
Amundi, Franklin Templeton, HSBC, M&G and Natixis selected in third batch of S$6.5 billion programme.
Amundi, Franklin Templeton, HSBC Asset Management, M&G Investments and Natixis Investment Managers were named in the third batch of mandates under MAS's Equity Market Development Programme.
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MAS launched the Equity Market Development Programme with S$5 billion in February 2025 and enlarged it to S$6.5 billion in February 2026.
Amundi, Franklin Templeton, HSBC Asset Management, M&G Investments and Natixis Investment Managers were named on Tuesday as part of the third batch of mandates awarded under the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) Equity Market Development Programme.
The programme, launched with S$5 billion in February 2025 and enlarged to S$6.5 billion this February, aims to crowd in private capital alongside public funds to boost liquidity and broaden trading activity beyond Singapore’s largest blue-chip stocks, authorities said.
Alongside the manager appointments, MAS committed an additional S$20 million to a grant scheme designed to support market-making activities for roughly 80 small and mid-cap companies through the end of 2028.
The Ministry of Finance of China, the People's Bank of China, and the State Administration of Financial Supervision jointly issued a new policy to implement a nationwide residential home purchase loan interest discount policy from October 1. The policy implementation period is tentatively scheduled for one year. Qualified first home loans can enjoy 1 percentage point interest discount support with a term of up to 5 years, aiming to help people in urgent need reduce monthly payment pressure.
The 47th World Grape and Wine Conference and OIV Member State Congress and the 6th China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture Tourism Expo will be held simultaneously in Yinchuan, Ningxia from October 12th to 16th. This is the first time in the century-old history of the OIV conference that it has landed in Asia.

The 2027 minimum wage standard for Cambodian workers was officially determined on September 30. Starting from January 1, 2027, the minimum wage for workers in the textile, clothing, shoemaking, travel supplies and luggage industries will be raised from US$210 to US$212, an increase of US$2. The employer originally advocated maintaining US$210, while the labor union demanded US$225. After negotiations and voting among the three parties, the US$210 plan was passed by 47 votes, and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manai decided to increase it by US$2. Workers also enjoy other incomes such as transportation subsidies, accommodation subsidies, attendance bonuses, and seniority subsidies.

The U.S. Senate passed the bill by voice vote on the evening of the 28th, officially ending the 234-year-old production of one-cent coins. The bill, which has been sent to President Trump for signature, is expected to save the government $56 million annually by halting production, with future cash transactions rounded to 5 cents.

The State Council Information Office held a press conference on September 30. Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying introduced that from January to September, 41,400 water conservancy projects of various types were implemented nationwide, 795 billion yuan was invested in water conservancy construction, and 2.01 million people were employed, making every effort to ensure flood control, water supply, food and ecological security.
The fourth "Linxiang Buoy Cup" golden autumn fishing competition opened in Linxiang, Hunan, attracting thousands of fishermen to participate. Relying on the advantages of the buoy industry, the local area is promoting the transformation of traditional handicrafts into intelligent manufacturing, and accelerating the move from "exporting products overseas" to "exporting standards and brands overseas."