indomie
05-07-13, 10:15
Reuters**07/04/13 8:04 PM ET
*** * *
Tim Graham | Getty Images
Singapore will dethrone Switzerland in the next two years as the world's top center for managing international funds, a study said on Thursday, as a global tax crackdown and tighter regulation weaken the Alpine nation's appeal to investors.
Switzerland, still the world's biggest offshore financial center with $2 trillion in assets, came ahead of rivals Singapore, London, Hong Kong and New York in the 2013 ranking, compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its Global Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey.
(Read More: Singapore Will replace Switzerland as Wealth Capital)
But respondents to the survey, which questioned 200 finance industry professionals from 51 countries, also said they expected Switzerland to lose ground, with Singapore taking the top spot in the next two years.
PLAY VIDEO There may be more trouble on the horizon for the big banks if some regulators get their way with rumored new capital requirements. CNBC's Kayla Tausche, offers insight.
Switzerland's tradition of banking secrecy has helped its financial sector thrive but is under massive pressure from the United States and elsewhere, as cash-strapped governments seek to stop tax evasion and close loopholes.
(Read More: Less 'Secret' Switzerland Still Favorite Banking Hub: Julius Baer)
Switzerland and other international financial centers will be forced to create special areas of expertise if they are to differentiate themselves in future, as transparency and increased regulatory standards create a more level playing field, the study said.
It added that centers located in emerging markets stood to gain in stature. Respondents also named Shanghai and Dubai as fast-growing centers, closely followed by Brazil, Miami and Mexico City. "Competition between traditional and newer IFCs and cities for the wealthy is expected to intensify," the study said.
*** * *
Tim Graham | Getty Images
Singapore will dethrone Switzerland in the next two years as the world's top center for managing international funds, a study said on Thursday, as a global tax crackdown and tighter regulation weaken the Alpine nation's appeal to investors.
Switzerland, still the world's biggest offshore financial center with $2 trillion in assets, came ahead of rivals Singapore, London, Hong Kong and New York in the 2013 ranking, compiled by PricewaterhouseCoopers as part of its Global Private Banking and Wealth Management Survey.
(Read More: Singapore Will replace Switzerland as Wealth Capital)
But respondents to the survey, which questioned 200 finance industry professionals from 51 countries, also said they expected Switzerland to lose ground, with Singapore taking the top spot in the next two years.
PLAY VIDEO There may be more trouble on the horizon for the big banks if some regulators get their way with rumored new capital requirements. CNBC's Kayla Tausche, offers insight.
Switzerland's tradition of banking secrecy has helped its financial sector thrive but is under massive pressure from the United States and elsewhere, as cash-strapped governments seek to stop tax evasion and close loopholes.
(Read More: Less 'Secret' Switzerland Still Favorite Banking Hub: Julius Baer)
Switzerland and other international financial centers will be forced to create special areas of expertise if they are to differentiate themselves in future, as transparency and increased regulatory standards create a more level playing field, the study said.
It added that centers located in emerging markets stood to gain in stature. Respondents also named Shanghai and Dubai as fast-growing centers, closely followed by Brazil, Miami and Mexico City. "Competition between traditional and newer IFCs and cities for the wealthy is expected to intensify," the study said.