SIngapore Exchange's trading turnover jumped 66% in January with strong activity from both retail and institutional investors.

The southeast Asian country continues its diversified sovereign fundraising, while its fiscal deficit for 2025 widened to 2.92%.

Amid a trade slowdown, IPOs, the issuance of convertible bonds, and cross-border M&A, including in the Middle East, are set to continue.

Philippines’ Aboitiz Equity Ventures has agreed for BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners to take a 40% stake in Aboitiz InfraCapital; the Philippines government is ramping up infrastructure investment.

Read on to find out the winners of the Deal Awards - Asia Pacific.

Despite criticism, Roushana Sjahsam, Asean senior board adviser at investment firm Zagga, argues private credit is an emerging asset class for defensive, yield-seeking investors, who want diversification, stable income, and portfolio resilience.

The funds will be mobilised to support initiatives such as the Asean Power Grid, in collaboration with four Malaysian banks.

Banks are looking to overhaul risk frameworks as US tariff actions collide with Asia’s export dependence. Experts shared their views on how regulators are embedding geopolitical shocks into stress scenarios, while banks turn to tech and client engagement to prepare for strains likely to surface in 2026.

Singapore-based Phua has become head of markets solutions under cluster sales, Asia North and Asia South, for clients of Citi Commercial Bank.

Despite some valuation gaps, fundamentals in key sectors such as technology and energy, in addition to country reforms, are attracting capital as optimism picks up.