HSBC

Despite its roots in the region, HSBC’s Asian woes have sometimes seemed endemic. It has been overly dependent on Hong Kong and too often caught in Sino-US crosshairs. But under regional co-CEOs Surendra Rosha and David Liao, the lender has regained its confidence, is more regionally diverse than ever, and is busy posting record profits.

The Philippines has the potential to become a regional wealth management hub. The race is on among global and local private banks to attract – and keep - the country’s newly wealthy.

The last 12 months have tested the ability of banks and brokers to offer guidance during times of extreme volatility. HSBC has proved its worth.

This year’s winners of the Asiamoney Brokers Poll had to navigate myriad challenges, from trade tensions between the US and China to uncertainty around global growth. They managed to find exciting investment opportunities by quickly adapting to the changing market conditions – something they will need to do in 2020 as well.

When a bank performs well during a strong year for equity markets, it’s easy to say it is just going with the flow, but when a firm gives clients the best advice during turbulent times, it proves its worth.

The winners of this year’s RMB survey are already benefiting from a new wave of liberalization across commercial and investment banking activity that will allow the currency to win wallets around the world.

Hong Kong-headquartered CLSA voted the best in Asia for equity research and sales in the largest-ever Asiamoney equities poll.

Competitors used to dismiss CLSA as a one-trick pony, but with it now taking advantage of the heft of parent Citic’s balance sheet, can CEO Jonathan Slone turn it into a thundering herd?

The bank for Hongkongers has long been overshadowed by big brother HSBC, but even rivals consider it the best investment the global giant ever made. What legacy does soon-to-retire chief executive Rose Lee leave?