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According to Accenture's latest report, "Front Office Reimagined: The Future of Asia Wealth Management", firms must go beyond incremental changes and embrace structural reinvention to unlock Asia’s full wealth potential. Contributing to the report, Thomas Rupf, CFA, FRM, CAIA, Co-Head Singapore and Chief Investment Officer Asia at VP Bank, emphasised the importance of getting the sales and distribution operating model right, with a deliberate and clear focus on our clients. This remains a key priority for VP Bank as we continue to cater to intermediaries and private banking clients with purpose and precision. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gynra3dD

In a recent live studio interview with CNA Asia First, Thomas Rupf, CFA, FRM, CAIA, Co-Head Singapore and CIO Asia, offered valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the Asian market. Speaking with Elizabeth Anne Neo, Thomas addressed mixed signals from China, noting the limited credit spillover risk amid a prolonged property correction. He also pointed to ongoing value opportunities in Chinese tech and broader equities. On Japan, he said that the impact of higher-than-expected core inflation and resilient industrial production provides room for a BOJ rate hike, which could strengthen the yen. This policy divergence between Japan and the West could therefore be a key driver in shaping currency flows and regional opportunities heading into 2026. View the full interview here (from 2:19:53 to 2:24:53): https://lnkd.in/gxEgvFwV

At VP Bank, our clients form the foundation of our success and are at the heart of everything we do. With this in mind, we recently held our Year End Client Appreciation Dinner to celebrate the trust and support that our clients have shown us as the year draws to a close. The theme of this year's dinner was "Folded Revelations", representing the importance of our partnerships for long-term growth. The dinner was especially symbolic, as we offered our clients an exclusive 4-hands menu curated by Chef Kazuo Takagi of two Michelin-starred Kyoto cuisine "TAKAGI" and Chef Chan Chung Shing of Yan Ting, the St. Regis Singapore's Michelin-starred fine dining. This is a perfect reflection of how the coming together of ideas and expertise can unfold stronger and more unique outcomes otherwise unconceived. We are grateful to have Group CEO Urs Monstein, alongside Group CIO Felix Brill, Deputy Head of International Locations, Adrian Brönnimann joining our Singapore Co-Heads Thomas Rupf, CFA, FRM, CAIA and Reto M., and Head of Intermediaries and Private Banking Michel D. Hofstetter for this event. Thank you to our loyal clients for making this event, and many others, so memorable. We look forward to sharing more successes through to 2026 and beyond.

In a live studio interview with Bloomberg's Insight with Haslinda Amin today, Felix Brill, Group CIO of VP Bank, shared his timely insights on the global economy and the evolving investment landscape. He highlighted that signs of an economic slowdown could put pressure on parts of the private credit market — a reminder of why diversification remains the most effective form of risk management. Despite recent de-risking, Felix underlined that the long-term case for AI remains intact, especially in fields like healthcare, energy and automation where adoption is only just beginning. He also expressed optimism about China's outlook, citing strong momentum in AI innovation and regional trade growth. However, he cautioned that inflation trends and upcoming Fed decisions would be crucial in determining market performance in the lead-up to 2026. Click here to watch the full interview: https://lnkd.in/g-xRsDXk

In his latest appearance on CNA Asia First, Thomas Rupf, CFA, FRM, CAIA, Co-Head Singapore and CIO Asia, discussed a wide range of market developments with Sarah Al-Khaldi, — from the Federal Reserve’s latest rate cut and the outlook for Asian equities, to Japan’s monetary policy and near-term currency trends. Notably, Thomas described the recent Trump-Xi meeting as a positive signal for trade de-escalation and improved market stability. Although he acknowledged that the strategic rivalry between the two nations is expected to persist, he suggested that Asian markets remain an important diversifier to US markets which could reap the benefits from a weak US dollar, attractive valuations, and supportive policy measures across the region. View the full interview here (from 2:16:10 to 2:21:08): https://lnkd.in/ghTXS2ut

Last week at the Asian Private Banker Summit 2025 in Singapore, Thomas Rupf, CFA, FRM, CAIA, Co-Head Singapore and Chief Investment Officer Asia joined Jean Chia 谢佩华 (Bank of Singapore), Shaun Casey, CFA (BNY Investments), and Yupu (Stanley) L. (Asian Private Banker) to discuss how investors can navigate the complex landscape of 2026 through smarter portfolio construction and risk management. Thomas emphasised that, in a world characterised by higher-for-longer interest rates, geopolitical tensions and evolving tax regimes, diversification is investors' strongest defence. He emphasised the importance of moving beyond concentrated US equity exposure towards theme-driven opportunities in future industries and infrastructure. On fixed income, he pointed to the growing convergence with private credit and the need for selective credit exposure, complemented by alternative assets such as commodities and real estate, in order to enhance yield and reduce correlation risks. As Thomas aptly noted: "The key to diversification is that more diversification doesn’t mean less conviction." He encouraged investors to build adaptive portfolios that balance strong convictions with broad diversification, maintaining a long-term focus and turning uncertainty into opportunity.