Foreign investment, sustainability, and artificial intelligence (AI) were the leading topics in Asia-Pacific (APAC) financial media in 2024, reflecting shifting capital flows, growing climate risks, and the rapid adoption of AI across the region’s financial sector, according to a new study by Carma, a media intelligence provider.

The study analyzed 14,000 English-language print and online financial coverage from Tier-1 mainstream news and trade publications across Asia in 2024, to provide both localized insights and regional trends.

Foreign investment tops coverage

Across the six markets studied, namely Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Japan, cross-border capital flows were the most prevalent theme in 2024. This reflects rising investment in most jurisdictions.

Data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) show that nearly all East and Southeast Asian markets recorded growth in inward foreign direct investment (FDI) last year. Southeast Asia attracted US$225.3 billion in FDI inflows, up nearly 10% year-over-year (YoY), and led by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. South Korea reported a remarkable 42% YoY increase to US$18.9 billion, while Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan posted YoY gains of 3%, 70%, and 70%, respectively.

By contrast, inward FDI into Mainland China continued to decline, dropping by about 29% YoY to US$116.2 billion.

Key 2024 headlines included Malaysia’s growing role in regional supply chain, notably semiconductors and data centers; renewed investor confidence in Hong Kong regarding cross-border access to Mainland China; and tax reforms, lower corporate tax rates, and expanded fiscal incentives in the Philippines.

Sustainability as second topic in focus

After foreign investment, sustainability was the second most-covered theme in Asian financial media. This comes as climate impacts increasingly affect lives, infrastructure, costs, and insurance.

According to 2024 Climate and Catastrophe Report by Aon, APAC suffered US$74 billion in economic losses from disasters last year, up 13.8% from 2023. Events included flooding in India and China, typhoons in Southeast Asia, and earthquakes in Japan.

In 2021, APAC generated about half of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2021, according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and without mitigation, climate damage could reach 41% of APAC’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2100.

Investor demand for sustainable finance is also rising. Invesco’s Global Sovereign Asset Management Study 2024 reports that more than 70% of asset owners in APAC have adopted ESG policies, integration frameworks, and dedicated in-house ESG team.

Key 2024 headlines included the ADB approving a US$500 million climate adaptation loan for the Philippines; Temasek-backed firms and green real estate investment trusts (REITs) accelerating sustainable finance initiatives in Singapore; and Japan’s planned JPY 1.6 trillion (US$11 billion) “transition”-labelled bond issuance.

AI emerges as a key theme

AI was another major focus in APAC’s financial landscape, with coverage emphasizing its role as a practical tool for fraud detection, personalization, and customer service rather than a transformative disruptor.

APAC is rapidly emerging as a leader in AI adoption, particularly generative AI (genAI). A 2024 survey by Boston Consulting Group (BCG) found that in both North America and APAC, 16% of firms are already realizing tangible value in genAI, suggesting that the technology has been in use for some time and delivering measurable impact.

APAC firms also lead in investment, allocating 7.6% of annual revenue in digital and genAI in 2023, ahead of North American at 7.1% and the European Union (EU) at 4.3%.

Deloitte estimates that continued adoption of AI could potentially generate between US$211 billion and US$512 billion in economic benefits across Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam.

Key news in 2024 included Singapore cementing its role as a fintech and AI hub with major firms like Prudential; Hong Kong’s rollout of responsible AI guidelines for the finance sector in October 2024; and Japan’s Financial Services Agency issuing guidance for ethical adoption of AI across financial institutions.

Beyond these three dominant themes, cryptocurrency was another key topic, reflecting booming adoption of the asset class across the region.

According to data from Chainalysis, APAC was the fastest-growing region for cryptocurrency activity in the 12 months to June 2025, driven by strong engagement across South Asia, and Southeast Asia.

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