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KGI: 2026 Global Market Outlook

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3 months ago

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Beyond Balance: The Next Regime

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 January 2026 – Today, KGI has released its 2026 Global Market Outlook, covering markets in the US, Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.

(From left) James Chu, Chairman at KGI Securities Investment Advisory; James Wey, Head of International Wealth Management at KGI; Cusson Leung, Chief Investment Officer at KGI

After a turbulent year of trade disruptions and policy uncertainty under President Trump, investors face new questions. China has unveiled its 15th Five-Year Plan, as policymakers aim to support domestic growth amid global challenges. The market outlook for 2026 is shaped by interest rate decisions, economic resilience, and shifting international dynamics.

Under this backdrop, we propose the “LEAD” strategy for 2026:

  1. Liquidity Shift
  2. Earnings Focused
  3. Adding Credit
  4. Diversified Assets

Cusson Leung, Chief Investment Officer at KGI, says: “Looking ahead to 2026, investors can adopt a LEAD strategy: L ​​stands for Liquidity Shift, benefiting from a weakening US dollar and interest rate cuts, with funds expected to flow to non-US dollar and Asian currencies; E stands for Earnings Focused, focusing on earnings growth to support valuations and allocating to US, European, and Japanese stocks; A stands for Adding Credit, locking in the credit of leading companies and increasing holdings of A-rated investment grade bonds; and D stands for Diversified Assets, responding to the upward trend in both stocks and bonds by including alternative assets to optimize asset allocation.”

Macro & US Markets
The US economy will experience a more pronounced downturn in 4Q25, which will extend into 1H26, and this will have a negative impact on consumption, slowing investment activity. Nevertheless, AI-driven productivity gains should provide some support, with US GDP growth in 2026 forecast at 2.2%. The eurozone will see moderate growth, with Germany benefiting significantly from fiscal expansion and economic improvement. Japan’s economy will strengthen on domestic demand, aided by additional fiscal stimulus. China has demonstrated resilience under trade protectionism in 2025. With inflation risks easing and labor market risks rising, the US Fed cut the interest rates in September 2025, with a total reduction of 75 bps in 2025, followed by an additional 50-75 bps in 2026.

Regarding US stocks, AI-driven productivity gains and cost reductions should sustain solid profitability, with S&P 500 earnings projected to grow by 13.55% year-on-year (YoY) in 2026. However, higher risk premiums may cap valuation upside, leading us to project a year-end target of 7,650 points. Market performance will reflect risk-driven declines in 1Q26, stabilize and recover in 2Q26, and rally significantly around the midterm elections in 4Q26. By sector, among AI-related themes we favor technology, semiconductors, utilities (on higher power demand), machinery for advanced manufacturing, and industrial REITs. Non-AI beneficiaries include aerospace and defense (on higher military spending), pharmaceuticals (on tariff benefits), and capital market segments (supported by active investment banking). As for fixed income, US economic weakness and Fed rate cuts will drive Treasury yields lower, with 10-year yields expected to fall to 3.5-3.7% by 2Q26. We recommend allocating to US Treasuries or high-rated investment-grade corporate bonds in 1H26, then rotating into high-yield bonds in 2H26 as policy rates and economic conditions reach a bottom.

James Chu, Chairman at KGI Securities Investment Advisory, says: “AI is triggering a new productivity revolution, supporting economic growth and strengthening corporate earnings. While the US economy is expected to slow, a recession remains unlikely, and the short-term impact of tariff policies should gradually fade by the first quarter of 2026. Although the Fed may shift from cutting rates at every meeting to cutting at alternating meetings, the overall environment remains a rate-cutting cycle. In a non-recession backdrop, lower interest rates should continue to support equity market performance.”

Mainland China and Hong Kong Markets
In terms of the macroeconomy, with the conclusion of trade agreements among many countries, risks have subsided. However, due to external drag, China’s GDP growth is expected to slow slightly to 4.6% in 2026. In 2026, investors should focus on four key areas for Hong Kong and mainland China markets: (1) In the consumption sector, domestic demand continued to be the core growth driver, contributing more than half of GDP. As the “trade-in” effect diminishes, the central government is expected to implement the “15th Five-Year Plan” and economic conference plans, launching a new round of subsidies covering culture, entertainment, and sports to continuously boost consumer spending. (2) In the financial market, risk appetite has increased. Given the narrowing spread between bond yields and fixed deposit rates, large amounts of savings are flowing into the capital market seeking returns. The fundamentals of the banking and insurance industries have bottomed out, and the credit structure is accelerating its shift from real estate to supporting the real economy. (3) Regarding the issue of “anti-involution,” the PPI remains weak, and capacity reduction has become a focus. Compared to 2015, this round involves more downstream private enterprises and needs to consider employment, presenting greater challenges. While industry consolidation is expected to be lengthy, the impact is controllable and beneficial for long-term healthy development. (4) Regarding new quality productive forces, this will replace real estate and infrastructure as the main investment focus. Digital infrastructure supports AI and embodied intelligence, and humanoid robots are expected to see commercialization in 2026, “iPhone moment.” Leading companies with core technological autonomy in innovative drugs will enjoy higher valuation premiums.

Overall, we are optimistic on Hang Seng Index. We expect the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts to drive fund inflows to the Hong Kong and mainland stock markets. Based on an upward revision of the forward PE ratio to 13.5x and 8% earnings growth, we set a target of 30,000 points for the Hang Seng Index by the end of 2026, representing a potential upside of approximately 14%. As confidence recovers, the investment style is expected to shift from defensive to growth stocks. Recommended 12 stocks: XPeng Motors (9868), UBTECH (9880), Tencent Holdings (700), Alibaba (9988), China Hongqiao (1378), AIA Group (1299), Ping An Insurance (2318), China Merchants Bank (3968), Akeso Biopharma (9926), Pop Mart (9992), Tencent Music (1698), and Sino Land (83).

Cusson Leung, Chief Investment Officer at KGI, says: “2026 marks a crucial turning point for the Chinese economy. While the market anticipates GDP growth to slow to 4.6%, “new quality productive forces,” resembling humanoid robots, is taking over as a new growth engine. The most critical signal in the market is the “awakening” of idle cash—massive savings are flowing from low-interest fixed deposits to the capital market seeking returns. With risk appetite returning and policy support intensifying, now is the time to shift investment strategies from “defensive” to “growth.” Driven by both valuation repair and earnings growth, we are optimistic that the Hang Seng Index will reach 30,000 points, and the allocation value of Hong Kong and mainland China stocks has reappeared.”

Taiwan Market
Compared to the dot-com era bull run, which lasted almost five years, the current AI frenzy has been around for about three years, suggesting that the uptrend is still in its middle phase and could extend through 2026.

AI plays are trading at high PEs, such valuations are backed by strong fundamentals. In fact, the PEG ratio of Taiwan’s AI supply chain has yet to surpass 1x. We estimate that aggregate earnings of AI plays will grow by 21% YoY in 2026, following impressive upticks of 35% in 2024 and 43% in 2025. AI stocks now account for more than 60% of TAIEX earnings, and with the ongoing AI arms race, overall TAIEX earnings growth is projected to accelerate from 14% in 2025F to 20% in 2026.

Although the AI frenzy should keep the bull market intact, volatility will rise in tandem due to: (1) substantial cumulative gains, and the fact that valuations are approaching historic highs; (2) policy and political uncertainty surrounding the US midterm elections; and (3) potential changes in the US Fed’s rate-cut pace. We expect the TAIEX to repeat a “smile-curve” pattern, featuring continued strength in 1Q26, followed by healthy corrections in 2Q-3Q26 before closing the year with a renewed upswing.

We think investors need to pay attention to two major themes. The first is a broad-based product spec upgrade trend across the AI supply chain, which will drive the industry into a new growth phase, with beneficiaries including foundries, GPU and ASIC designers, advanced packaging (such as CoWoS), and ODMs, as well as testing interfaces, memory, thermal solutions, CCL, ABF substrates, PCBs, switches, and power component suppliers amid strong AI computing demand and ongoing GPU platform upgrades. The second is diversification and defensive asset allocation. Innovations in consumer electronics, such as foldable iPhones and smart wearables, will provide growth opportunities, while companies with resilient domestic demand and stable high dividend yields offer a balanced strategy combining growth and income. Overall, investors should strike a balance between growth and resilience against volatility in their portfolios, in the face of market fluctuations.

James Chu, Chairman at KGI Securities Investment Advisory, says: “The solid earnings growth driven by AI and still reasonable valuations form a strong foundation for the ongoing bull market in Taiwanese equities. With AI adoption accelerating across enterprises and consumers, demand for computing power is rising rapidly. Yet supply remains constrained by chip and power bottlenecks, meaning hardware suppliers are likely to face continued shortages through 2026. Taiwan’s AI supply chain is set to remain a key beneficiary, particularly those tied to next-generation specification upgrades.”

Singapore Market
In 9M25, the overall performance of Singapore’s economy was better than expected as the global trade tensions eased after the US pivoted on its reciprocal tariffs and reached deals with its major trading partners. The manufacturing, wholesale trade and finance & insurance sectors remained the growth pillars of the Singapore economy, and each sector delivered decent growth. In particular, manufacturing’s growth has been robust, driven by the electronics, transport engineering and biomedical manufacturing clusters. The full year outlook is upbeat, as the growth momentum shall continue till the end of the year.

Looking ahead, the global economic outlook for 2026 suggests slower GDP growth for most of Singapore’s key trading partners, including China and the Eurozone, largely due to the impact of US tariffs, which will temper demand for Southeast Asian exports, though US growth is expected to remain resilient from AI investment. Consequently, Singapore’s outward-oriented sectors, particularly manufacturing and trade-related services, are projected to expand at a slower pace than in 2025, although the electronics and related sectors will benefit from AI demand, while some precision engineering and biomedical output may moderate domestically, the construction sector is set to grow, but consumer-facing sectors are likely to remain subdued. However, the relatively low interest rates and continuous government support shall buffer the impact of the slowdown, and the capital market will still benefit from the upward re-rating catalysts.

Chen Guangzhi, Head of Research at KGI Singapore, says: “Thanks to trade de-escalation and the AI wave, Singapore experienced significant economic expansion in 2025. Proactive government initiatives turbo-charged the equity bull run, and this strong momentum is expected to deliver an optimistic economic outlook for 2026.”
Hashtag: #KGI #MarketOutlook




Wechat: KGI 凱基

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

KGI

KGI* has been a leading financial institution in Asia since 1997. Our scope of business encompasses wealth management, brokerage, fixed income, and asset management. We are committed to offering a comprehensive range of financial products and services to corporate, institutional, and individual clients throughout Asia. Backed by KGI Financial Group, we have a robust footprint in Asia, covering Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand^.

*KGI refers to KGI Asia Limited and its affiliates.
^an investee enterprise of KGI Securities, not a subsidiary.

DISCLAIMER
All the information contained in this document is not intended for use by persons or entities located in or residing in jurisdictions which restrict the distribution of this document by KGI Asia Limited (“KGI”), or any other affiliates of KGI. Such information shall not constitute investment advice, or an offer to sell, or an invitation, solicitation or recommendation to subscribe for or invest in any securities, insurance or other investment products or services nor a distribution of information for any such purpose in any jurisdiction. In particular, the information herein is not for distribution and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in the United States of America, or to or for the benefit of United States persons (being residents of the United States of America or partnerships or corporations organised under the laws of the United States of America or any state, territory or possession thereof). All the information contained in this document is for general information and reference purpose only without taking into account of any particular investor’s objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be redistributed, reproduced or published (in whole or in part) by any means or for any purpose without the prior written consent of KGI. Such information is not intended to provide any legal, financial, tax or other professional advice and should not be relied upon in that regard.
All investments involve risks. The prices of securities fluctuate, sometimes dramatically. The price of a security may move up or down, and may become valueless. It is as likely that losses will be incurred rather than profit made as a result of buying and selling securities.
Bond investment is NOT equivalent to a time deposit. It is NOT protected under the Hong Kong Deposit Protection Scheme. Bondholders are exposed to a variety of risks, including but not limited to: (i) Credit risk – The issuer is responsible for payment of interest and repayment of principal of bonds. If the issuer defaults, the holder of bonds may not be able to receive interest and get back the principal. It should also be noted that credit ratings assigned by credit rating agencies do not guarantee the creditworthiness of the issuer; (ii) Liquidity risk – some bonds may not have active secondary markets and it would be difficult or impossible for investors to sell the bond before its maturity; (iii) Interest rate risk – When the interest rate rises, the price of a fixed rate bond will normally drop, and vice versa. If you want to sell your bond before it matures, you may get less than your purchase price. Do not invest in bond unless you fully understand and are willing to assume the risks associated with it. Please seek independent advice if you are unsure.
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No representation or warranty is given, whether express or implied, on the accuracy, adequacy or completeness of information provided herein. In all cases, anyone proposing to rely on or use the information contained herein should independently verify and check the accuracy, completeness, reliability and suitability of the information. Simulations, past and projected performance may not necessarily be indicative of future results.
Information including the figures stated herein may not necessarily have been independently verified, and such information should not be relied upon in making investment decisions. None of KGI, its affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees and representatives will be liable for any loss or damage of any kind (whether direct, indirect or consequential losses or other economic loss of any kind) suffered or incurred by any person or entity due to any omission, error, inaccuracy, incompleteness or otherwise, or any reliance on such information. Furthermore, none of KGI, its affiliates or their respective directors, officers, employees and representatives shall be liable for the content of information provided by or quoted from third parties.
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From AI experiments to Frontier Success: Microsoft Brings Agentic AI to Hong Kong Organizations

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10 hours ago

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27/04/2026

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 April 2026 – Hong Kong is one of Asia’s most active Copilot markets. At the same time, Hong Kong enterprises are entering a new phase of AI adoption—one that moves beyond pilots and proofs of concept, toward changing how work gets done at scale. At the Microsoft AI Tour in Hong Kong, Microsoft outlined how organizations can achieve Frontier Success: where AI agents become part of everyday operations, delivering real business impact with trust and governance built in. AIA and AS Watson Group are among the early pioneers locally that have already begun their Frontier journey.

Photo1: Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft’s Commercial Business, delivers a keynote at the Microsoft AI Tour in Hong Kong, outlining Microsoft’s Frontier Success Framework and how agentic AI is moving from experimentation to enterprise wide impact.

“Across Hong Kong, organizations are rethinking how work gets done with agentic AI—moving beyond experimentation to running operations at scale,” said Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft’s Commercial Business. “Frontier Transformation is helping them deliver business impact and measurable outcomes by embedding AI into real workflows, with trust, security, and governance fully integrated throughout.”

Frontier Success Framework: How Microsoft Helps Organizations Scale Agentic AI with Confidence

As AI matures, success is no longer defined by deploying individual tools. At the AI Tour, Microsoft shared its Frontier Success Framework—a practical approach designed to help organizations turn agentic AI into business real, measurable business value. The framework centered on four outcomes: enrich employee experience, reinvest customer engagement, reshape business process, and bend the curve on innovation.

As part of this journey, Microsoft announced that Wave 3 of Microsoft Copilot, delivered through Microsoft 365 E7 (Frontier Suite) will reach general availability in Hong Kong on 1 May 2026. Built on the principles of Intelligence and Trust, Microsoft 365 E7 brings together Microsoft 365 Copilot, Work IQ and Agent 365, alongside enterprise security, identity, and agent governance. By grounding AI in deep work context—understanding how people collaborate, what they work on, and how decisions are made—Work IQ enables Copilot and AI agents to operate with relevance and accuracy. At the same time, Agent 365 provides a centralized control plane to govern agents, while integrated security and governance ensure AI can scale responsibly across the enterprise.

Frontier Success in Action across Hong Kong

Across industries, Hong Kong organizations are already demonstrating what Frontier Success looks like in practice.

AIA –AdvancingAgentic AI Across Its Enterprise: AIA is applying Microsoft’s AI platform to deploy a holistic, agentic AI strategy across its operations. This includes agentic AI supporting product training, lead management and knowledge access, automated claims processing and customer self-service. In addition, a citizen developer program using Copilot Studio to increase productivity. Together, these capabilities enable AIA to reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and scale operational efficiency while meeting the requirements of a highly regulated industry.

AS Watson Group – Driving Scaled AI‑Powered Personalization Across O+O Retail Channels: AS Watson Group has adopted a wide range of AI tools in its Retail HK businesses, including Microsoft Copilot and its AI capabilities across its O+O (Offline plus Online) platform to enhance productivity and decision‑making. Key use cases include AI‑driven product discovery, AI skin analysis, and in‑store personalization to enhance customer engagement, alongside employee‑focused applications such as AI‑enabled store support and AI‑generated marketing content. By scaling generative AI across operations and customer insight analysis, the Group achieves efficiency, effectiveness and cross-team collaboration in its unique O+O business model.

These examples reflect a broader shift across Hong Kong’s business community: organizations are no longer asking whether AI works, but how it should sit inside the operating model to drive meaningful outcomes.

Looking Ahead: Sustaining Frontier Success Through Continuous, Enterprise‑Grade Trust

Microsoft has been part of Hong Kong’s technology and business community for 35 years, supporting enterprises as the city evolves into a hub for innovation and global impact.

“Over the past 35 years, we have had the privilege of supporting Hong Kong through multiple waves of digital transformation. Today, as this momentum carries Hong Kong into the frontier era of AI, where organizations are not just adopting new technologies, but rethinking operating models across the enterprise,” said Leo Liu, General Manager of Microsoft Hong Kong and Macau. “As this frontier journey accelerates, Microsoft is committed to empowering local customers and partners to get ahead in the age of AI while maintaining strong data governance and enterprise‑grade privacy—ensuring human judgment remains firmly in control and enabling Hong Kong to define what Frontier Success looks like on the global stage.”

As AI adoption accelerates, Microsoft emphasized that Frontier Success is not a single milestone, but a continuous transformation—one that requires clarity of purpose, strong governance, and real-world execution. Through its platform, partners, and ecosystem, Microsoft aims to support Hong Kong organizations as they move from experimentation to sustained, responsible AI driven growth.

Hashtag: #Microsoft #AI #FrontierSuccess

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq “MSFT” @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

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IF Coconut Brings Singaporeans Together to Co-Create 40 Ultra-Limited Merlion Collectibles from 1,200 Plastic Bottles

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10 hours ago

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27/04/2026

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  • IF Coconut unveils The IF-inity Movement in Singapore, transforming discarded bottles into ultra-limited collectible art through circular innovation.
  • 1,200 discarded IF bottles transformed into 40 ultra-limited Fortune Merlion collectibles, turning everyday plastic waste into rare, design-led art pieces.
  • Public as Co-Creators, where individuals can contribute plastic bottles for a chance to co-create and own one of the exclusive collectibles, unveiling on 29 April 2026 at Ocean Financial Centre.
  • Circular innovation meets real-world impact, spotlighting Singapore’s 957 million kg plastic waste challenge (with only 5% recycled) while showcasing a full recycling-to-3D-printing journey.
  • One-of-a-kind Gold Edition for charity, to debut at Pop Toy Show 2026, with 100% proceeds supporting the Pan Pacific Conservation Foundation

SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 April 2026 – As Singapore accelerates efforts to tackle plastic waste and advance its circular economy ambitions, IF, a globally recognised coconut water brand established in Thailand and renowned for its commitment to product quality and innovation, has launched The IF-inity Movement. A first-of-its-kind initiative that transforms post-consumer plastic into ultra-limited collectible art, while inviting the public in Singapore to take part in the creation process through a circular, community-led approach.

A) Press Release Image 2

Anchored on the message “Turning Waste to Wonders,” the campaign will culminate in a flagship public event on 29 April 2026 at Ocean Financial Centre Plaza Atrium from 11:30 AM to 3:30 PM, where the brand will unveil 40 ultra-limited Fortune Merlion collectibles, each crafted from recycled IF bottles and caps. Designed as both a cultural icon and a sustainability statement, each piece embodies the transformation of waste into something meaningful, bridging creativity, environmental responsibility, and public participation.

Additionally, IF will unveil a one-of-a-kind Gold Edition Fortune Merlion collectible, paired with a IF Coconut Magnet, at Pop Toy Show 2026 – one of Southeast Asia’s largest and most influential collectible and designer toy events, drawing thousands of creative fans, collectors, and industry tastemakers each year. Exclusively featured at UNIPLAY’s booth, this single gold‑finished piece stands apart from the 40‑unit collection not only for its craftsmanship but also for its purpose: 100% of proceeds from its sale will be donated to the Pan Pacific Conservation Foundation (PPCF) to support regional environmental protection and conservation efforts.

Inviting the Public into the Creation Process

Leading up to the main reveal on 29 April 2026, IF Coconut rolled out a series of public activations from 2 to 28 April 2026, inviting the community to participate directly in the recycling journey.

Members of the public also took part as Co-Creators to stand a chance to receive the ultra-limited IF-inity Fortune Merlion by:

  1. Contributing at least 30 IF bottles (labels removed and cleaned)
  2. Pre-registering by 17 April 2026.
  3. Dropping off the cleaned empty bottles between 21–22 April 2026.

From these submissions, the first five entries were selected, subject to meeting the eligibility and submission requirements, to receive the ultra-limited IF-inity Fortune Merlion. Selected Co-Creators will also be invited to attend the main event, where they will complete their collectible by injecting and “snapping” their IF Coconut Magnet onto the Merlion, marking the final step in transforming plastic waste into a finished piece of art.

Beyond the Co-Creator programme, members of the public can also participate as regular contributors by depositing any cleaned PET bottles at IF-inity recycling pods located at

  1. 6 Battery Road, Singapore, 049909
  2. 19 Tuas View Square, Singapore 637564

Registration for The IF-inity Movement event on 29 April can be completed via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/the-if-inity-movement-tickets-1985795073521

IF-inity Recycling Pods at 6 Battery Road, Singapore, 049909
IF-inity Recycling Pods at 6 Battery Road, Singapore, 049909

“The IF-inity Movement was inspired by a simple belief – that small actions, when multiplied across a community, can drive meaningful environmental change. At IF Coconut, we saw an opportunity to transform everyday waste, such as plastic bottles and caps, into something purposeful. Through our collaboration with UNIPLAY and PLASTIFY, we are giving new life to discarded materials by reimagining them into commemorative collectibles inspired by the Merlion, an iconic symbol of Singapore. This initiative reflects our commitment to sustainability, and we hope it will inspire more people to embrace circular practices and contribute to a more sustainable future.” said Pongsakorn Pongsak, Chief Executive Officer of IFBH Limited.

The Grand Reveal: 40 Collectibles, One Community

A) Press Release Image 4

The IF-inity Movement will culminate in a public event on 29 April 2026, which will feature the first unveiling of the IF-inity Fortune Merlion collectibles, alongside an interactive recycling experience led by PLASTIFY, where all attendees can “inject” and bring home their own IF Coconut Magnet in 30 seconds.

For the five selected Co-Creators eligible for the IF-inity Fortune Merlions, they will also take part in a special moment to complete their collectible by “snapping” the IF Coconut Magnets onto the Merlion, marking the final step in transforming waste into a finished piece of art.

The 40 Fortune Merlion collectibles are not available for retail and will be exclusively distributed as part of The IF-inity Movement, including a limited number allocated to selected Co-Creators from the public and one exclusive gold-edition at Pop Toy Show 2026.

Closing the Loop Through Waste and Merlion Metamorphosis

According to the National Environment Agency, in Singapore alone, 957 million kg of plastic waste was generated in 2024, with only 5% recycled. Against this backdrop, The IF-inity Movement aims to reframe waste not as an endpoint, but as the beginning of a new lifecycle, demonstrating how collective action, design, and innovation can come together to create impact.

At the heart of the initiative is a full lifecycle transformation process that converts post-consumer plastic into limited-edition collectibles. Through a multi-step journey, spanning bottle collection, shredding, material processing, filament production, and 3D printing, discarded plastics are reimagined into tangible works.

A total of 1,200 PET bottles and 600 HDPE caps (weighing 21.5kg in total) are recycled into 40 ultra-limited Fortune Merlion collectibles and accompanying IF Coconut Magnets. Each piece carries a symbolic narrative of renewal, transformation, and shared responsibility.

If-inity Fortune Merlion with IF Coconut Magnets
If-inity Fortune Merlion with IF Coconut Magnets

The IF-inity Movement brings together a network of collaborators across design, sustainability, and production. The Fortune Merlion collectible is crafted using PET plastic filaments by UNIPLAY, while PLASTIFY leads the recycling of HDPE bottle caps into the magnetic IF Coconut. Supporting partners include ASYPHER Studios (campaign strategist and orchestrators), Advance Recycling (plastic shredding and material recovery), Greenfinity (PET Plastic filament transformation), and PlasticTinkers (3D printing).
Hashtag: #IFCoconut

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About IF Coconut

IF is a globally recognised coconut water brand known for its commitment to product quality, and innovation. As part of the IF family, the brand has built a strong presence across international markets, offering a range of naturally refreshing coconut-based beverages that cater to modern, health-conscious lifestyles.

Driven by a vision that goes beyond hydration, IF continues to evolve its brand narrative by integrating sustainability and responsible practices into its operations. With a growing focus on environmental impact, the brand is committed to exploring circular solutions, transforming post-consumer waste into meaningful creations while encouraging conscious consumption among its community.

Through initiatives like The IF-inity Movement, IF bridges sustainability with creativity and community engagement, demonstrating how everyday products can play a role in a larger environmental ecosystem. By reimagining waste as a resource, the brand aims to inspire collective action and contribute to a more circular future.

With a strong regional footprint and expanding global reach, IF continues to innovate both within and beyond its product offerings, championing not only better beverages, but a more sustainable way of living.

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Aqount Technologies: Most SMEs Use Accounting Software But Still Lack Financial Clarity

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11 hours ago

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27/04/2026

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Aqount Technologies launches Financial Clarity Check to help SMEs fix structural accounting issues masking true business performance.

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 27 April 2026 – Aqount Technologies, a specialist in comprehensive accounting and bookkeeping services, today announced the launch of Financial Clarity Check. This new, free tool is designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) bridge the gap between simple bookkeeping and powerful decision-making by identifying deep-seated structural accounting issues that often mask true business performance.

Aqount Technologies launches Financial Clarity Check to help SMEs fix structural accounting issues masking true business performance.

The launch comes at a critical time for businesses across Southeast Asia. While thousands of SMEs have adopted cloud platforms like Xero to automate invoicing and reporting, Aqount Technologies has observed that software alone does not guarantee financial clarity. Despite these digital advances, many founders still struggle to determine if they are truly profitable, why cash flow remains tight, or which business segments drive the strongest margins.

The Hidden Problem: Structure, Not Software

Cloud accounting platforms are powerful, but they are only as useful as the structure behind them. When financial data is poorly organised, even well-implemented systems can become record-keeping tools rather than decision-making tools.

Finance professionals working with SMEs frequently observe a similar pattern. Profits may appear healthy while cash flow remains constrained, expenses are often grouped too broadly to analyse, and key cost drivers remain hidden within generic categories. Reports may be technically correct, yet difficult for founders to interpret or act upon.

In such cases, the issue is not the software itself, but how the accounting system has been structured and maintained over time.

Why Financial Clarity Breaks Down as Businesses Grow

Most SMEs set up their accounting systems quickly in the early stages, focusing on compliance and basic record-keeping. As the business grows, new revenue streams are added, cost structures become more complex, and different team members begin recording transactions in varying ways.

Over time, the system can become fragmented. The result is a business that contains a large volume of financial data, but lacks the structure needed to generate meaningful insight.

What Financial Diagnostics Typically Reveal

When accounting systems are reviewed at a structural level, several recurring issues often emerge. Expenses are frequently misclassified, leading to distorted profitability. Profit margins may be overstated due to incomplete cost allocation. Key cost drivers are buried within broad categories, and financial reports do not reflect how the business actually operates.

These issues are rarely visible at first glance, but they can have a material impact on decision-making.

A Real Example: When ‘Profitable’ Didn’t Mean Profitable

In one case, a Southeast Asian SME in a service-based industry appeared to be performing well on paper. Revenue was growing steadily, and monthly reports showed consistent profitability. The business was using cloud accounting software and maintaining regular bookkeeping.

Yet cash flow remained persistently tight. A financial review of the accounting structure revealed that operational costs were grouped too broadly, masking true cost drivers. Certain expenses had been misclassified, overstating profitability, and costs were not properly attributed to specific services.

After restructuring the chart of accounts and improving cost categorisation, previously ‘profitable’ services were found to be operating at thin or negative margins. At the same time, higher-performing segments became clearly identifiable, enabling management to make more informed pricing and cost decisions.

Within a short period, the business gained significantly clearer visibility into its financial performance, not by changing the software, but by improving the structure behind it.

From Bookkeeping to Decision-Making

When properly structured, accounting systems can serve as operational dashboards rather than simple record-keeping tools. They allow business leaders to understand which products or services generate the strongest margins, track cost trends over time, identify inefficiencies early, and make decisions with greater confidence.

For businesses with more complex operations, this level of financial visibility is increasingly essential.

Assessing Financial Clarity

For SMEs already using platforms such as Xero, the next step is not adopting additional tools, but ensuring that the accounting system is structured effectively. Aqount has developed a Financial Clarity Check designed to evaluate key aspects of an accounting system, including chart-of-accounts design, categorisation consistency, reporting clarity, and overall system health.

Businesses can access the Financial Clarity Check at https://clarity.aqount.tech. The process takes only a few minutes and provides an initial indication of whether an accounting system is supporting effective decision-making.

Hashtag: #Fintech #SMEs #SoutheastAsia #Accounting #FinancialClarity #CloudAccounting #Aqount


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Aqount Technologies

Aqount Technologies specializes in comprehensive accounting and bookkeeping services, providing businesses with accurate insights for strategic decision-making.

At Aqount Technologies, we go beyond numbers. We cultivate lasting relationships, tailoring our services to your specific financial goals. Our expert team ensures compliance, security, and industry-specific expertise, giving you the confidence to navigate your financial landscape.

Our services include accounting & financial reporting, bookkeeping & recordkeeping, tax planning & compliance, payroll processing, financial analysis & forecasting, and audit preparation & support.

Experience a seamless financial journey with Aqount Technologies and join us in achieving excellence in your business’s financial strategy.

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