Fintech

Grab Listing Puts SEA’s Tech On The Map

Singapore-headquartered super app Grab's plans to go public in the United States (US), in what is the largest blank cheque company deal ever, is testament to the growth prospects of Southeast Asia and Singapore's start-up ecosystem, analysts and industry players said.Grab, which started out as MyTeksi to address the safety concerns of taxi commuters in Kuala Lumpur, announced on Tuesday (13 April) its agreement with Altimeter Growth, a special purpose acquisition c

14 April 2021
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China’s Regulatory War On Big Tech

Ever since Alibaba founder Jack Ma criticised Chinese financial regulation in a speech last October, a regulatory storm has pummelled the country’s entire online financial and consumer sector.

16 March 2021
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Why Is China Cracking Down On Alibaba?

Since the Chinese authorities suddenly halted fintech conglomerate Ant Group’s planned initial public offering in autumn 2020, its parent company, e-commerce king Alibaba, has been facing harsh regulatory scrutiny.

3 February 2021
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Digital Payments In A Pandemic World

The coronavirus crisis has disrupted businesses everywhere. From large corporations to start-ups and small vendors – industries are feeling the pinch from the pandemic. Sectors such as tourism and aviation have been hit especially hard.

12 December 2020
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Digitalising Malaysia’s SMEs With Fintech

Financial technology or fintech is not only the new kid on the block, but a pivotal game-changer for the digitalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).Quoting from professional services network firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), fintech is simply the evolving dynamic intersection and strategic overlap between financial services and technology. Presently, SMEs are having to grapple with cash flow problems – with growing unsettled and accumulating liabilities in their bal

4 December 2020
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Jack Ma’s Ant Group Stopped In Its Tracks

The Chinese fintech conglomerate Ant Group, known for its digital payments and other online financial services, has just been stopped in its tracks, after Chinese regulators suspended its simultaneous public listing, originally scheduled for 5 November, on the Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchanges. The suspension is possibly in response to a recent speech by Jack Ma, Ant’s controlling shareholder, who was critical of financial regulations that he believes show insufficient understan

6 November 2020
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Digital Finance For A Fairer Post-COVID World

Today’s unprecedented COVID-19 crisis has prompted billions of people to work, socialise, and consume digitally. This shift creates a historic opportunity to unlock the potential of digitalisation to finance more inclusive, sustainable development. Digitalisation is transforming every aspect of finance.

9 September 2020
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More Women Tapping On Fintech?

Southeast Asia has a growing fintech ecosystem which provides innovative services such as loans and payment platforms. Fintech fosters a financial inclusion strategy that can reduce the growing wealth gap and provide the poor with critical resources.A 2019 study by ValueChampion, a Singapore-based personal finance and consumer research brand, placed Singapore second after Australia as one of the ‘Best countries for women in fintech in Asia-Pacific’.

29 August 2020
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Going Cashless In A Pandemic World

The coronavirus crisis has disrupted businesses everywhere. From large corporations to start-ups and small vendors – industries are feeling the pinch from the pandemic. Sectors such as tourism and aviation have been hit especially hard.

27 May 2020
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Ant Financial Invests In Myanmar's Wave Money

Ant Financial, the Chinese operator of Alipay, announced its plans to invest US$73.5 million for a minority stake in Digital Money Myanmar Limited, a fintech company based in Myanmar locally known as Wave Money, the companies announced in a press release.Wave Money, a mobile financial services provider, allows users to send and receive money through a network of more than 57,000 agents or “Wave Shops” distributed across urban and rural areas covering approximately 89 percent of the country.&a

21 May 2020
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Digital Banking In Southeast Asia

In 2019, the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) announced that it will issue five digital bank licences to non-bank players to add value, innovation and diversity to the region’s financial hub.The five new digital bank licences will comprise of up to two digital full bank licences, which allow licensees to provide a wide range of financial services and take deposits from retail customers, and up to three digital wholesale bank licences – which allow licensees to serve small and medium en

17 February 2020
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ASEAN Unicorns On The Rise

ASEAN’s attractive investment market, along with an expansive digital environment has led to the emergence of a vibrant start-up ecosystem across the region.

19 January 2020
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