In conversation with HKEX CEO Nicolas Aguzin

“ I don’t anticipate significant shift in our strategy around being ‘China anchored’. China is a very strategic advantage that HKEX has, and we should leverage it to the maximum as possible”. ——Nicolas Aguzin, CEO of HKEX

It is undeniable that China has played a significant role in bringing Hong Kong onto the international stage of the financial industry. Hong Kong is a gateway that connects China and the rest of the Western world. Its diversification has drawn influxes of capital flow into the city, which brings wealth and prosperity that lasted for decades.

Finance Mandarin is your take-off point to enter the China market. We help business executives to hone the business Mandarin language to ameliorate their negotiations and meetings with clients. We teach the Mandarin language using the case methodology and latest China market insights to accelerate students' learning progress.

Finance Mandarin offers 1 on 1 and group Mandarin Coaching for Business Purposes with Finance Focus materials. Enrol 1-on-1 session anytime and anywhere.

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Next Finance Mandarin Reading Club’s Choice: Weijian Shan’s new book “Money Games”

Next Finance Mandarin Reading Club’s Choice: Weijian Shan’s new book “Money Games”

“Money Games” is a riveting tale of one of the most successful buyout deals ever: the acquisition and turnaround of what used to be Korea's largest bank by the American firm Newbridge Capital.

Full of intrigue and suspense, this insider's account is told by the chief architect of the deal itself, the celebrated author and private equity investor Weijian Shan.

With billions of dollars at stake, and the nation's economic future on the line, Newbridge Capital sought to become the first foreign firm in history to take control of one of Korea's most beloved financial institutions.

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Finance Mandarin specializes in coaching executives Mandarin for business communication.

Nicolas Aguzin, CEO of HKEX: What Is The Future of Hong Kong's Financial Industry?

On the 15th July 2021, the Finance Mandarin team joined the “Hong Kong: Financing Asia’s Growth” forum held by Asia Society Hong Kong. The VIP speaker for the event was Nicolas Aguzin, the CEO of HKEX, and moderated by Ronnie Chan, the Chairman of Hang Lung Group Limited.

Asia Society Hong Kong Center organised Finance Asia’s Growth today, with Nicolas Aguzin, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) as the speaker.

The Future "Big Bang" in Finance

Mr. Aguzin emphasized that there will be a “big bang” in finance for Hong Kong in the next 10 years. Hong Kong’s capital market is expected to grow to over US$100 trillion and will be the biggest value creation and movement of money that humanity has ever seen.

“The best years of Hong Kong are ahead of us”, stated Aguzin.

The relationship between Hong Kong and China

The greater the Shenzhen and Shanghai do, the greater the Hong Kong performs. Hong Kong’s prospect is closely related to the development of Shenzhen and Shanghai. Mr. Aguzin stated that Hong Kong must work closely together to create vibrancy in the market to bring fortune and prosperity to the people. 

What can Hong Kong do to continue to strive in the future?

Mr. Aguzin commented that the HKEX needs to continuously look for areas of improvement. He shared an example of the black storm signal that was hoisted a few weeks ago, which caused the market's suspension. The lack of volatility needs to be addressed since work-from-home has already been a trend ever since the pandemic started. HKEX will look for solutions to tackle its vulnerabilities such as undisrupted operation under unforeseeable bad weather.

In general, Mr. Aguzin had high expectations and optimism about Hong Kong’s future development. He emphasized that there is a complementary relationship between Hong Kong and China, that the progress of Shenzhen and Shanghai will directly flourish Hong Kong’s wealth. Therefore, he highly encouraged companies to work closely in China to grasp a position to grow their business. 

It is mutually believed that there are vast opportunities in mainland China. This further highlights the importance of learning the nation’s language: Mandarin Chinese. Learning the Mandarin language is the most fundamental stepping stone to open doors of opportunities in China. It helps you to understand better the mentality of Chinese people and their business strategies.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.”

Finance Mandarin has been providing Business Chinese Language Courses, using real case studies and with topics on JUMBO IPOs as learning materials.

Case Studies on IPOs includes Alibaba, China Tower, Kuaishou, Xiaomi, JD.COM, Meituan, Netease, Baidu, Bilibili, Yum China, Evergrande and more.

Learn Chinese with IPO Course: https://www.financemandarin.com/course-fm004-ipo

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Charles Li, former CEO of HKEX: Next Potential Global Trend: Cashless Society

What did Charles Li reply when Ming Pao asked “ why DiDi Chuxing choose US IPO? “

Charles Li's LIVE speech in Mandarin Chinese: Continuous Development of the Finance Industry in Hong Kong

Finance Mandarin joined the Insight Forum held by Our Hong Kong Foundation on 6th July 2021 (Tue) 3 pm – 4:30 pm HKT for the insights from professionals:

🔍 Charles Li, Senior Advisor to the Board at Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX)

🔍 Laurence Li, Chairman of Financial Services Development Council

🔍 Wang Lei, CEO of Huatai Financial Holdings (Hong Kong) Limited

🔍 Kenny Lam, CEO of Two Sigma Asia Pacific

🔍 Stephen Wong, Deputy Executive Director and Head of Public Policy Insititute of Our Hong Kong Foundation

Mr Charles Li is the former Chief Executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX).

Insights from Li:

✔️ Next Potential Global Trend: Cashless Society

✔️ Worth discussion in the Finance Industry: Is it an opportunity or a challenge?

✔️ China 🇨🇳, and Hong Kong could lead the trend of cashless payments to the world if preparation is done

✔️ More small businesses (Labour Entrepreneurship) may lead in China

Finance Mandarin pioneer in providing the most popular FinTech Bootcamp Class for hedge fund, venture capital and private equity.

Book a Fintech Class today at Finance Mandarin for your improvement in Business Chinese: https://www.financemandarin.com/course-learn-mandarin?ct=35

Learning Mandarin Chinese is the key to success

💫 You Learn, You Earn:

Mark Machin, Former President & Chief Executive Officer at CPP Investment Board

Mark Machin, Former President & Chief Executive Officer at CPP Investment Board

Dear Friends,

I just sent this message to my colleagues at CPPIB and wanted to share it with you.

Tomorrow is my last day at CPPIB. All journeys must come to an end. It has been said that it is better to travel well than to arrive. And we have traveled well.

What an incredible latest fiscal year. When I first sat in the seat as President and CEO five years ago, the assets were $278.9 billion; and it’s wonderful to have seen them grow to nearly $500 billion as of March 31. We generated returns over the last five years that none of us could have thought likely, averaging more than 11.0% per year! And you, we, have achieved this collectively. You have burnished CPPIB’s reputation as a benchmark and model for other pension funds around the world. I am so proud of each and every one of you, and I feel lucky to have worked along side you.
As I look back over the last few years, I am particularly proud of the momentum the organization has developed in a number of key areas: the use of data for investment insights; innovation and venture capital; sustainable investing; a strengthened lead in markets in Asia and Latin America; a deepened presence in Europe; a bolstered bi-coastal presence in the U.S.; greater diversity and inclusion; total fund management; installing a dedicated CIO; and, of course, improvements in all dimensions of risk management.

More important, our organization is not just about investment returns. The returns directly translate into the security and success of millions of Canadian retirements. We have been united in a common mission to serve the Canadian public; and we have delivered through your dedication, talent, and extraordinary work. That’s all the more true during the year of COVID, as we’ve been able to give comfort and confidence to Canadians at a time of intense stress and uncertainty that their pensions are safe, sound, and flourishing. You have outperformed with grace under fire. And I applaud each of you.

From tomorrow, I will be looking on with pride, and with awe, at your continued success. I have huge confidence in your future. I’d like to give a big thank you to my colleagues on the Senior Management Team, to all of you at CPPIB, to the board, and to Canada for having given me the opportunity to have worked with you all. It has been the highlight of my career. My special best wishes to John for a long and successful tenure as CEO.


Best regards,
Mark

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Mary Callahan Erdoes, J.P. Morgan's CEO of Asset & Wealth Management: Top 10 Themes That Will Define the Future of Asset and Wealth Management

Top 10 Themes That Will Define the Future of Asset and Wealth Management

J. Pierpont Morgan would be proud that many of the historical tenets of the asset- and wealth-management industry still form the bedrock of how money is managed in modern times. J.P. Morgan’s first investment fund was started in the late 1800s to serve British financiers wishing to invest in the emerging United States of America. The fund’s 150-year track record is a testament to our industry’s founding principle: While the world may change, clients’ desire for investment expertise and personalized service won’t.

With that in mind, here are 10 key themes that we look forward to helping our clients navigate in the future.

1) Price. Ever since I entered the asset-management industry, skeptics have warned that fee pressure will destroy profitability and detract top talent from the profession. Fees in every industry compress at some point. Successful firms of the future will thrive by either providing commodity-like products at scale for near-zero cost, or delivering hard-to-access insights and exposures that command a premium. Our industry must strive for continuous improvement on both ends of the spectrum.

2) Scale is a matter of survival. With compressed pricing, heavy regulatory controls, and immense spend on data, analytics, and risk-management tools, firms need a relentless focus on operational efficiency, a rigorous control framework, and a disciplined prioritization process around investments for the future. In this context, scale is key. Mergers and acquisitions and outsourcing of sub-scale and noncore capabilities to service providers will enable smaller firms to refocus their efforts back into their most important asset: talent.

JP Morgan Wholly-Owned Subsidiary in China Opened

3) Actively advising clients. If we learned anything from the Covid-19 crisis, it is the need for sound advice in volatile times. During that time, thousands of actively managed funds outperformed their passive alternatives across asset classes and portfolios. While markets may be efficient, manager selection is key and clients need guidance. The average industry return of a balanced portfolio over the past two decades was 6.4% annually, while the actual experience of the average retail investor was only 2.9%, a stark reminder of how critical hands-on advice is.

4) Impact and purpose. Portfolio managers and research analysts have become essential for investors seeking to make an impact in the world through their assets. Over 80% of surveyed CIOs expressed intent to invest in environmentally and socially conscious companies. Analyzing CEOs and their management teams is no longer just about inquiring about their financial and operational expertise and vision, but also about the impact they make on their communities and the planet. Rising demand for companies that drive positive change will create a virtuous cycle of asset allocation for good.

5) Personalization. Today’s investors want to be intentional, not passive, in investing. They care about taxes and want to overweight companies that can make a difference. They want to avoid whole sectors, or actively own and vote on a company’s strategic plans. Giving clients the freedom to pursue their very specific objectives in a highly customized manner will continue to drive innovation in our industry.

JPMorgan Asset Management MRF: 6th Mainland-HK Mutual Recognition Fund

6) Stable and predictable incomes. Millions of investors around the world have come to rely on their investment portfolios as a stable source of income. With individuals enjoying longer life spans and more active lifestyles, especially during retirement years, asset managers need to adapt their strategies to provide for a stable and predictable flow of income every month. Along the same lines, saving needs to start at a young age. Today, less than 40% of Americans have enough savings to pay for an unexpected $1,000 expense in cash. It is our collective responsibility to educate and advise on what is required to cover all of life’s events and milestones.

7) Understanding China. The pandemic has highlighted the interconnectivity of the world and how important China is to supply chains and new innovations. Against this backdrop, it is irresponsible to be a fiduciary of client capital and not have a deep understanding of places like China. It is hard to imagine having a true grasp of competitive global forces without on-the-ground insights of the economies, cultures, and politics of re-emerging global marketplaces. After 100 years of being on the ground in China, J.P. Morgan is poised to become the first foreign asset manager to acquire full ownership of a Chinese fund manager, pending regulatory approval. That kind of commitment will contribute massively to our global research network.

14th Five-Year Plan Insights: CBIRC - Real Estate - Grey Rhino with Greatest Financial Risk

8) Technology drives everything. To adapt to the velocity of progress and change, technology is providing our industry access, speed, and agility like never before. With more technologists than Google and Facebook combined, J.P. Morgan invests over $12 billion annually in technology to help empower our clients and employees to work faster and more seamlessly in ever-changing markets. We need to be forward thinking and have the ability to be a disruptor. Agile, collaborative partnerships between technologists and their businesses will drive innovation and speed to market at an exponential pace.

9) Access. With a global footprint and a full suite of investment vehicles, asset managers must continue to focus on enabling first-time investors to invest in previously inaccessible areas. We are finding ways to provide more opportunities, more choice, and more power to people. Investments once only available to the largest investors in the world are now being accessed by the everyday investor. Democratization of markets should create better outcomes for investors of all sizes. 

10) A new flexibility. Our industry adapted quite seamlessly to a previously unimaginable work-from-home scenario. As such, increased flexibility will broaden talent pools and should promote greater diversity. While never losing the apprenticeship nature of our business, we should continue to find new ways of working with one another to generate even greater success.

In coming years, the industry’s winners will remain obsessed about their fiduciary responsibilities. As stewards of capital, the ability to leverage technology and scale to deliver the same extraordinary experience for every investor, with $100 or $100 million, is now within reach.

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6 Facts You Need To Learn About Xiaohongshu 小红书 | Learn Business Mandarin with Vienne Lee

Vienne Lee and Debbie Chen hosted a Xiaohongshu IPO LIVE event on 4 June 2021, 9.30 a.m. They discussed the key leaders of Xiaohongshu, explored its business model and challenges. At Finance Mandarin, we provide the latest market insights and case studies to help corporate leaders master the Mandarin language skills, to prepare for Mandarin communication with Chinese clients.

What is Xiaohongshu？

Xiaohongshu is an e-commerce （电商）and social media platform （社交平台）that allows users to share their product feedback and lifestyles. It has over 300 million users worldwide.

What is 种草？

种草 (seeding/grass plating) is a network term created on Xiaohongshu’s platform. It means to be influenced to purchase something. Hence, the consumer’s purchasing behavior is greatly influenced by KOLs and KOCs. This has created a large e-commerce and advertisement platform for Xiaohongshu.

By studying this case study, you will be able to:

✔️ Identify the listed capital of Xiaohongshu

✔️ Realize the investment from well-known institutions

✔️ Predict potential challenges

✔️ Analyze the competitiveness

Vienne has prepared 8 real case studies about Xiaohongshu. Learn more at Finance Mandarin.

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Laugh and Share | Lunch with Finance Mandarin Students

Vienne and two loyal fans students, Ning and Mireille had a great lunch in a gorgeous modern Chinese Restaurant (Duckee) in Lee Garden Causeway Bay today, 3 June 2021.

When women sit at a table, there are always sharing. The three experienced ladies, an educator, an M&A banker and an ex-equity sales head, discussed job markets in the capital market, from sell-side to buy-side, as an appetizer.

Moving to the main course, e-commerce in China is now on the rise. The power of it can never be neglected, in particular, annual active consumers of China's largest mobile commerce platform, Taobao, reached 674 million as of June 30, 2019. 

In light of that, Mireille and Vienne taught Ning how to use Taobao to buy a Mask, to witness the power of China e-commerce together. 

They also joked about opening a shop on WeChat, one of the biggest China e-commerce platform.

When it comes to dessert, the beauties love it. Taking about beauty and health, living a positive lifestyle from different perspectives. And also how to prevent the sun from burning while playing golf. I believe everyone would love to hear this; we all have our own little tips. 

With the soft lighting and the relaxing atmosphere, the ladies who were not supposed to eat sweet today, enjoyed their treats in laughter. 

About Finance Mandarin

Finance Mandarin is an AI+Education company. We are the trusted communication advisors to the world's leading businesses, governments, and institutions.

We work with leading organizations across the private, public and social sectors at which they have connections with China.

Our scale, scope, and knowledge allow us to address problems that no one else can. We have deep functional and industry expertise as well as the breadth of geographical reach.

The expert for learning Chinese for Business Purpose: AI+FinTech + IPO +M&A

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Website: www.FinanceMandarin.com

Email: VienneLee@FinanceMandarin.com