Finews.asia's Most-Read Stories of 2019

Finews.asia's Most-Read Stories of 2019

5. Clare Rewcastle-Brown: I'd Like to See Some 1MDB Bankers Go to Jail

If the plots in «Billion Dollar Whale» seems unreal, check out Clare Rewcastle-Brown's (pictured above) dogged investigation of Malaysian corruption, which broke open the 1MDB scandal. The anatomy of a major financial scandal like no one has seen before lays bare so many of the fundamental weaknesses of our financial systems and our regulations. In an exclusive interview with finews.asia, Rewcastle-Brown shares about the next shoe to drop in finance.

4. Ten Ways to Stick To Your Fitness Resolution

Looks like our readers are really looking for ways to hack into the best of health! From avoiding elevators to saying "No" to our favorite coffee, the article offers a list of ways to get on track with our fitness resolution. If any of those methods work, read them again as a refresher, after the binge eating during the festive season.

3. Passport Power: Asian Countries Dominate

Japan goes into the new year holding 1st place on the Henley Passport Index, with citizens enjoying visa-free/visa-on-arrival access to 190 destinations. In a further display of Asian passport power, Singapore and South Korea now sit in joint 2nd place, with access to 189 destinations around the globe, finews.asia found out. Keep a lookout for the most sought-after passports in the upcoming year.

2. BNP Paribas Team Head Resurfaces

Eyes are on another big mover in the region. Senior banker Carolyn Tan and her offshore Taiwan team, who spent almost 12 years at BNP Paribas, has resurfaced in a new role three months after her resignation from the French lender. She joined LGT in Singapore as a managing director, in her first move away from «big banking» platforms. Tan had previously worked with BNP Paribas, ABN Amro and DBS, all with a focus on frontline banking.

1. Jeff Bezos Divorce: Lesson For Private Bankers 

It may be the wealth involved, but we think it is the man's influence on his e-commerce empire, as well as his influence on the industry, that played a role in pushing this article to the top. The end of the tycoon's 25-year marriage highlights the perils for the ultra-rich in mixing business with love while finews.asia dissects the biggest financial mistakes made by Jeff Bezos (pictured above) and his wealth managers.