HSBC ups its game to cater to the wealthy
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is expected to see a significant increase in the percentage of adults with at least RM1mil in financial wealth over this decade, according to HSBC Bank.
HSBC head of international wealth and premier banking for Asia Kai Zhang said the percentage is projected to double, in line with the country's economic expansion.
'As the Malaysian economy grows, and our real gross domestic product growth forecast for Malaysia is 4.2% this year, so does the opportunity to build and sustain wealth,' Zhang said at the launch of the all-new HSBC Premier service yesterday.
HSBC Malaysia country head of international wealth and premier banking Linda Yip said the affluent market in Malaysia is also expanding.
Citing estimates by consulting company GlobalData, she said Malaysia's affluent segment, including high-net-worth individuals, is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.4% between 2025 and 2029, with liquid assets expected to reach nearly US$350bil in four years.
Yip said HSBC's Quality of Life study found that affluent Malaysians are diversifying their wealth to preserve their lifestyle and plan for future generations.
The study showed that 78% of their portfolios are in investments such as fixed income, bonds and equities, with the remaining 22% in cash.
The survey also found that 51% consider savings for vacation or leisure a top financial goal, while 48% place health and wellbeing among their main priorities.
'Malaysia is witnessing rapid growth in its affluent segment and with that growth comes evolving needs.
'Affluent customers now seek holistic solutions that help them accelerate their wealth, while also prioritising health and wellbeing,' Yip said.
With that in mind, HSBC introduced its all-new HSBC Premier service which is built around four pillars – wealth, health, travel and international coverage – to cater to these evolving needs.
The launch follows previous enhancements to its Premier services, including the introduction of HSBC Premier Elite in 2024, the opening of its flagship Wealth Centre at Tun Razak Exchange and the establishment of the HSBC Wealth Academy.
Under the wealth pillar, customers have access to more than 350 investment solutions, digital investment service features and advisory support to monitor their portfolios.
The health pillar includes discounts on health screenings and wellness packages through a partnership with Sunway Healthcare Group.
The travel pillar offers rewards and benefits through HSBC travel cards for Premier and Premier Elite customers, while the international pillar includes global money transfers to over 50 countries with no fees, preferential foreign exchange rates and access to 11 major currencies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
JS Solar inks IPO deal with TA Securities
(From left) TA Securities Holdings Bhd corporate finance head Ku Mun Fong, operations executive director Tah Heong Beng, JS Solar Holding Bhd managing director Johnson Chai Jeun Sian, chairman Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Hasan and Eco Asia Capital Advisory Sdn Bhd managing director Kelvin Khoo at the underwriting agreement signing ceremony of JS Solar in conjunction with its upcoming initial public offering on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia by the third quarter of 2025. KUALA LUMPUR: JS Solar Holding Bhd has inked an underwriting agreement with TA Securities Holdings Bhd in conjunction with its upcoming initial public offering (IPO) enroute to a listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. JS Solar is expected to be listed by the third quarter of financial year 2025. The solar photovoltaic (PV) system company said in a statement that the IPO exercise entails a public issue of 78 million new ordinary shares, representing 24% of the group's enlarged issued share capital, along an offer for sale of 19.5 million existing shares, representing 6% of the enlarged issued share capital. 'Of the 78 million issue shares, 16.25 million will be made available to the Malaysian public via balloting; and 19.5 million issue shares to eligible directors, employees and other persons who have contributed to the success of the group (pink form allocation). 'The remaining 42.25 million issue shares will be made available by way of private placement to selected investors,' it said. 'The 19.5 million offer shares will be made available by way of private placement to selected investors.' Pursuant to the underwriting agreement, TA Securities has agreed to underwrite a total of 35.75 million issue shares made available to the Malaysian public and pink form allocation. JS Solar, through its subsidiaries, principally provides engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning services and contracting services for solar PV systems, along with operations and maintenance services. Its managing director Johnson Chai Jeun Sian said the signing of the underwriting agreement with TA Securities brings them one step closer to their upcoming listing on the ACE Market. — Bernama
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Low impact likely on index from GDP data
PETALING JAYA: While the FBM KLCI may have closed lower yesterday, apparently in a cautious nod to the release of the country's second-quarter (2Q25) gross domestic product (GDP) numbers at noon today, analysts believe the economic data will have a limited impact on the premier index's performance, unless it is surprisingly unfavourable. The FBM KLCI settled at 1,581.05 points yesterday, down by 5.55, as losers trounced gainers by 472 to 379, as expert observers believe that Malaysia's GDP growth for 2Q25 is likely to miss the advanced target of 4.5%, ahead of Bank Negara Malaysia's (BNM) official announcement. Bursa Malaysia's flagship bourse has notably increased by approximately 4.5% since the start of August, from the 1,513.25 close on July 31. Head of dealing at Moomoo Malaysia Ken Low thinks that from a flow and positioning standpoint, the market's ability to test the 1,600-mark in the near term hinges more on liquidity momentum than a single GDP data point. 'While a miss versus the 4.5% advance estimate could dampen sentiment, foreign inflows remain constructive and domestic institutional participation is steady. 'Unless the GDP print comes in materially below consensus, we expect any dip to be met with buy-on-weakness interest. 'That said, the index pushing through 1,600 points in the next couple of weeks would require no deterioration in global risk appetite and continued stability in the ringgit,' he told StarBiz. Low pointed out that the August rally has been underpinned by a number of factors, among them sustained foreign net buying, aided by relative valuation appeal versus regional peers; sector earnings resilience in banking and consumer counters; as well as a relatively stable macro backdrop. 'The market has also been pricing in potential tailwinds from infrastructure rollouts and the energy transition theme, which are less sensitive to quarter-to-quarter GDP fluctuations,' said Low. Head of Asia equity strategy at HSBC Herald van der Linde observed that investors have turned their focus back on Asean equities, which benefits Malaysian markets. He identified the prospects of a weaker US dollar and lower interest rates to be an important factor, saying it helps Asia markets in general and Asean in particular. 'Also, the recent softness in Malaysian equities was a result of two factors – escalated tariff tensions and unease surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and data centre spending. 'Tariff risks have minimised at least for now, and everyone in Asean-5 faces similar tariff rates. This does not put Malaysia in any relative disadvantage to its peers,' he added. Moreover, van der Linde said the recent earning prints from the hyperscale data centres in the United States have restored investor confidence in AI as an investment theme, which he opined has reverberated through equity markets in Malaysia. He said: 'We do not see modest negative surprises in GDP to be detrimental to this newly restored confidence. 'However, any escalation in trade tensions, or negative news on the AI front are the bigger risks to look out for. Our 2025-end target for FBM KLCI is 1,600.' Head of equity sales and analyst at Rakuten Trade Vincent Lau concurred with Low that unless 2Q25 GDP growth shows up to be south of 4%, the 'negative surprise' impact is limited. While pointing out that any rate between 4% to 4.5% is already anticipated by the market, he hopes the recent good run on the FBM KLCI – which has mirrored the performances of other regional bourses – could become more broad-based. 'External trade factors have to an extent settled down, especially with the tariff truce between the United States and China, coupled with our own government having negotiated a better rate. 'However, although we are confident the index could reach the range of 1,630 to 1,650 by year-end, it would be healthier for the mini bull-run to also extend to the smaller caps, including the companies on initial public offerings,' Lau said. Meanwhile, chief investment officer at Tradeview Capital, Nixon Wong, who is also forecasting the FBM KLCI to touch 1,650 by the end of the year, nonetheless reported that the index's recent run up toward 1,600 has been driven mainly by local institutional buying. This is particularly in banking, utilities and telecommunication stocks, which is bolstered also by optimism around rate cut prospects in the United States . Despite cautioning that a larger than expected GDP growth miss could raise concerns over corporate earnings momentum, Wong emphasised the market is still in the August earnings window. 'Strong results from banks, plantations and utilities could keep the index resilient even if GDP is soft, and vice versa. The FBM KLCI could still test 1,600 within the next couple of weeks, supported by US rate cut hopes and selective earnings strength,' he remarked. More importantly, Wong said with China's market volatility and US valuations stretched, Asean is getting more attention from global allocators. He believes Malaysia, being relatively stable politically and macro-wise, can attract equity flows even in a slower growth environment. 'If the GDP slowdown is mild and BNM responds with easing while government spending continues, the index could still stay supported above the 1,550 to 1,570 base and attempt 1,600 points again in early 2026,' he added.
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
MNRB's 1Q25 revenue rises to RM976mil
MNRB's first-quarter net profit surged to RM168.43mil from RM92.20mil previously. PETALING JAYA: MNRB Holdings Bhd expects Malaysia's reinsurance and retakaful industry to sustain its growth trajectory in 2026, driven by regulatory enhancements, growing demand for financial protection and supportive government framework. In a filing with Bursa Malaysia, the wholesale providers of reinsurance and retakaful said Malaysia's current tariff exposure and constructive trade policies continue to support its competitiveness amid global trade challenges. For its first quarter ended June 30, 2025 (1Q25), MNRB's net profit surged to RM168.43mil from RM92.20mil, while revenue during the quarter rose to RM975.56mil from RM857.58mil a year earlier. 'This improvement was mainly driven by stronger insurance/takaful service results, supported by higher insurance/takaful revenue and lower insurance/takaful service expenses arising from better claims experience in the reinsurance business. 'The performance was further strengthened by higher net investment income, primarily from net fair value gains in equities and bonds following the rebound in Malaysian investment markets,' it said.
