Charmaine Foo
Desk byline for wealth at Asianomist: investing, savings and rates, property, and consumer and retail.
Vingroup's Pham Thu Huong Wealth Surpasses Oprah Winfrey, Taylor Swift
Pham Thu Huong, Vingroup's Vice Chairwoman, now holds a US$4.4 billion net worth. This places her as Southeast Asia's second-richest woman, ahead of global figures like Oprah Winfrey and Taylor Swift on Forbes' real-time billionaire list, driven by Vingroup's share performance.
Beijing Offshore Trust Tax Deadline Nears for Global Chinese Wealth
Mainland tax residents face a 20 per cent levy on realised gains from offshore trusts, with a penalty-free declaration window closing on October 22.
Singapore PSD reviews civil servant MRT property allegations
Singapore's Public Service Division is examining a US-published research paper that claims public officials bought homes near unannounced train stations, potentially leading to a CPIB referral.
Hong Kong Tax Savings Boost Indian Couple's Wealth
An Indian couple living in Hong Kong estimates annual tax savings of ₹7.5 lakh compared to India, leveraging higher incomes and lower tax rates for wealth growth.
HSBC Midcap Fund Leads Indian Peers in Three-Year SIP Returns; Large Funds Lag
Only four Indian mid-cap funds delivered over 17% annualised three-year Systemic Investment Plan (SIP) returns, Value Research data shows. HSBC Midcap Fund topped the list at 20.70%, while several larger funds by assets under management (AUM) showed lower performance.
India's largest flexi-cap funds trail smaller rivals in one-year returns
Three dominant flexi-cap schemes, holding over half of India's sector assets, delivered modest or negative returns over the past year, AMFI data shows.
SBI NFO Drives India Balanced Hybrid Fund Inflows in August, AMFI Shows
Despite aggressive hybrid funds delivering stronger one-year returns, India's balanced hybrid funds attracted ₹1,836 crore in August 2026, largely driven by a single new fund launch.
India EPF Balances Keep Earning Interest Post-Job Change
Indian workers' Employee Provident Fund (EPF) balances continue to accrue interest until age 58, even after employment or contributions cease, the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) confirms.
PFRDA Expands NPS Access, Tightens PoP Oversight
India's pension regulator, PFRDA, outlined proposals to broaden National Pension System (NPS) access across the country. The changes expand eligible entities for Points of Presence (PoPs) and introduce a dedicated digital onboarding channel. They also strengthen PoP accountability for subscriber data and potential fraud.
India Gold Ownership: Documentation Key, Not Quantity
India imposes no statutory cap on individual gold ownership. Widely cited limits apply to income-tax search exemptions, not legal holdings. Proper source documentation remains critical for legitimacy.
Hong Kong Leads Asia Billionaires; China Cities Gain from AI Wealth
Hong Kong held Asia's top spot for billionaires in 2025, Altrata reported. Mainland Chinese cities gained rapidly, driven by artificial intelligence wealth.
Experts: Debt Funds Boost Young Investor Portfolios
Young investors benefit from debt mutual funds, even with high equity risk tolerance. Bajaj Capital and Anand Rathi Wealth explain how debt provides portfolio stability, liquidity, and diversification. Asset allocation should align with financial goals and horizons, not merely age.
Indian Home Loans: Rate Hikes Add ₹46 Lakh to Repayment
Indian borrowers face significantly higher home loan costs as interest rates climb. A ₹1 crore loan over 20 years sees total interest payment increase by ₹46 lakh with a 3% rate rise.
Pham Thu Huong Becomes Vietnam's Second Richest as Vingroup Shares Rally
Pham Thu Huong, Vingroup's Vice Chairwoman, now holds Vietnam's second-richest individual title. Her net worth reached US$4 billion, driven by Vingroup's stock performance.
India Hybrid Funds: Multi-Asset Allocation Leads 3-Year SIP Returns, Balanced Advantage Lags
India's multi-asset allocation funds delivered the strongest three-year Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) returns among hybrid categories. This performance, based on recent Value Research data, contrasts sharply with balanced advantage funds, which showed the lowest returns.
India Mid-Cap Funds Show Deepest Alpha Underperformance by July 2026
Recent data reveals several Indian mid-cap and small-cap funds delivered negative alpha, indicating underperformance against their benchmarks. Taurus Mid Cap Fund recorded the largest negative alpha as of July 2026.
India Differentiates Stock Trading Profits for Tax, Impacts ITR Deadlines
Indian taxpayers must correctly classify stock trading profits as capital gains or business income. This distinction alters Income Tax Return (ITR) filing deadlines and loss adjustment rules, preventing penalties.
India's ITR Deadlines Approach: Penalties for Missed August 31 Filing
India's income tax return (ITR) filing deadline for business and professional income is August 31, 2026. Missing this date triggers penalties and interest, though options for belated returns remain until December 31, 2026. Specific deadlines vary by taxpayer category.
India Mandates CA Certification for Overseas Remittances from April 2026
India's Income Tax Department now mandates Chartered Accountant certification for specific taxable foreign remittances from April 2026, streamlining Tax Deducted at Source (TDS) calculations.
India Income Tax Department Details ITR-3, ITR-4 Selection for AY 2026-27
India's Income Tax Department issued guidance for taxpayers selecting between ITR-3 and ITR-4 forms for Assessment Year 2026-27. The checklist helps individuals and firms meet the 31 August filing deadline.
RBI Finalises ₹14,957 Redemption Price for August 2026 Gold Bonds
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced the premature redemption price for two tranches of Sovereign Gold Bonds (SGBs) due on August 11, 2026, setting it at ₹14,957 per unit.
India's Unclaimed Bank Deposits in RBI Fund Reach ₹98,073 Crore
India's Reserve Bank holds nearly ₹98,073 crore in forgotten bank deposits. The government and RBI are streamlining processes for individuals to reclaim these funds.
CA Anil Sagayanathan Exposes India's ₹1 Crore Salary Trap: No Financial Freedom
Chartered accountant Anil Sagayanathan shows how high incomes, even ₹1 crore, often fail to deliver financial freedom in India. Lifestyle inflation, taxes, and peer pressure diminish financial security despite large salaries.
India ITAT Mumbai Rules Non-Resident ESOP Fair Value is Acquisition Cost
India's Income Tax Appellate Tribunal (ITAT) Mumbai has clarified that the fair market value (FMV) of employee stock option plan (ESOP) shares at exercise can be the acquisition cost for non-residents. This applies even if the ESOP benefit was not taxed in India, providing tax clarity.
Syfe Offers 3.0% Projected Yield on New Singapore Dollar Cash+ Enhanced Product
Singapore's Syfe introduced Cash+ Enhanced, a new Singapore dollar product projecting up to a 3.0% annual yield with no lock-in period or minimum deposit.
Standard Chartered: Hong Kong Affluent Prioritise Travel, Early Retirement Over Property
Wealthy Hongkongers now value immersive travel and early retirement above real estate. A Standard Chartered survey shows a significant shift in life goals among the city's affluent residents.
SEBI's Singh: India Mutual Fund Distributors Crucial for Investor Stability, Market Reach
India's capital markets regulator highlights mutual fund distributors as vital for investor retention during market volatility and expanding access to financial products, as the sector's assets under management reach ₹85 lakh crore.
China Offshore Wealth Tax to Target HK Property, Threatening Mainland Demand
Beijing's expanded offshore wealth tax, currently targeting insurance gains, could soon encompass Hong Kong property income. This shift may reduce mainland Chinese investment demand for Hong Kong real estate and pressure decentralised office markets.
Bombay High Court Upholds Property Revocation for Neglectful Son
India's Bombay High Court affirmed a tribunal's order. A son must vacate properties gifted by his parents. He failed to provide elder care, breaching gift deed conditions.
HDFC Mid Cap Fund AUM Crosses ₹1 Lakh Crore; Investors Weigh Size
HDFC Mid Cap Fund's assets under management (AUM) reached ₹1 lakh crore this year, prompting investor debate on whether large funds can sustain returns. Wealth managers advise assessing fund management quality and specific metrics beyond AUM alone.