers used on Windows, Linux and virtualised environments, underscoring the broad exposure created by modern GPU deployments in consumer, enterprise and cloud […]
OpenAI is exploring the creation of a social media platform designed to sharply limit automated accounts, a move that would place the artificial intelligence firm in direct competition with X while signalling a broader push to shape how online discourse functions in an age increasingly defined by generative systems. People familiar with the matter say the idea has moved beyond casual internal discussion, with early-stage work examining […]