Category: Finance

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Finance news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • HSBC to Launch Tokenized Gold

    HSBC to Launch Tokenized Gold

    London-headquartered HSBC is actively exploring various opportunities to convert real-world assets into digital form. One such area is tokenized gold, which it will introduce tomorrow to its retail segment.

    HSBC will launch tokenized gold to its retail clients tomorrow, said Hong Kong chief digital officer Bojan Obradović during a panel at the Milken Institute Global Investor’s Symposium. This will mark the first form of tokenized real-world asset that HSBC is introducing to the segment.

    Within this area, Obradović noted that the British lender was also exploring tokenization of other assets like funds or bonds. In addition, it is investing in distributed ledger technology (DLT) and developing capabilities in digital money such as central bank digital currencies, tokenized deposits and stablecoins.

    According to Obradović, the genesis of DLT or blockchain technologies was the creation of bitcoin. He named three critical effects as a result including the formation of alternative money; the development of a digital asset that is unique and cannot be copied; and exposure to the power of blockchain networks that can store and transfer assets instantly with no underlying company behind.

    Bitcoin is considered one of the most prominent computer science innovations of recent times, he commented on a panel at the event hosted by US think tank Milken Institute. «When we think about DLT or blockchain, we think that it has a strong potential to be a mainstream component of future financial markets.

  • Vietnam ranks third in crypto gains

    Vietnam ranks third in crypto gains

    Vietnam ranked third globally in cryptocurrency gains last year with US$1.18 billion in profits, according to a report from U.S. crypto data provider Chainalysis.

    It was behind the U.S. ($9.36 billion) and the U.K. ($1.39 billion). China and Indonesia were in fourth and fifth places with $1.15 billion and $1.06 billion.

    Vietnam’s crypto gains were doubled that of Spain and the Philippines and triple that of Thailand.

    Eight countries recorded more than $1 billion.

    Chainalysis said the positive trends of 2023 have carried over into 2024, with notable crypto assets like Bitcoin achieving all-time highs in the wake of Bitcoin exchange-traded fund approvals and increased institutional adoption.

    “If these trends continue, we may see gains more in line with those we saw in 2021,” it said, adding that as of March 13 Bitcoin was up 65.4% and Ether was up 70.2%.

    The large crypto gains in Vietnam, however, might be enjoyed only by the minority.

    A report by Coin98 Insights earlier this year showed that 64% recorded no profit last year, with 44% of them making losses.

  • Google Wallet is rolling out support for Apple Wallet pass files

    Google Wallet is rolling out support for Apple Wallet pass files

    Last year, Google Wallet rolled out a new feature that allowed users to share boarding passes and event tickets with others via a link. This feature was designed as a convenient way to share passes with friends and family, but mostly for those who didn’t actually have the Google Wallet app installed on their devices, such as iOS users. Now, a new update is rolling out that expands on this and now allows Apple Wallet passes to be used in Google Wallet as well.

    This update, which Android expert Mishaal Rahman documented, aims to narrow the disparity with Apple Wallet. Apple currently holds an advantage in this area due to its wide use among apps and services that distribute digital tickets and passes on iPhones. Additionally, it provides a more streamlined and integrated experience for users, as it most often provides the “Add to Apple Wallet” option.

    This hasn’t always been the case with Android devices, as “Add to Google Wallet” isn’t as universally available and recognized. However, with Google Wallet adopting support for “pkpass” files, which are used to add passes to Apple Wallet on the iPhone, this can quickly change and help standardize the process across both Android and iPhone devices.

    By expanding support for “pkpass” files, Android devices can now offer a similar level of convenience and integration when it comes to adding tickets and passes. This move by Google Wallet could potentially bridge the gap between the two platforms in terms of digital ticketing services.

    As promised over a year ago by Google, this support is now beginning to reach some Android users. However, despite some users confirming that “pkpass” files are opening in Wallet and importing to the app successfully, the functionality remains a server-side update on Google’s end. It will be interesting to see how this change impacts the user experience and convenience for consumers using Google Wallet on Android devices.

  • UBS Asia Job Cuts Show What Switzerland Faces

    UBS Asia Job Cuts Show What Switzerland Faces

    It is a year since the government and regulators forced UBS to rescue Credit Suisse. The recent news of job cuts in Asia makes it very clear what could be just around the corner for the domestic financial hubs.

    UBS is cutting about 70 jobs in Asia, according to various media reports on Thursday. Most of the redundancies are taking place in Singapore and Hong Kong.

    The step also ostensibly affects the bank’s core Global Wealth Management (GWM) business even though the number of employees has been growing steadily in that region since 2022. But as UBS reported in February, the Asia Pacific made significantly less money in the fourth quarter of last year. Pre-tax profit fell by 46 percent to $97 million compared to the same period a year earlier. At the same time, the cost-income ratio rose to 87.7 percent.

    That is in itself remarkable. Besides the US, Asia is a strategic growth market for the bank. Both regions are integral to its future financial success and key to its investment growth story with UBS making large investments in both markets in recent years. The results are there for everyone to see, particularly after integrating Credit Suisse’s business. There is no other bank in Asia that has such a large wealth management business with such high levels of invested assets.

    At the end of 2022, before the forced takeover of Credit Suisse, about 16,500 individuals worked at UBS in Asia Pacific. At the time, that was 22 percent of the group’s entire workforce.

    The current job cuts are likely due to plain economics. But they also have to be seen in the context of a wider restructuring. This has now started just about a year after the government and regulators forced UBS to take over its former rival and Switzerland’s second-largest bank. That is also exactly what the bank announced in February.

    Singapore, Hong Kong, and Luxembourg come first, followed by Switzerland afterward, an order of events that is expected to hold up over the next few years.

    We got a taste of that this year. In April, the bank will start consolidating its branch network with that of Credit Suisse’s domestic business. About 85 branches belonging to both will be impacted by the consolidation. What is currently happening in Singapore and Hong Kong shows what can be expected in Switzerland very soon.

    Moreover, when following the UBS schedule step-by-step, it is clear that the domestic market is to see very significant disruption.

    The integration of the franchises of the country’s two largest banks will change the financial hub sustainably and substantively. And it will be on a scale that we can’t yet really imagine. With that, the fact that UBS’s management is not wasting any time should be welcomed. The sooner the process is completed, the sooner the bank can concentrate on its actual job. Focusing on doing business with clients.

    As part of that, it will be this exact core business experiencing the current round of cuts that will determine the success of its efforts to become a wealth management powerhouse – both in Asia and Switzerland.

  • Gold heads up after plunge

    Gold heads up after plunge

    Saigon Jewelry Company gold bar price rose 0.75% to VND81.1 million ($3,283.73) per tael Thursday.

    Gold bar plunged 2.42% Wednesday after reaching a new historic peak of VND82.5 million.

    The gold ring price increased VND0.88% to VND69 million per tael on Thursday. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally gold prices traded flat in early Asian trade hours on Thursday, within close range of record-high levels on a broadly weaker dollar, as traders awaited more economic data that could steer hopes for a mid-year rate cut by the U.S. Federal Reserve.

    Spot gold was flat at $2,173.89 per ounce. U.S. gold futures dipped 0.1% to $2,178.20.

    The Fed is expected to hold rates steady at its policy meeting next week, but the focus will be on the ‘dot plot’ projections. The U.S. central bank in its December meeting pencilled three-quarter-point rate cuts for 2024.

  • Google Wallet will now automatically add your tickets and passes from Gmail

    Google Wallet will now automatically add your tickets and passes from Gmail

    Google Wallet is receiving a set of small quality of life updates designed to enhance the user experience and make it your go-to digital home for essential passes, tickets, and more. The updates include tighter integration with Gmail to eliminate the extra step of manually adding passes and movie tickets to your wallet.

    If you’ve ever purchased a movie ticket or booked a flight online, you’ve likely encountered the inconvenience of having to scramble through your Gmail in order to find the confirmation. Only to find out that the cellular signal is very weak, and your email won’t load. This is a perfect use case for Google Wallet, which Google just announced now directly integrates with Gmail, automatically surfacing movie tickets and boarding passes from participating airlines and movie chains.

    Google states that this feature is currently available with select global chains, but that the company is working hard to expand its reach. This will likely save you some time and fuss, as you can now have your tickets and passes readily available in one spot with you need them.

    Managing your collection of passes within Google Wallet just got more convenient. You now have the ability to manually archive most passes. Archiving a pass places it in the “Archived Passes” section of the app.

    If you ever need to unarchive any of these previous passes, you can do so as well by tapping on the pass and selecting “Unarchive Pass.” Furthermore, the ability to archive passes extends to your Wear OS devices for more efficient organization, no matter where you are.

    Google Wallet is further blurring the lines between your digital life and the real world. For US-based users, there’s a new beta feature out: loyalty cards saved in Wallet are now cleverly linked with Google Search and Shopping. This means that your membership benefits can be highlighted as you browse for products online, potentially unlocking special offers and discounts. Businesses interested in taking part in this beta test will need to reach out to Google support in order to enroll.

    Lastly, Google Wallet is becoming more accessible around the globe. Back in November, Google Wallet became available to residents of the Dominican Republic, Monaco, and Peru. This means that Google Wallet is now available in 74 countries worldwide for both Android and Wear OS.

  • VIB introduces easy, secure, private payment via Apple Pay

    VIB introduces easy, secure, private payment via Apple Pay

    Apple Pay is now available with the VIB Mastercards, bringing to card holders an easier, safer and more secure way to pay.

    Each Apple Pay transaction takes a few seconds and is done in just three simple steps. Beyond that, facial recognition (FaceID) technology will enhance security and privacy for cardholders.

    “Now, customer can easily pay for everything you love, from everyday purchases like groceries and coffee, to online shopping and travel, using just your Apple devices,” a VIB’s representative said.

    Apple Pay leverages tokenization to safeguard credit and debit card information. Upon adding a credit or debit card to Apple Pay, the actual card number remains undisclosed; it is neither retained on the device nor Apple’s servers.

    A distinct device account number is created, encrypted, and safely stored on the user’s device. Each transaction is authorized using a unique, dynamic security code.

    With Apple Pay now available on VIB Mastercard, users can expect a multitude of benefits, most notably the top-tier easy, secure, and private payment features that Apple provides, ensuring the protection of personal information, transaction data, and credit/debit card details.

    Tuong Nguyen, Head of the Card Strategy and Operation Center at VIB, said that they bring contactless payment methods via Apple Pay to customers based on their understanding, grasping the needs of customers, and offering financial solutions that suit their modern lifestyle.

    “With Apple Pay, VIB Mastercard cardholders enjoy a seamless and trustworthy payment experience every day,” she said.

    VIB Mastercard cardholders can now easily add Apple Pay to their Apple devices, such as the iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and Apple Watch. This can be done by adding their VIB Mastercard through either the Apple Wallet app on their devices or the MyVIB app, and enjoying the ease of paying anytime, anywhere.

    Getting started takes just a few simple steps. First, customers should open the Apple Wallet app on their Apple devices, tap the “+” icon on the top right corner, or access their Mastercard card on the MyVIB app, and click the “Add to Apple Wallet” button right below the card image.

    Then, they should scan or enter the VIB Mastercard information. They will not to go through this if they start via MyVIB in Step 1.

    Next step is to follow the on-screen instructions, make the VIB card the default card, and they are all set to use Apple Pay.

    VIB is now offering a VND50,000 cashback for the first Apple Pay transaction of at least VND100,000. The promotion is valid until May 5.

  • Digital Banking Specialist Adnovum Secures AI Expertise

    Digital Banking Specialist Adnovum Secures AI Expertise

    IT consulting firm Adnovum has joined forces with a Swiss artificial intelligence specialist. The partners want to use the technology of the future to transform the financial sector.

    Adnovum and Squirro have embarked upon a strategic partnership, as we learned in a press release on Wednesday. The aim of this cooperation? To use Squirro’s artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing, and retrieval augmented generation technologies to enhance the digital solutions offered by Adnovum.

    Together, the two companies want to launch new offers which will transform the banking and insurance sectors, as they promoted in the press release.

    The cooperation will focus on the Swiss and Singapore markets. There, the new AI solutions are intended to go beyond the conventional digital transformation and complement human intelligence. Processes in service management and client engagement are particular focus points.

    In recent years, Adnovum has made a name for itself in digitizing the Swiss financial center, and also has a presence in Asia. Squirro was founded in 2012 and is a fast-growing company with teams in Switzerland, the United States, the U.K., and Singapore. Clients of the AI specialist include the European Central Bank and the Bank of England.

  • Apple Pay is down for some users forcing them to pay for purchases like a Luddite

    Apple Pay is down for some users forcing them to pay for purchases like a Luddite

    Some social media users are complaining that they are unable to use contactless payment system Apple Pay to ring up a transaction using a Chase credit card. On Apple’s System Status page, it notes that Apple Pay is undergoing some maintenance at the moment and adds that some users in Maryland may have issues with the feature. However, the problem appears to be preventing Apple Pay users from hearing that satisfying “ding” indicating that their credit card has been accepted in other states as well.

    Nilay Patel, editor-in-chief of The Verge stating that his Chase card was declined when using Apple Pay. Patel noted that when he called Chase, the bank told him that the problem is an “unexpected Apple Pay upgrade” which matches the reason for the issue posted by Apple on the System Status page. Other Thread users weighed in complaining about the same problem including one poor (and possibly hungry) iPhone user who wrote, “Yup, Chase Apple Pay declined getting my baguette and vegan cheese.”

    Considering that the weekend is usually prime time for shopping, we wonder whether Apple should have performed the maintenance on Apple Pay during a time when shoppers are less likely to be tapping their iPhones on POS (point of sale, not what you thought the abbreviation stood for) machines. For example, at 1 am PST (4 am EST), most Americans are sleeping and charging up their iPhone units.

    If this is a problem that happens to you today whether you are shopping in Maryland or Massachusetts, or anywhere else in the U.S., there is the perfect workaround but only if you are up to doing this. Once your Apple Pay payment is declined, follow these directions precisely:

    • Put your iPhone in your pocket.
    • Reach into your other pocket and remove your wallet.
    • Open the wallet and remove the Chase card that is connected to Apple Pay.
    • Run the card through the POS terminal like you might have done years ago before Apple Pay was launched.

    If this happened to you today, we’re sure you were sweating and trying hard to remember how you paid for purchases made before October 20th, 2014 when Apple Pay launched. But those with a memory of a bygone era have been able to pay for their purchases today by simply using their Chase credit card without bringing Apple Pay into the picture. Or, you could pay for your purchases with cash.

  • Banks see massive layoffs

    Banks see massive layoffs

    Faced with difficulties that are expected to linger, large western banks are slashing costs by downsizing their payrolls and increasing the use of artificial intelligence.

    Deutsche Bank has said it is laying off 3,500 employees, or 4% of its workforce, to reduce costs by 2.5 billion euros (US$2.7 billion) a year by 2025.

    One of the ways the German lender has chosen to cut costs is to promote “simplified workflows and automation,” and so most of the jobs will be shed in the back office. Its pre-tax net profit fell by 14% last year to 4.9 billion euros ($5.3 billion).

    Deutsche Bank is the latest of a number of lenders to announce layoffs in recent months. UBS is cutting 3,000 jobs in Switzerland, where it is headquartered.

    Citibank, the third largest American bank, last month said it would cut 20,000 jobs in the next two years, equivalent to 10% of its global workforce, to save $2.5 billion in the long term.

    January was also when the U.S. financial industry laid off the most workers, 23,238, since Sept. 2018, according to a report by recruitment company Challenger, Gray & Christmas.

    The layoff announcements continue in early 2024 amid massive downsizing by the global financial industry.

    Major banks around the world axed more than 60,000 jobs in 2023, among the highest in a year since the financial crisis.

    Citibank started sacking workers in November 2023.

    In the U.K., a number of lenders, including Barclays, Lloyds and Metro Bank, announced staff reduction at around the same time.

    Some banks cited increased automation and the use of artificial intelligence as reasons to reduce their payroll.
    Lloyds is eliminating certain roles and only hiring data and technology personnel.

    The downsizing is also intended to prepare for a more difficult business environment as rising interest rates impact the economy.

    Deutsche Bank said it had increased provisions for potential bad debts by 300 million euros to 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in 2023, which reflected “the continued challenging impact of macro-economic and interest rate conditions.

    Investment banks, which had to slash wage costs last year, are expected to continue downsizing.

  • Dollar steps up over dong

    Dollar steps up over dong

    The U.S. dollar rose against the Vietnamese dong Wednesday morning.

    Vietcombank sold the dollar at VND24,570, up 0.16% from Tuesday.

    It fell 0.40% to VND24,850 on the black market.

    The greenback has increased by 0.61% against the dong since the beginning of the year.

    Globally the dollar remained under pressure on Wednesday after retreating from a nearly three-month high against the euro in the previous session with a decline in U.S. bond yields adding to the drag.

    Analysts pointed to technical factors for the dollar’s pullback, following a two-day rally of as much as 1.4% against the euro after unexpectedly strong U.S. jobs data and more hawkish rhetoric from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell scuppered bets for an early interest rate cut.

    The U.S. dollar index – which measures the currency against six major peers, including the euro – was flat at 104.14 after Tuesday’s 0.29% slide. On Monday, it had reached its highest since Nov. 14 at 104.60.

  • Vietcombank continues to achieve record profits

    Vietcombank continues to achieve record profits

    State-owned lender Vietcombank reported record pre-tax profits of VND41.2 trillion (US$1.68 billion) for 2023.

    Its previous highest was VND37.4 trillion a year earlier.

    It made the bank the most profitable in the industry by a margin of tens of trillions of dong.

    Profits before credit risk provisioning were worth VND45.8 trillion, a 2.2% decline.

    But halving the provisioning to VND4.5 trillion meant the lender maintained profit growth.

    Vietcombank’s bad debts ratio (groups three to five) increased from 0.68% at the beginning of the year to 1% by the end, while loans that require attention (group two debts) surged by 40% to over VND5.55 trillion.

  • UBS It’s Major Shareholders Pull in Opposite Directions

    UBS It’s Major Shareholders Pull in Opposite Directions

    UBS can’t grow fast enough for newly onboarded financial investor Cevian. Meanwhile, two other major shareholders are now expressing concerns about the size of the new megabank in Switzerland.

    The program for integrating Credit Suisse is in place, and UBS will start acquiring the clients and legal units of the crisis-hit bank over the next few months. But the company’s major shareholders are now flexing their muscles.

    Shareholder representative Ethos Foundation expressed its concerns. The even larger banking behemoth could influence regulation in the country and undermine Switzerland’s ability to rein in banks’ risk-taking, the Western Switzerland-based organization says. Ethos advises investors who own up to 5 percent of all UBS shares.

    That is not all. Another investor, apparently one of the bank’s top ten shareholders, also voiced unease on condition of anonymity.

    According to the report, the professional investor fears a conflict may arise between UBS and the Swiss authorities and lawmakers over the bank’s size. Such a dispute could hamper the smooth running of the institution.

    In fact, an evaluation commissioned by the Federal Council on the «new» UBS and expected to be published in April is already causing nervousness. Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter recently said that the primary goal of bank regulation was to protect the state and taxpayers.

    While Ethos and Co. may be expressing concerns in this regard, the big bank cannot grow quickly enough for Cevian. The Swedish financial investor acquired UBS shares worth around 1.2 billion euros last December and expressed high hopes when it stepped onboard. Cevian thinks the major bank could double its stock price to 50 Swiss francs within a reasonable period.

    Among major shareholders, this has produced a tug-of-war between these parties – another focal point that the bank management, already busy with the Credit Suisse integration, has to grapple with.

    UBS has already commented on the report. The bank believes the focus on its balance sheet is misleading. About 20 percent of total assets are highly liquid, while 15 percent are mortgages for retail clients and wealthy private clients, which would only pose very low risks.

  • Gold prices gain

    Gold prices gain

    Saigon Jewelry Company gold bar price went up 0.26% to VND76.65 million ($3,113.95) per tael Wednesday morning.

    Gold ring price was stable at VND64.05 million per tael. A tael equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

    Globally gold prices inched lower on Wednesday, as hawkish comments from Federal Reserve officials and strong U.S. data doused hopes for early interest rate cuts, while investors awaited a slew of economic reports this week for more clarity on rate trajectory.

    Spot gold fell 0.2% to $2,024.46 per ounce. U.S. gold futures were unchanged at $2,025.50.

    “Recent economic data out of the U.S. has called for some recalibration in dovish market rate expectations, with some pushback on the timeline for Fed rate cut weighing on gold’s appeal,” said IG market strategist Yeap Jun Rong.

  • BridgerPay introduces the first agnostic omnichannel payment operations platform

    BridgerPay introduces the first agnostic omnichannel payment operations platform

    BridgerPay, a payment technology pioneer in the payments industry, is proud to announce its transformation into a powerful omnichannel payment operations platform, bringing unparalleled control and flexibility to businesses seeking to streamline their payment processes across all payment channels – e-commerce shops, physical stores and mobile applications.

    The transition to an omnichannel payment operations platform represents a significant positioning as a technology leader for BridgerPay, filling the untapped gap of omnichannel orchestration and payment operations that exists in the world, a pain shared by many enterprise merchants that run a multi-channel business.

    The concept of “omnichannel” used to revolve around a business’s capacity to process transactions across all channels using a single payment provider. Now, envision a world where you have the power to choose your preferred payment service provider for each channel. This is precisely what BridgerPay has crafted – an agnostic omnichannel solution that empowers merchants to optimise processing in any channel, from anywhere.

    Imagine that there are no boundaries restricting your business payments. Both your online and offline operations seamlessly process payments using the most suitable solution for each channel and geographic region. Picture a scenario where all your payments flow through your central management system, ensuring complete automation across all channels. This means you can initiate and process a transaction in a point of sale directly from your management system. Furthermore, you have the flexibility to obtain credit card tokens directly from the point of sale and use them later in your PMS or CRM, with the option to add fallback payment providers to optimise the approval ratio.

    Ran Cohen, CEO of BridgerPay, emphasises the transformative impact of BridgerPay’s platform: “We’re on an exciting journey that’s set to reshape the payment landscape for businesses. In today’s dynamic business environment, it’s essential to provide companies with the tools they need to simplify and improve their payment processes. This milestone development, the first of its kind, was born from a genuine need. Our enterprise clients, who already trust BridgerPay, approached us with a request to expand its functionality offline, for example, in physical stores or hotel front desks. Transforming these client requests into reality is at the core of our mission. As a result, we’ve created a revolutionary omnichannel payment operations platform that promises to fundamentally redefine how businesses navigate and manage their payments.”

    The impact on your business:

    Unparalleled control: Automation across all channels, with your payments flowing through a central management system streamlines your payment processing and enhances operational efficiency.

    Connectivity: Experience the effortless flow of transactions between any payment channel and your systems, ensuring error-free operations. This provides you with precise control to initiate point-of-sale transactions and retrieve tokens from credit cards, guaranteeing accuracy and efficiency in your processes.

    Payment optimisation: Each channel your business operates in will be optimised, tailored specifically to its geographical location. This approach enables you to achieve the highest approval ratios across all your channels, both in physical point of sale and e-commerce.

    Risk mitigation: The freedom to choose the most suitable payment provider for each channel allows you to diversify and spread the risk across various payment providers. This flexibility is crucial for risk management, as not every payment provider for point-of-sale (POS) transactions is ideal for e-commerce.

    Boosted revenue: Along with the tools the BridgerPay platform offers, the freedom to choose the most suitable payment service provider for each channel, whether it’s web, mobile, or point of sale, significantly boosts your revenue.

    PCI & security: By using BridgerPay as your omnichannel payment operations platform, you automatically eliminate your PCI scope. This not only enables the secure transmission of credit card information but also upholds a safe and reliable environment, further enhancing the security of your payment processes.

    The shift to an omnichannel payment operations platform positions BridgerPay as a forward-thinking industry leader dedicated to delivering innovative payment solutions to meet the diverse needs of businesses across all sectors, especially those that handle payments through multiple channels.

    About BridgerPay: BridgerPay is the world’s first omnichannel payment operations platform, built to automate all payment flows with a Lego-like interface, empowering any business to scale their payments, insights and revenue with a codeless, unified and agnostic software.