Clean energy investments are ramping up in Apac, but a $800bn annual shortfall risks slowing momentum. At Temasek’s Ecosperity Week, IFC's Riccardo Puliti and BlackRock's Susan Chan called for bolder partnerships, clearer policies, and better capital mobilisation.

$400m has been allocated to support Digital Halo, which has assets in the Philippines and Malaysia; the Swiss PE firm is also expanding its data centre footprint in Australia.

There has been a flurry of activity connected with the Middle East in recent weeks, including visas, real estate and chemical assets.

Markets have rallied after a weekend agreement to reduce tariffs to 10% in China and 30% in the US is good news for companies, markets, and the US dollar; however, pharmaceutical stocks are in focus as US president Donald Trump tries to reduce drug prices.

China and the US will start high level trade talks on May 9 in Switzerland.

ASIC is asking for an independent expert to review a remediation plan for the trade reporting functions of Macquarie's futures dealing and OTC derivatives; ASIC commissioner Simone Constant said that the action "underscores" the regulator's concerns with the "recurrent" nature of Macquarie's failures.

The agreement, which will reduce tariffs across billions of dollars of goods, comes after three years of talks.

The joint venture Al-Futtaim Willis has been in operation for five decades and is based in Dubai and Bahrain; after securing a reinsurance broking license in Saudi Arabia, WTW is continuing its expansion in the region.

The HKMA and CMU OmniClear are leading Hong Kong’s ambitions to internationalise the use of Chinese bonds in global trading. The development of the innovative infrastructure represents a breakthrough for Rmb repos, clearing, settlement and custody.

An April review by the IMF ended without an agreement, with June the next opportunity to meet the IMF's conditions and release two tranches of loans.