Industry News

Schroders Wealth Management has announced the appointment of Peter Flavel as Chair and Independent Non-Executive Director of the Board of Schroder & Co (Asia) Limited, pending regulatory approval. Flavel will collaborate with Evonne Tan, the newly appointed CEO of Schroders Wealth Management, Asia, to drive growth in this key market.

Flavel brings over 30 years of experience in international private banking and wealth management, having held senior roles across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas. His notable achievements include establishing Standard Chartered’s global Private Bank and serving as CEO of J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Management for Asia Pacific. Most recently, he was the CEO of Coutts, where he led significant transformation efforts.

The appointment underscores Schroders Wealth Management’s commitment to Asia as a core growth market. Oliver Gregson, CEO of Schroders Wealth Management, remarked, “Asia remains one of the most attractive long-term wealth markets globally and is central to our growth ambitions. Peter is a highly respected industry leader with a deep understanding of private banking, wealth management and the opportunities across Asia.”

Flavel expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Schroders Wealth Management has a strong heritage, a distinctive client proposition and a clear ambition for growth in Asia. I am delighted to be joining the Board and look forward to working closely with Evonne and the wider team.”

This leadership change also marks a governance transition, with Jason Lai stepping down from the Board after years of contribution to the firm’s development in Asia. The firm expressed gratitude for Lai’s service to both the business and its clients.

Bank of Singapore has announced a refresh of its Chief Investment Office Global Advisory Council and released its latest Supertrends report for 2026. The council, established in 2024, now includes John Studzinski from PIMCO and Lauren Goodwin from KKR, joining a roster of esteemed experts from various sectors. This move aims to enhance the bank’s advisory capabilities amidst a rapidly changing global landscape.

The newly released report, titled “Supertrends 2026: Cycles, Halos and Moonshots,” outlines five key structural shifts expected to reshape capital, risk, and opportunity. These include navigating chokepoints, adopting a whole portfolio approach, China’s renaissance, the pervasive influence of artificial intelligence, and the growth of the longevity economy. The report encourages investors to look beyond short-term market fluctuations and focus on long-term wealth creation opportunities.

The council’s insights are integral to the bank’s strategic direction, providing clients with a comprehensive view of the geopolitical and economic trends that could impact investment decisions. The bank’s commitment to delivering world-class investment insights is further demonstrated through its annual CIO Summit series, where council members and industry leaders discuss future investment themes.

As the private banking arm of OCBC Group, Bank of Singapore continues to strengthen its role as a strategic anchor for investment leadership, offering valuable perspectives to ultra-high net worth families and high net worth individuals across Asia.

Syfe, a digital wealth platform headquartered in Singapore, has launched ‘Curate with AI’, a new feature on its brokerage service. This innovative tool enables users to input a theme or event and quickly identify stocks with real exposure to it, streamlining the traditionally complex process of stock selection. The launch coincides with the FIFA World Cup, allowing users to explore investment ideas such as “World Cup sponsors”.

The tool is designed to make thematic investing more accessible by using artificial intelligence to analyse market data, news, and company information in real-time. It assigns a relevance score to each stock, providing investors with greater control and flexibility without additional fees. Users can build a custom basket from the results and invest any amount, thanks to the option of fractional shares.

Key features include:

– Input a theme or event to identify relevant stocks.
– Select US stocks to include in a custom basket.
– Invest with fractional shares, eliminating minimum investment requirements.
– Assign weights to stocks based on market cap and relevance.

Dhruv Arora, Founder and CEO of Syfe, stated, “Mapping out exactly which companies are exposed to a specific event or trend no longer requires access to a bank analyst or hours of research. The tools once reserved for the largest cheques and the biggest institutions should be available to everyone.”

Syfe’s new feature builds on its existing Bundles, which are pre-packaged baskets of stocks or ETFs grouped by theme. Curate with AI offers users the flexibility to research and invest in their own themes or events, enhancing the platform’s appeal to a broader range of investors.

Retail rents in Singapore have shown stability in Q2 2026, according to Knight Frank Singapore’s latest report. Despite geopolitical uncertainties and cost pressures, the retail sector has maintained resilience by adjusting rental structures. Galven Tan, CEO of Knight Frank Singapore, suggests that “retail resilience could start by tweaking rental flexibility with lower base rents and more shared growth through elevating a performance variable.”

Prime retail rents in Orchard Road are at S$31.90 per square foot per month, whilst suburban areas are at S$27.80. The island-wide average gross rent for prime retail space increased slightly by 0.7% quarter-on-quarter to S$29.00 per square foot per month.

Visitor arrivals between April and May 2026 totalled 2.6 million, a decrease from earlier in the year, yet tourism spending reached a record S$32.8 billion in 2025. This indicates a shift towards higher spending on experiences rather than shopping, as Singapore evolves into an experiential destination.

The retail landscape is also seeing closures and new entrants. Notable closures include Old School Delights and Jumbo Seafood’s flagship outlet, whilst new openings like CHAGEE and Torikizoku highlight Singapore’s continued appeal for expansion. The upcoming RTS Link is expected to enhance Johor Bahru’s attractiveness as an alternative market for Singapore-based operators.

Looking ahead, tourist arrivals are expected to remain stable with increased spending, supporting retail activity. Rents are projected to grow by 2% to 4% for the full year 2026.

QuikBot Technologies, a Singapore-based deep tech start-up, has announced the appointment of Howie Lau as Board Adviser for Strategy, Government and Ecosystem. Lau, who is the former Managing Partner for Corporate Development and Partnerships at NCS Group, brings over 33 years of experience in technology, telecommunications, and media sectors to his new role at QuikBot.

QuikBot is pioneering the Ambient Permission Plane (AmbPP) for Physical AI, a trust infrastructure enabling autonomous systems to operate securely and at scale. The company’s QuikSync platform implements this technology, facilitating secure collaboration across real-world environments. Lau’s extensive background includes leadership roles at NCS Group, the Infocomm Media Development Authority, StarHub, and Lenovo, where he has been instrumental in mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships across the Asia Pacific region.

The appointment is strategically significant as QuikBot aims to lead in the deployment of Physical AI by aligning regulators, enterprises, and autonomous systems around shared trust infrastructure. Alan Ng, Founder and CEO of QuikBot Technologies, stated, “Howie’s experience building national technology ecosystems will help accelerate QuikBot’s mission to establish the Ambient Permission Plane as foundational infrastructure for the Physical AI economy.”

Lau expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “Physical AI has the potential to become one of the defining technology platforms of the coming decade. I look forward to supporting QuikBot as it helps shape this emerging global category.”

QuikBot Technologies, founded in 2021, is expanding its commercial projects across Singapore and the UAE, with pilots planned in Japan. The company collaborates with partners like Mitsubishi Lift and ST Engineering, and has been recognised as LogiSYM Best Robotics Company 2026 and Regional Start-up of the Year for Southeast Asia.

The recent policy change to lower the age threshold for seniors applying for Community Care Apartments (CCA) aligns it with the eligibility for 2-room flexi flats. This adjustment provides seniors with more housing options, including lease buyback schemes, silver housing bonuses, and the choice between 2-room flexi flats or CCAs, depending on their needs.

The Basic Service Package cost for CCAs will be reduced by up to 75%, significantly enhancing affordability for seniors. This reduction is expected to increase the application rate for CCAs, which had dropped to 0.7 in the last CCA project at Fernvale Plains, from an initial 4.2 when first introduced. Huttons anticipates the application rate for the upcoming Toa Payoh CCA in October 2026 to rise above 1.

An increase in CCA applications could lead to more larger flats entering the resale market in three to four years. However, these flats may be older with shorter leases, potentially limiting the pool of buyers who can use CPF to finance their purchase.

The Energy Market Authority (EMA) of Singapore and Japan’s Electricity and Gas Market Surveillance Commission (EGC) have formalised their collaboration through a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed on 13 July 2026. This agreement aims to enhance cooperation and information exchange in the gas and electricity markets, focusing on regulatory practices and system stability.

The MoC, signed in Singapore by EMA’s Chief Executive Puah Kok Keong and EGC’s Secretary General Tatsuya Shinkawa, outlines several collaborative activities. These include dialogues between the two organisations, technical exchanges, study visits, and joint research opportunities. The initiative is designed to keep regulatory practices current amidst a rapidly evolving energy landscape.

Puah Kok Keong emphasised the importance of these exchanges, stating, “Our exchanges with EGC are part of our efforts to ensure a well-functioning energy market and the reliability of power supply.” He also highlighted the upcoming Regulators@SIEW event during the Singapore International Energy Week in October 2026 as a platform for further discussions.

Tatsuya Shinkawa noted the shared challenges between Japan and Singapore in maintaining reliable energy supply and efficient electricity markets. “We are pleased to conclude this MoC with EMA and look forward to strengthening cooperation, exchanging experience, and enhancing consumer protection for the benefit of both countries,” he said.

This partnership marks a significant step in addressing common energy sector challenges and improving market regulation for both nations.

Hilton has announced the opening of its latest venture, the Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort, situated between a centuries-old rainforest and the Andaman Sea. This new addition to Hilton’s portfolio aims to attract travellers from Singapore and beyond, offering a serene getaway just 1.5 hours away.

The resort spans nearly 22 acres and features 251 rooms, each equipped with private terraces or balconies that overlook the rainforest, mountains, or sea. Designed to provide a restorative experience, the resort includes guided rainforest walks, a signature Eforea Spa, and a variety of dining options. Guests can enjoy authentic Asian cuisine at Gingerfire, artisanal coffees at Haliya Lounge, and Italian dishes at Trattoria Mare.

Alexandra Murray, Hilton’s area vice president and head of South East Asia, highlighted the strategic importance of the resort, stating, “The opening of Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort reflects Hilton’s commitment to bringing its flagship brand’s experience to Malaysia’s most renowned leisure destinations.”

The resort also offers extensive facilities for families and events, including a Kids’ Club, recreational courts, and over 5,400 square feet of event space. The Orchid Grand Ballroom and the Grand Lawn provide picturesque settings for weddings and corporate retreats.

Hilton Burau Bay Langkawi Resort is part of the Hilton Honours programme, offering members exclusive benefits. To celebrate its opening, Hilton Honours members can earn 5,000 points with a minimum three-night stay until 31 October 2026. This new resort marks a significant expansion of Hilton’s presence in Malaysia, with more luxury openings planned for later this year.

Lighthouse Canton, a global investment institution with over $5b in assets under management, has appointed Angela Saik as Managing Director, Wealth Management in Singapore. This strategic move aims to bolster the company’s presence across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei. Saik brings over two decades of experience in advising high-net-worth clients, having previously held senior roles at Royal Bank of Canada, Pictet Wealth Management, and DBS Private Bank.

Saik’s appointment comes as Lighthouse Canton seeks to capitalise on Southeast Asia’s projected economic growth of 4.3% in 2026, outpacing the global average of 3.1%, according to the International Monetary Fund. The region’s burgeoning private wealth presents a significant opportunity for the firm, which aims to double its assets under management to $10b by 2027. Saik will focus on building new client relationships and expanding her team to meet the rising demand for independent wealth solutions.

Commenting on her new role, Saik said, “Southeast Asia is at the start of one of the most significant intergenerational wealth transitions the region has seen. The conversations are no longer only about what to invest in. They are about succession, cross-border structuring, how wealth holds together across generations, and what it should ultimately stand for.”

Shilpi Chowdhary, Group CEO of Lighthouse Canton, welcomed Saik, noting her extensive advisory experience and linguistic skills, which include fluency in English, Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, Cantonese, and Hokkien. This appointment is part of Lighthouse Canton’s broader global expansion strategy, which recently included a $40m funding round and several senior hires across Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

Q & M Dental Group has announced significant strides in its regional expansion strategy with the acquisition of stakes in Thailand and Australia. The group will gain a 51% stake in Deezy Q & M, a network of over 30 dental clinics in Thailand, for $27.5m (THB 994.5m). This acquisition will be financed through a combination of cash and new Q & M shares, subject to a 15-year lock-up. The deal is supported by a six-year profit guarantee, ensuring financial stability and growth potential.

The CEO of Q & M Dental Group, Ng Chin Siau, expressed confidence in the partnership with Deezy, citing the clinic’s professional team and established reputation as key factors in the decision. “Thailand has long been a market of interest for us, and Deezy stands out as the right partner for our next step forward,” he stated.

In addition, Q & M is set to acquire 100% of the Experteeth Group in Australia for $76.5m (A$119.64m). This acquisition includes 40 clinics and approximately 120 dentists across several Australian states. The deal is backed by an eight-year, $72m (A$112.6m) profit guarantee, with key dentists retained as strategic partners under 15-year service agreements.

Ng Chin Siau highlighted the significance of the Australian acquisition, noting, “Our acquisition of the Experteeth Group marks a defining milestone in Q & M’s internationalisation strategy and a significant step in our long-term ambition to build a leading dental services platform across the Asia-Pacific region.”

These strategic moves are set to enhance Q & M Dental Group’s presence beyond its existing markets in Singapore, China, and Malaysia, positioning the company as a formidable player in the Asia-Pacific dental services sector.