The bank's shares climbed as it beat analysts' expectations despite facing a commercial real estate charge of $700m in Hong Kong. Chairman Brendan Nelson is confident of growth in Asia this year.

SC's operating profit grew 6% last year; Zurich Australia snaps up life insurer ClearView; Citi Vietnam appoints Thai Nguyet Minh as head of markets.

Co-investors in the take-private deal for the healthcare firm include 65 Equity Partners, the Employees Provident Fund and China’s Silk Road Fund.

US president Donald Trump has issued 15% tariffs on every country exporting to the US after his so-called reciprocal tariffs were ruled illegal by the US Supreme Court.

Singapore's ST Telemedia Global Data Centres has 2.3GW of design capacity across 12 markets in Asia Pacific, the UK and Europe; it is the largest ever data centre deal in SEA.

Amid regional market momentum, the global bank has a strong pipeline of Apac deals across ECM, DCM and M&A.

Hong Kong's finance chief discussed opportunities in the Northern Metropolis, developing AI, foreign tech firms entering the SAR, green finance, and China's evolving role in supply chains.

Despite challenges, regional opportunities exist in structured credit, defensive corporate exposures, high-yield bonds, and emerging market sovereigns, according to MFS Investment Management's Pilar Gomez-Bravo.

Every year, FinanceAsia publishes a highly recognised benchmark of Asia's best companies, made by asking influential investors and analysts to nominate Asian companies that are leading in their sector.