Charmaine Foo
Desk byline for wealth at Asianomist: investing, savings and rates, property, and consumer and retail.
India's Policybazaar warns on Diwali fire risks, highlights home insurance
Ahead of Diwali, Policybazaar's Ashwini Dubey advises Indian homeowners to review their insurance against fire damage, with premiums starting at ₹18 monthly.
Indian Platforms Groww, Zerodha Open US Stock Access
Indian retail investors can now access US equities through Groww, with Zerodha soon to follow, driven by domestic market underperformance and a weaker rupee.
India's Lab-Grown Diamond Sales Face New Tax Rules, Lower Resale Value
Buyers of lab-grown diamond jewellery in India now pay 3% Goods and Services Tax, with long-term capital gains taxed at 12.5% without indexation.
India Tax Dept. Demands Justification for Digital Funds
India's Income Tax Department is enhancing oversight of bank account credits, including Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions, requiring individuals and businesses to justify unexplained funds.
Indian Insurers Reject Term Life Claims Over Data Errors
Many Indian families face financial instability when term insurance payouts are denied, often due to policyholders providing incomplete or inaccurate information on applications.
Value Research Warns India's Dhanteras Gold Buys Not Investment
Dhirendra Kumar of Value Research highlights high costs and illiquidity of traditional gold purchases, as India's gold jewellery loans doubled to ₹5 trillion by May 2026.
Next-Gen Heirs Demand Greater Family Office Influence in Asia
Younger inheritors in Asia are demanding more active roles in family office decisions, as substantial wealth is expected to transfer across generations over the next 15 years.
India's EPFO Replaces EPF Tax Forms 15G, 15H with Single Form 121
India's Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) introduced Form 121 from April 1, 2026, simplifying tax deducted at source (TDS) relief declarations for eligible provident fund withdrawals.
Singapore AUM Reaches S$6.7 Trillion, MAS Calls for Broader Financial Guidance
The Monetary Authority of Singapore reported 10.1 per cent growth in assets under management for 2025, prompting a push for banks and fintechs to offer accessible financial planning to everyday families.
India's PFRDA enables NPS accounts on PhonePe, BHIM
India's Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) introduced a three-step digital registration for the National Pension System (NPS) on payment apps, requiring a minimum initial contribution of ₹ 250.
Indian Corporate FDs Offer Up to 8.95%; Muthoot Capital Leads
Muthoot Capital Services provides the highest yield on three-year corporate fixed deposits, with other firms like Manipal Housing Finance also offering competitive returns.
Gen Z Art Spending Doubles, China, Hong Kong Drive US$60 Billion Market
New Art Basel and UBS data shows younger wealthy collectors spent over twice as much as older generations last year, pushing global art sales to nearly US$60 billion.
Indian Investors Adjust to New Dividend Tax Rules for FY2026-27
New tax provisions for the financial year 2026-27 mean investors can no longer deduct expenses incurred to earn dividend income, pushing focus towards growth-oriented assets.
India Home Loan Tax Breaks Not Automatic for Under-Construction
Indian homebuyers must verify eligibility for principal and interest deductions, which depend on property completion, payment type, and tax regime under the Income-tax Act, 2025.
Financial planners: SWP safer than IDCW for retiree tax, payouts
Financial planners suggest Systematic Withdrawal Plans (SWP) offer greater control and tax efficiency for post-work cash flow than traditional Income Distribution cum Capital Withdrawal (IDCW) payouts from mutual funds.
Vietnam's Ultra-Rich Population to Grow 59% by 2031, Knight Frank Says
This expansion, forecast as the world's fourth-fastest, reflects broader financial wealth growth expected to exceed 9% annually through 2030, according to Boston Consulting Group.
India's 'No-Cost EMI' for iPhone 18 Pro Carries Hidden Fees, Debt Risks
Indian consumers considering "no-cost" equated monthly instalments for an Apple iPhone 18 Pro face undisclosed processing fees and potential loss of upfront discounts, according to financial analysis.
AI Boom Concentrates Wealth, Challenges Diversification
A surge in artificial intelligence as an investment theme is heightening concentration risk across public equities, fixed income, and real assets, according to The Business Times.
Five Asian Billionaires Post World's Biggest Single-Day Wealth Gains
Three Chinese, one Japanese, and one South Korean tycoon collectively added billions to their fortunes, according to Forbes data from Monday, 28 September 2026.
Asia's Wealthy Underprepared for Longevity, Index Shows
Affluent families in mainland China and Hong Kong score 62/100 on a new longevity readiness index, despite US$5.8 trillion in regional asset transfers expected by 2030.
Wealth Co., FundsIndia Warn on Fund Overlap Risk
The Wealth Company's Debasish Mohanty and FundsIndia's Jiral Mehta explain how common holdings can create unintended concentration for investors.
Singapore PSD probes S$138m civil servant property deals
The Public Service Division is reviewing transactions between 2007 and 2011, after research cited 113 purchases totalling S$138 million near future MRT stations.
Pune ITAT Cancels ₹2.21 Lakh Tax Penalty for Bosch Employee
The tribunal's 2 September 2026 ruling for Dilip Gangaram Mali shows that taxpayers remain accountable for income tax return accuracy, even when using a consultant.
DragonFi first Philippine broker for global equities via SEC sandbox
The brokerage, a DoubleDragon Corp. unit, will allow investors to access foreign stocks and ETFs through an over-the-counter depositary receipt model under regulatory supervision.
India: Gold Beat Nifty 50 Post-Tax Over 20 Years
A ₹1 lakh investment in gold would have yielded ₹13.25 lakh after tax over 20 years, compared to ₹8.14 lakh for the Nifty 50, according to FundsIndia's latest report.
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.
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.