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Empowering Enterprises to Go Global, Pioneering the Blue Ocean of Silver Economy

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 June 2026 – The “Wealth Management Expo 2026”, powered by Bank of China (Hong Kong) (“BOCHK”) and organised by TVB under the theme of “Empowering Enterprises to Go Global, Pioneering the Blue Ocean of Silver Economy”, was successfully held today. The Expo featured top-tier financial experts and prominent figures for market pulse insights and visionary perspectives on the international landscape, the international use of RMB, enterprises going global, silver economy and wealth management.

Officiating guests - Mr. Michael WONG, GBS, JP, Acting Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government (6th left); Mr. Christopher HUI, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government (4th right); and Mr. Stephen CHAN, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK (5th right); together with other attending guests, including Mr. SIU Sai Wo, General Manager (Business Operations) of TVB (5th left); and representatives from BOCHK.
Officiating guests – Mr. Michael WONG, GBS, JP, Acting Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government (6th left); Mr. Christopher HUI, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government (4th right); and Mr. Stephen CHAN, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK (5th right); together with other attending guests, including Mr. SIU Sai Wo, General Manager (Business Operations) of TVB (5th left); and representatives from BOCHK.

The Expo was officiated by Mr. Michael WONG, GBS, JP, Acting Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government; Mr. Christopher HUI, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR Government; and Mr. Stephen CHAN, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK. Mr. Christopher HUI also shared at the opening forum on how Hong Kong as a global offshore RMB hub supports enterprises in going global. Other attending guests included Dr. KO Wing Man, GBS, JP, Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC; Mr. SIU Sai Wo, General Manager (Business Operations) of TVB; and representatives from BOCHK.

Mr. Stephen CHAN, Deputy Chief Executive of BOCHK, said in his opening remarks, “This year marks the inaugural year of the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan, which clearly supports Hong Kong in strengthening its role as an international asset and wealth management centre. Against this backdrop, Hong Kong, as a vital bridge between the Chinese Mainland and the rest of the world, is set to tap into an unprecedented opportunity for growth. Bank of China (Hong Kong) will actively align with national policies and the HKSAR Government’s direction by deepening its regional business development and promoting the international use of RMB, while continuing to fulfil its corporate social responsibilities, contributing to the consolidation of Hong Kong’s position as an international financial centre.”

Opening Forum: Experts Shared Insights on RMB Empowering Enterprises to Go Global

The opening forum of the Expo “New Opportunities in Global Wealth Investment: RMB Empowering Enterprises to Go Global” featured Mr. Christopher HUI, GBS, JP, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, HKSAR Government; Mrs. Pauline NGAN, BBS, JP, Deputy Chairman and Managing Director of Mainland Headwear Holdings Limited, Member of the National Committee of the CPPCC; Mr. Sam YU, Chairman of Hong Kong Investment Funds Association; and Mr. Jack YANG, RMB Business Executive Director of BOCHK. They engaged in an in-depth discussion on the international market trends, enterprises going global and the international use of RMB, elaborating new investment opportunities.

Summit Forum: Decoding Silver Economy Opportunities and Industry Integration

The growing silver-haired population is driving demand across a range of areas, including health, lifestyle and wealth management. Held under the theme “Redefining Value in the Silver Age: Uncovering Blue Ocean Market Opportunities”, the summit forum featured Dr. KO Wing Man, GBS, JP, Standing Committee of the National Committee of the CPPCC; Mr. Angus CHAN, Director of Elderly Care Services of Chinachem Group; Mr. Terry WONG, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation; and Mr. Wilson TANG, Chief Executive of BOC Group Life Assurance Company Limited. Drawing on a macro perspective on industry structure, the speakers analysed the business opportunities within the silver economy and explored how to drive supply chain transformation and integration across traditional industries such as healthcare and insurance, while offering a forward-looking view of the immense potential of this emerging market.

Thematic Workshops and Immersive Digital Experience Zone, Showcasing Comprehensive Wealth Growth Strategies

The Expo also held several thematic workshops, in which experts analysed prevailing topics, including global fund and equity market conditions, retirement wealth planning, and emerging markets, equipping clients with insights into wealth growth strategies. Two fund workshops focused respectively on emerging markets and global income opportunities. The first workshop, “Focusing on Emerging Value in Asia: Embarking on a New Chapter for RMB Assets and China’s Equity and Bond Markets”, examined how the Chinese Mainland’s deepening cooperation with ASEAN, the Global South, and Belt and Road Initiative partner countries is generating new investment opportunities in emerging markets. The workshop also offered an investment outlook of the implications of the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the shifting global landscape for RMB assets and the Chinese Mainland’s equity and bond markets. The second fund workshop, “Harnessing Multi-Asset Strategies to Capture Asia-Pacific Income Opportunities,” explored how investors should diversify asset portfolio amid heightened volatility in global equity and bond markets, while capturing income opportunities from Asia-Pacific and emerging markets.

The retirement planning workshop, “Forward-Looking Wealth Planning: Charting Your Own Path to a Premium Retirement”, addressed the retirement pain points commonly faced by Hong Kong residents, offering financial advice for the silver generation to build a solid safety net for themselves and their families. The equities workshop, “Navigating 2026: Decoding Stock Market Strategies”, dissected global equity market performance and explored how different financial products can be used to balance aggressive and defensive positioning to capture markets with growth potential. The wealth management workshop, “AI-led Future: Blue Ocean Opportunities in Southeast Asia and New Horizons for Enterprises Going Global”, examined the AI investment boom and analysed the unique edge of Hong Kong as a “super value-adder” for enterprises going global.

A 3D immersive digital experience zone highlighted BOCHK’s capabilities across its expansive network reach, anti-fraud education, professional services, digital innovation leadership and award-winning credentials.

BOCHK Private Wealth also officially unveiled its new Wealth+ service proposition at the event, expanding its scope beyond wealth management to encompass multi-dimension of clients’ lives, including lifestyle experiences, family financial planning and holistic well-being, with a commitment to addressing client’s unique and individual needs.

The “Wealth Management Expo 2026” concluded successfully with fruitful outcomes. Through a full day of engaging forums, workshops, digital experience zone and sponsored booths, industry professionals, investors and the public can gain insights into global opportunities, keep abreast of the latest development in the international use of RMB and the strategic advantages of enterprises going global, while capitalising on the diverse opportunities presented by the silver economy, and mastering financial management and wealth growth.

Hashtag: #WealthManagementExpo2026

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

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Foreign investors delivered their strongest one-day purchase of Vietnamese equities in nearly six years on 15 June, signalling a sharp improvement in risk appetite after fears over Middle East energy disruption eased.

Overseas funds bought a net US$160.4 million of Vietnamese shares on Monday, the largest daily inflow since 10 September 2020. The buying helped steady a market that had been under pressure from rising oil prices, global risk aversion and sustained foreign withdrawals despite Vietnam’s long-awaited move towards emerging-market status.

The VN-Index rose 0.43 per cent to 1,799.31 on Monday and moved back above the 1,800-point area on Tuesday, keeping the benchmark close to levels that still represent a strong annual advance even after a pullback over the past month. The shift was part of a wider rebound across Asian emerging markets after the United States and Iran agreed on terms aimed at ending hostilities and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing concerns over inflation and fuel costs.

The reversal is notable because foreign investors have remained net sellers of Vietnamese equities this year. Even after Monday’s inflow, overseas funds have sold about US$2.6 billion of Vietnamese stocks in 2026, following withdrawals of roughly US$4.8 billion last year. Those outflows reflected concerns over market concentration, heavy exposure to a few large-cap groups, tariff uncertainty, currency pressure and the impact of higher energy prices on a manufacturing-led economy.

“De-escalation in the Middle East and Vietnam’s own underperformance have created a textbook re-entry set-up for foreign capital,” said Quynh Cao, head of institutional business at VNDirect Securities. “Positioning was already tight and it does not take much to flip that.”

Vietnam’s appeal to global investors rests on more than a single trading session. FTSE Russell has confirmed that the country will be reclassified from frontier to secondary emerging-market status from 21 September, with inclusion in global equity indices to be phased through 2027. The upgrade is expected to bring passive inflows of about US$1.5 billion, with broader active flows potentially lifting the total to several billion dollars if market reforms continue.

The reclassification follows changes aimed at improving foreign access, including the removal of full pre-funding requirements for equity trades and the development of a global broker model. These reforms address long-standing obstacles for institutional investors, who had complained about settlement risk, limited access channels and operational frictions that made Vietnam harder to replicate within global index portfolios.

Large-cap names expected to draw attention include Vingroup, Masan Group, FPT Corp and Hoa Phat Group, alongside banks, securities firms, industrial stocks and consumer companies with sufficient liquidity and foreign room. Average daily trading value in Vietnamese equities this year has been around US$789 million, underscoring the market’s growing depth, though liquidity remains uneven across sectors.

The macroeconomic backdrop remains supportive. Vietnam’s economy expanded 8.02 per cent in 2025, helped by strong exports, public investment, manufacturing activity and resilient consumption. Foreign direct investment disbursement rose to about US$27.6 billion last year, while exports reached roughly US$475 billion. Growth is expected to moderate this year, but projections still place Vietnam among Asia’s faster-growing economies.

Higher oil prices had complicated that outlook. Vietnam is exposed to imported fuel and energy costs, making any disruption in the Strait of Hormuz a direct risk to inflation, transport costs and factory margins. The drop in crude prices after the US-Iran accord helped restore confidence among investors looking at countries with strong structural growth but sensitivity to external shocks.

The market is not without vulnerabilities. Retail investors remain a major force in daily trading, making sentiment swings sharper when liquidity thins. Foreign ownership limits continue to constrain buying in some leading companies. Corporate governance, disclosure quality and settlement infrastructure also remain areas under watch as Vietnam seeks eventual MSCI emerging-market status.

Analysts say the latest inflow will need to be sustained before it can be treated as a durable turning point. A single large session can reflect short-covering, index positioning or tactical buying after a sell-off. A lasting reversal would require more consistent foreign participation, firmer currency conditions, stable oil prices and evidence that earnings growth can match valuations after the market’s strong run.

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Oil prices slid to their lowest levels since March on Monday after Washington and Tehran said they had reached an initial deal aimed at ending the war and restoring traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, easing fears that months of disruption to one of the world’s most important energy corridors would deepen. Brent crude futures fell $4.08, or 4.7 per cent, to $83.25 a barrel by 0415 […]

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New Delhi has moved into crisis-management mode as the war in Iran raises fuel costs, strains the rupee and forces the Centre to balance energy security against its deficit-reduction pledge.

The latest response includes curbs on bulk diesel purchases at retail outlets, a willingness to let the fiscal deficit widen beyond the Budget target, and measures to pull in overseas capital as policymakers try to contain pressure on inflation, subsidies and the balance of payments. The measures mark a sharp shift from the calmer macroeconomic backdrop at the start of the financial year, when lower inflation and steady growth had given authorities room to focus on consolidation.

Retail fuel outlets run by public sector oil marketing companies have been told to cap high-speed diesel sales at 200 litres per customer or vehicle per day. The restriction, planned for up to 90 days, is aimed at preventing hoarding and stopping commercial users from shifting large purchases to retail pumps, where prices are lower than bulk supply rates. Diesel bought from retail outlets cannot be resold, and dealers have been asked to ensure that sales go directly into vehicle tanks or approved containers.

The decision followed a surge in purchases from retail pumps after the conflict in West Asia widened the gap between retail and bulk diesel prices. Trucking firms, contractors and other commercial users have sought cheaper supplies, adding pressure on state-run fuel retailers that already carry most of the retail burden. Diesel accounts for a large share of transport and farm fuel demand, making any disruption politically sensitive as the kharif sowing season approaches.

The fiscal impact is becoming harder to ignore. The Budget had set the fiscal deficit target for 2026-27 at 4.3% of gross domestic product, after 4.4% in the revised estimate for 2025-26. Officials are now prepared to tolerate a higher deficit, potentially around 4.8% of GDP, if subsidy costs and energy-related spending rise further. Fertiliser subsidies are also expected to climb as global input costs move up, while fuel-related tax and pricing decisions could reduce revenue flexibility.

Spending cuts across ministries are being examined, though the Centre is likely to avoid sharp reductions in capital expenditure unless market conditions deteriorate further. Infrastructure spending has been one of the main pillars of growth in the past few years, and cutting it too deeply would risk weakening private investment at a time when companies are already facing higher transport and raw material costs.

The rupee has become the other pressure point. It strengthened on Friday after Brent crude fell below $90 a barrel on hopes of a diplomatic breakthrough, but the currency remains vulnerable to oil spikes because India depends heavily on imported crude. The Reserve Bank of India has introduced measures to attract dollar inflows, including support for foreign currency deposits and lower-cost hedging routes for overseas borrowing by state-run companies. Large lenders are preparing dollar bond issues, and banks expect a stronger push to tap non-resident deposits over the coming months.

Inflation has also started to reflect the shock. Retail inflation rose to 3.93% in May from 3.48% in April, with food and fuel costs moving higher. The reading remains close to the central bank’s 4% target, but the risk is that higher diesel prices feed into freight, farm operations and food distribution. Any weak monsoon spell linked to El Niño conditions would add another layer of pressure.

By Dr. Nilanjan Banik The Indian economy, to quote from Charles Dickens’ novel, looks like A Tale of Two Cities. Recent estimates suggest India’s real GDP expanded by 7.8%, with strong growth noted across sectors: services (9.3%), manufacturing (10.7%), and construction (7.4%). Consumption expenditure, which is the largest component of GDP explaining 58% of GDP, […]

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A small change in central bank wording has given banks fresh room to mobilise foreign-currency deposits, potentially drawing as much as $50 billion into India at a time when the rupee and external balances are under pressure.

The Reserve Bank of India’s June package centres on Foreign Currency Non-Resident Bank deposits, or FCNR deposits, a long-used channel through which overseas citizens place foreign-currency funds with banks. The decisive shift lies in the way the central bank has structured the swap window and permitted banks to use incentives, including leverage, to make the deposits more attractive to wealthy overseas savers.

Under the scheme, banks can mobilise fresh three- to five-year FCNR deposits between 8 June and 30 September 2026 and swap the dollars with the RBI. The facility effectively removes the usual hedging burden that makes such deposits expensive for banks, as the central bank absorbs the foreign-exchange cost. The operational window will remain available until mid-October for eligible deposits raised during the mobilisation period.

The change has revived memories of 2013, when a similar facility helped banks raise about $34 billion during a period of sharp rupee weakness. This time, estimates from market participants range from about $20 billion to nearly $50 billion, depending on deposit pricing, rupee expectations, global interest rates and the ability of banks to market the product aggressively in the Gulf, North America, Britain and other diaspora-heavy markets.

Punjab National Bank chief executive Ashok Chandra has said banks could collectively raise $35 billion to $40 billion, with his own institution aiming for about $2.5 billion to $3 billion. Other lenders, including Canara Bank, Federal Bank and Indian Bank, are expected to compete for deposits by offering returns that can compare favourably with low-risk dollar assets, particularly once the swap benefit is factored into their pricing.

The subtle but consequential part of the circular is the permission for banks to offer leverage to depositors. That means eligible clients may be able to borrow abroad and place the proceeds into FCNR deposits, amplifying inflows beyond what would have arrived through ordinary savings alone. Market analysts see this as the feature that could lift the scheme from a modest stabilisation tool into a sizeable capital-flow channel.

The RBI has paired the deposit push with broader measures designed to deepen debt-market participation and ease pressure on the currency. These include expanding access to government securities, relaxing certain concentration limits, and improving the investment framework for foreign portfolio investors. The package comes after the rupee touched record lows, weighed down by elevated crude prices, portfolio outflows and a stronger dollar environment.

The immediate market reaction has been visible in government bonds. Short-end yields have fallen as banks and overseas investors reassessed the likely liquidity impact of dollar inflows converted into rupees. The two- to five-year segment has drawn stronger demand, while the curve has steepened as longer tenors remain more exposed to global rate movements and fiscal supply concerns.

For banks, the economics are straightforward. Without central bank support, hedging a multi-year dollar liability into rupees can wipe out much of the advantage of raising FCNR deposits. With the RBI taking that cost away, lenders can offer higher headline rates to overseas depositors while still obtaining rupee liquidity at competitive levels. The exemption from reserve requirements on eligible deposits further improves the economics by freeing banks from maintaining cash reserve ratio and statutory liquidity ratio buffers on those funds.

The policy also serves a macroeconomic purpose. Large dollar inflows can strengthen reserves, cushion the balance of payments and reduce the need for more aggressive currency-market intervention. They can also help offset pressure from oil import costs and equity-market withdrawals, both of which have weighed on external sentiment during the current financial year.

Yet the scheme carries risks. Leveraged deposits can be sensitive to interest-rate differentials and currency expectations. If global yields move sharply higher or confidence in the rupee weakens, flows may become less durable. The one-year lock-in reduces early withdrawal risk, but it does not fully eliminate rollover pressure once deposits mature. Banks also need to manage concentration risk, especially if a large share of funds comes from a narrow group of depositors or geographies.

By K Raveendran Resolution of the US-Israel war with Iran now appears further away than at any point in the conflict, with the latest American strikes pushing global markets into a more unsettled phase. The US launch of retaliatory attacks on Iranian defence and radar systems after Washington accused Tehran of responsibility for the downing […]

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Sri Lanka’s rupee rallied more than 2 per cent after the Central Bank of Sri Lanka shortened the deadline for exporters to convert foreign currency earnings into local currency, a move aimed at easing pressure on a market strained by rising import demand, energy costs and expectations of further depreciation.

The currency strengthened sharply in Colombo trading, touching 328 to the dollar from weaker levels around 336.50 before settling in a wider 332-334 range. The previous close was near 337.00-337.75, underscoring the immediate impact of the central bank’s intervention on market sentiment. The move marks one of the rupee’s strongest single-session gains this year after months of pressure linked to higher fuel bills, vehicle imports and heavy demand for dollars from importers.

The new rule, issued through an extraordinary gazette under the authority of Governor Nandalal Weerasinghe, requires exporters of goods receiving proceeds during a calendar month to convert the residual foreign exchange into Sri Lankan rupees on or before the tenth day of the following month. The change effectively reduces the conversion window to about 30 days from the earlier period of about 90 days, after permitted payments are made.

The directive came into immediate effect and applies to exporters after they use proceeds for authorised payments such as imports, debt servicing and other approved foreign currency obligations. It reverses part of the relaxation introduced in 2024, when the central bank gave exporters more time to convert proceeds as foreign exchange conditions improved after the country’s debt crisis.

The latest measure is designed to bring export dollars more quickly into the domestic market at a time when the rupee has come under renewed strain. The currency had fallen by about 8 per cent this year before the intervention, reflecting a combination of stronger import demand, elevated global energy prices and cautious dollar conversions by exporters waiting for more favourable rates.

Market participants said the shortened conversion period could provide near-term support by increasing the supply of dollars through the banking system. The effect, however, may be temporary if importers absorb the additional liquidity quickly, particularly with fuel, medicines, vehicles and intermediate goods continuing to drive demand for foreign exchange.

The rupee’s rebound follows a series of policy moves by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to contain pressure on the currency and inflation. On May 26, the central bank raised the overnight policy rate by 100 basis points to 8.75 per cent, its largest increase since 2023, signalling a shift away from growth support towards price and currency stability. The rate move followed a faster-than-expected rise in inflation and a renewed deterioration in external conditions.

Headline inflation in Colombo stood at 5.5 per cent in May, marginally above the central bank’s target and slightly higher than April’s 5.4 per cent. Price pressures have been fuelled by energy adjustments and the spillover from tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed up import costs for fuel-dependent economies. Construction firms have also reported higher input costs and shortages of petrochemical-based materials.

The central bank has already spent foreign exchange to defend the currency. Around $211 million was used in May as the rupee tested its weakest level in four years on May 21. Foreign reserves fell 3.8 per cent in April to about $6.7 billion, reflecting the cost of higher imports and intervention, although reserves remain well above the crisis levels seen during the 2022 balance-of-payments collapse.

Sri Lanka’s external position has become more fragile after a stronger start to the year. The current account moved into deficit in April after surpluses during the first quarter, mainly because of a wider trade gap, a softer services surplus and higher primary income outflows. Workers’ remittances continued to improve, offering some relief, but the recovery in imports has changed the balance in the foreign exchange market.

The policy shift also comes as Sri Lanka remains under a $2.9 billion International Monetary Fund programme designed to restore macroeconomic stability after the country’s sovereign default. A further $695 million disbursement was approved in late May, helping support reserves and fiscal reforms, but the economy remains exposed to external shocks, especially oil price volatility and shifts in investor confidence.

Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Oman is moving to convert fiscal repair and regulatory reform into a stronger claim on international capital, positioning the International Financial Centre of Oman as the centrepiece of a drive to attract financial institutions, fund managers and professional services firms. The push comes as Muscat benefits from a restored investment-grade profile after several years of debt reduction, spending restraint and higher policy credibility […]

Bitcoin slipped below $60,000, extending a sharp retreat that has weakened confidence among bulls and underscored a broader shift in speculative capital towards artificial intelligence-linked equities, large technology listings and parts of the gold trade. The world’s largest cryptocurrency touched its weakest level since October 2024 after failing to hold support around $65,000, a level traders had treated as critical following last month’s attempted recovery. The latest […]

Crypto markets were hit by a sharp wave of forced selling as about $155 million in leveraged long positions were liquidated within 60 minutes, deepening a broader sell-off that pushed Bitcoin and major tokens lower and exposed the risk built up across perpetual futures and margin trading platforms. The liquidation burst reflected a rapid unwinding of bullish bets after prices broke through key support levels, leaving heavily […]

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