A recent study by PwC found that investors were most upbeat about emerging cities in the region – such as Bangalore, Mumbai, Manila and Ho Chi Minh City. Rapid urban migration has created strong residential demand in these cities. Logistics and business parks are also thriving on the back of a booming outsourcing industry. The story is similar for infrastructure. Amid government efforts to ramp up infrastructure development, institutional capital has a growing role to play. According to a report by Marsh & McLennan, about 40% of infrastructure projects in emerging Asia are considered bankable. These projects have the necessary conditions to attract sources of funding beyond bankbased finance. While institutional investors have traditionally participated in the secondary market for completed infrastructure, they are increasingly financing construction-phase projects to capture higher risk-adjusted returns. Singapore as a gateway to Asian opportunities Singapore is well-positioned to serve global institutional investors in their steer towards alternatives in Asia. Singapore is a developed pan-Asian asset management centre with a strong pool of global and regional players. Fund managers here have a deep network, are able to readily access deals, and can support Asian companies throughout their life cycle. Eight of the top ten global PE firms have an office in Singapore. So do some of the top global real estate managers. MAS is taking steps to deepen Singapore’s VC and PE ecosystem and enhance the operating environment for VC and PE managers. We will start with simplifying the regulatory framework for VC managers in the next few months.
News conference  Berne, 16 June 2022 Thomas Jordan  Introductory remarks by Thomas Jordan Ladies and gentlemen It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Swiss National Bank’s news conference. In my remarks, I will begin by explaining our monetary policy decision and our assessment of the economic situation. After that, Fritz Zurbrügg will present the key messages from this year’s Financial Stability Report. Andréa Maechler will then comment on the situation on the financial markets and the implementation of monetary policy. We will – as ever – be pleased to take your questions afterwards. Monetary policy decision I will begin with our monetary policy decision. We have decided to tighten our monetary policy and to raise the SNB policy rate and the interest rate on sight deposits at the SNB by half a percentage point to −0.25%. In doing so, we are seeking to counter increased inflationary pressure. The tighter monetary policy is aimed at preventing inflation from spreading more broadly to goods and services in Switzerland. It cannot be ruled out that further increases in the SNB policy rate will be necessary in the foreseeable future to stabilise inflation in the range consistent with price stability over the medium term. To ensure appropriate monetary conditions, we are also willing to be active in the foreign exchange market as necessary. The SNB policy rate change applies from tomorrow, 17 June 2022.