Leanne Sim

Henry Loh noted that some investors are starting to move out of cash and re-engage with fixed income, although there is still a high degree of reluctance as they look to time the market to coincide with interest rate cuts, which is something he opposes. “My pushback has always been that if you wait for that first rate cut, markets are forward pricing, but once that trajectory starts to change the markets will move and you will be a few steps behind." Read this article in Fund Selector Asia to also discover why he advocates against a rigid separation between investment grade and high yield.

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CEOs only get paid when results actually materialise – rightly so, I guess. Still, it’s nice to see Singtel finally getting its act together. Here’s the latest #MarkToMarket column, which ran in today’s edition of #TheBusinessTimes: https://lnkd.in/gDD4bHyr

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💰💰ENHANCING FINANCIAL LITERACY: A WORKSHOP WITH FINEXIS ADVISORY💰💰 💸Our next stop took us to the bustling city center, where we attended an enlightening Financial Planning Workshop hosted by Finexis Advisory Pte Ltd, a leading financial consultancy firm in Singapore. 💸The experts emphasized the importance of financial literacy for young individuals. They shared practical advice on budgeting, saving, and investing, tailored to the unique financial challenges and opportunities faced by young professionals. 💸We delved into the fundamentals of investment planning, learning about different asset classes, risk management, and the importance of diversification. The experts provided strategies to build a robust investment portfolio that aligns with our long-term financial goals. 💸The session also covered the crucial topic of retirement planning. We learned about the importance of starting early, understanding different retirement plans, and the power of compound interest. 💸The Financial Planning Workshop by Finexis Advisory Pte Ltd was a significant milestone in my journey towards financial independence. As I move forward, I am more confident and prepared to make informed financial decisions that will shape a brighter future. #LeadTheChange #LTCET #LTCET7  #LeadTheChangeExchangeTrip7

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🌍 Malaysia's Untapped Potential in ASEAN Family Office Space: Islamic Wealth Management 🌍 I recently explored how Malaysia is positioning itself as a leader in the growing ASEAN family office market, leveraging its expertise in Islamic wealth management and Shariah-compliant financial services. In an exclusive interview with Maybank Group Wealth Management head, Alice Tan, we delved into Malaysia’s potential to provide ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) with integrated personal and business solutions across ASEAN. With lower operational costs and proximity to Singapore, Malaysia offers unique advantages for UHNWIs looking to diversify across the region. As the family office trend rapidly expands globally, this is an area Malaysia can explore, capitalizing on the emerging demand for ethical and Shariah-compliant asset management. UOB Kay Hian’s Mohd Sedek J. added that while Malaysia has strong foundations, there’s more to be done in terms of regulatory frameworks and expanding financial products to meet the needs of UHNWIs. Collaborating with Singapore’s established wealth management hub and introducing tailored tax incentives will be key to Malaysia’s success. The potential is enormous, but targeted strategies in regulation, taxation, and talent development will be crucial as Malaysia seeks to rise in this competitive space. Read more insights in my full article: https://lnkd.in/g5eyvS_A #IslamicFinance #WealthManagement #ASEAN #UHNWIs #FamilyOffice #Malaysia #Singapore #BusinessExpansion #EmergingTrends #Bernama

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“Why Is the Government Like That?” Whether we like it or not, the government is deeply embedded in our lives. They ensure our water is safe to drink, provide affordable pre-schools for everyone, and attract MNCs to invest in Singapore, creating jobs for Singaporeans. For social enterprises, NGOs, SSAs, and similar organizations, achieving the impact you aspire to can be challenging. Whether you're just starting out or have years of experience and are looking to level up your organization, partnering with the government could be a valuable strategy. They can offer connections, guidance, and resources to support your mission. However, working with the government can be complex and, at times, frustrating. That’s why I’m excited to share insights from my 10 years of experience across the public, private, and people sectors with participants in the Specialist Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship at SIMGE (SIM Global Education). This will be an interactive workshop where I’ll dive into how the government thinks, talks, and acts. I’m also looking forward to learning from the leaders in their respective fields. Can’t wait to meet everyone and exchange ideas.

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This year we’re very happy to sponsor Financial Promoter’s Young Financial Promoter Award. To celebrate all the candidates, over the next few days we’ll be posting brief interviews with all the candidates. First up is Natalie Cheung, who handles PR and comms for trading and investing platform, eToro. Congratulations to all the nominees! 🔹What do you find most rewarding about working in this field? "Being able to help more people learn about investing and growing wealth. Financial health is a crucial part of everybody's overall wellbeing, but finance for the most part is still a black box and financial institutions traditionally have not done a great job of allowing the general public to understand how money works. As marketers and communicators we are given the challenge (and opportunity) to explain these topics in accessible and creative ways that make them feel 'real'. More importantly, we can motivate people to take action towards better financial health, whether it's opening their first investment account, signing up for a course, or telling a friend about what they learnt." 🔹What would you like to see more of in the world of financial services marketing & comms? "I'd like to see more diverse voices in this field. Part of the communication challenge we're facing is that many people think that financial knowledge and access to financial services are reserved for people who look or sound a certain way, or come from a certain background. That's why not only do companies need more diverse spokespeople, they also need to change the solemn and even elitist way in which they talk about finance. In the future I'd like to see more firms showing that financial services are for everyone and part of the everyday." #FinProms24 #Awards #YoungFinancialPromoter #Communications #PR #Finance

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While it’s long been known that Singapore endeavours to be a green finance hub, ensuring that those in the financial services sector has the requisite sustainable skills have not been discussed as much. The Job Transformation Map study commissioned by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Institute of Banking and Finance Singapore found that more than 50,000 people in jobs from sales to risk compliance and legal, and product development, will have new sustainable finance-related job tasks added to their critical work functions. This comes as the sustainable finance market in Asean is expected to amount to $4 to $5 trillion in the next decade, with financial institutions playing a key role in helping to catalyse the transformation needed. The report, by KPMG also anticipates that about 4,000 to 5,000 new sustainable finance-related jobs will be required over the next decade, ranging from sustainability risk to sustainable strategy. To help develop these sustainability finance specialists over the next three years, MAS said it has set aside $35 million in the Financial Sector Development Fund to support professionals in acquiring these new skills. More than 65 dedicated courses in sustainable finance will also be offered in various local institutes of higher learning, like Sustainable and Green Finance Institute (SGFIN) and Singapore Green Finance Centre. At the same time, a new Asia Centre of Carbon Excellence was also launched, as part of a collaboration between GenZero and South Pole, which will help bring together a group of international experts focused on innovative and novel carbon project development, carbon policy and capacity-building. This includes supporting the rollout of early coal plant decommissioning through the implementation of Coal to Clean Credits Initiative methodology for transition credits on viable regional coal plants. Verra It will also look to develop methodologies that can help scale up the use of green #hydrogen projects through #carbon financing and credits. More in my story here from the final day of Ecosperity: https://lnkd.in/gRwUpeSP Key measures at a glance:

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Please join this webinar to gain valuable insights into market outlook in Asia.

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We're starting to see the first Asian SLBs hit their KPIs, giving us case studies for the product as the market moves forward. We may see another SLB from Thailand very soon as the sovereign eyes an issue. Thanks to Thai Union Group PCL., Anthropocene Fixed Income Institute, Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility and Krungsri for their insights. #asia #sustainability #slb #bonds #thailand

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Coal provides more than half of electricity in Southeast Asia, but change is coming, with Singapore championing the need to phaseout coal. Banks in Singapore have voiced support, but continue to finance the coal sector. Read more on how they need to change from my colleague Danielle Koh

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Thrilled to share that my colleague, Yoon Ng, was featured on Bloomberg Asia Markets discussing the latest trends in APAC fund flows. In her interview, Yoon explored pivotal topics including: - Investment interest and sentiment across various asset classes - Impacts of market volatility, macroeconomic challenges, and geopolitical tensions on asset allocations - Key factors driving asset growth in markets like China and Japan - Emerging themes and trends in alternative investment strategies - The transformative influence of technological advancements, particularly AI-driven analytics, on asset allocation decisions This is a must-watch for those interested in the evolving landscape of asset management. Tune in from 3:22 to hear Yoon's valuable insights into these pressing trends. Catch the full interview here: http://spklr.io/6040Sd8G #AssetManagement #InvestmentTrends #FundFlows #GlobalDemandModel

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Yesterday, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 0.50 percentage points, marking the first reduction in over four years. This significant shift signifies a departure from the Fed's previous focus on fighting inflation. Key takeaways from this decision include: - The federal funds rate now ranges between 4.75% and 5%, down from the previous 5.25%-5.5%. - The Fed is shifting its focus from controlling inflation to promoting economic growth and supporting employment. - Projections suggest that rates could drop to 4.4% by the end of the year, indicating a continued easing of monetary policy. - Chair Powell mentioned slowing inflation and a weakening labor market as reasons for the rate cut, aiming for a "soft landing" to prevent a recession. - This move affects borrowing and lending rates across the board, from mortgages to savings accounts, potentially providing relief for businesses and consumers. While this rate cut provides cheaper access to capital, it also raises questions for investors, such as how to reposition portfolios. On a broader level, this policy shift introduces a delicate balancing act. It aims to steer the economy away from a recession without reigniting inflation. The potential easing of borrowing costs could spur investments, but will it be enough to fuel sustained growth in uncertain times? I’m curious to hear your thoughts: How do you plan to adjust your investments or business in response to these changes? What impact do you foresee this rate cut having on the broader economy in the future? Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gCz-niZ8 #FederalReserve #InterestRates #Economy #Finance

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The cash equities business remains key to the Singapore Exchange’s (SGX) strategy, and the bourse’s leaders remain committed to growing it, says SGX Group CEO Loh Boon Chye. Speaking at SGX’s 25th annual general meeting on Oct 10, Loh sought to assure shareholders that the stock market “remains high” on management’s agenda. “It is an important pillar of Singapore’s financial ecosystem. We’re hopeful that our cash equities business will improve when all quarters of the ecosystem rally together to structurally improve liquidity and trading.” The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) convened in August an equities market review group, which will propose ways to stem a series of delistings here and revive the listing venue. One shareholder questioned how the review group might stimulate demand for cash equities, citing a point made in SGX Group chairman Koh Boon Hwee’s letter to shareholders in SGX’s latest annual report, released Sept 16. Koh had said in his letter that previous attempts at addressing the issues of the stock market had been “incremental and focused on the supply side”. “We need to be more holistic in our approach, and more importantly, give equal emphasis to the demand side of the marketplace. It requires concerted effort from all quarters.” Koh is among the 10 members of the review group, which also includes Lee Chuan Teck, chairman of EnterpriseSG; Chia Der Jiun, managing director of MAS; Temasek Holdings CEO Dilhan Pillay. Hence, the shareholder also asked for Koh’s personal views on whether large institutional investors like Temasek and GIC should be called upon to invest in SGX-listed companies. Read the full story for free on The Edge Singapore.

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I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to build a new beat for The Business Times in private markets, and have spent three and a half months reaching out to various players to get their thoughts on trends and developments. One reason I picked private markets was because more money has moved out of the floundering public markets and into the private arena. The more people I talk to, the clearer it becomes to me that the health of public and private markets is linked. That led me to write the piece below. The link is free to read for the next 14 days. Feel free to share widely and repost. If you have a different opinion, an idea for how to improve the financial ecosystem, or just want to share your agreement, I am all ears.

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🇭🇰 As expatriates leave Hong Kong, businesses and communities are feeling the impact. Some have closed up shop, while others adapt to the influx of mainland Chinese residents. But as the city shifts, questions linger: What does this mean for Hong Kong’s cosmopolitan identity? 🎥 Watch my video for more: https://lnkd.in/gkg3AFwf #HongKong #Expat #BusinessTransformation #MainlandChina #ChannelNewsAsia

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🌏 Proud to wave the proverbial Southeast Asia banner at last week's IPEM Paris 2024 alongside my fellow panelists Rishika Chandan and Paul Choo as well as our moderator, Eric Marchand. Southeast Asia is at a crucial juncture of growth and opportunity. Starting with the basics: Southeast Asia will add ~140m new consumers by 2030. This population is large (today over 660m), young, rapidly urbanising and entering the middle class en mass. Besides this remarkable consumption story – Southeast Asia’s economic resilience and stability is also notable with GDP and FDI flows remaining robust over the past 5 years. Notable is that in 2023, SEA-6 attracted over USD 200bn in FDI, surpassing China for the first time in a decade. This shift is driven by the region’s strategic advantages and market potential, making ASEAN an increasingly crucial hub for manufacturing and offering new investment prospects as global supply chains evolve. Further, the venture capital and private equity landscape in ASEAN is maturing rapidly. Assets under management have reached $69 billion, signaling a growing and competitive investment ecosystem. This growth presents numerous opportunities across various sectors, particularly technology and innovation. However, ASEAN faces challenges, including economic disparities among member countries, inconsistent regulatory environments, inadequate infrastructure, and governance and sustainability issues. Addressing these challenges is essential for unlocking the region's full growth potential. As ASEAN continues to grow, its potential as a leading hub for venture capital and growth funding in Asia-Pacific is clear. By engaging with the region’s dynamic ecosystems, investors can play a significant role in shaping its future and tapping into its extensive opportunities. At TNB AURA, we are dedicated to exploring these opportunities and believe that Southeast Asia’s dynamic landscape offers unmatched potential for innovation and growth. 🙏 Credit to the Collyer Capital team for the succinct summary deck posted below (with permission of course).

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Day 4 of our list highlighting the individuals who stand out in driving the the #lifeinsurance industry forward via steady investment processes, robust operations, sustainability measures, as well as advocacy for best practices and transparency. #top15 #insurance . Today's names come from #Indonesia and #Japan

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