North Asia

The pharmaceutical firm expects its workforce in Beijing to grow to 1,700 employees and is launching a JV with BioKangtai to help make vaccines; there is also investment into AI.

Corporate reforms designed to extract shareholder value are at risk of being delayed but not derailed, even as trade tariffs prompt near-term obstacles, market experts told FA.

Analysts are betting that US president Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will strike a deal, which would spur US players to buy Chinese stocks, just as overall sentiment for mainland China and Hong Kong improves.

Siew Kam Boon will take on the Singapore role, while Biswajit Chatterjee will take on the Dubai role from Rahail Ali, who will return to his practice full time.

FA understands the bank is making a number of senior leadership changes and hires across ECM, investment banking and technology, in Hong Kong, Singapore, Sydney and San Francisco; including Apac Equity Syndicate leader and head of SEA ECM.

Jessica Li joins the global law firm as partner, Greater China DCM, in its banking and finance practice.

Studies have shown the positive correlation between having female investors or fund managers on team, and portfolio returns. Female finance leaders told FA that a diversity of experiences and skills are important in a fast-evolving sector.

As Hong Kong looks to integrate more with Asean's economies, Thailand joins Indonesia and Singapore as a Recognised Stock Exchange in the Special Administrative Region.

Despite numerous challenges, which are growing under Trump’s second administration, sustainable finance might be an area where females are more likely to excel and take leadership roles, including in Asia; senior leaders gave FA their opinions.