Finance
Hong Kong is more entrepreneurial, open and diverse than Singapore: Paul Chan
Addressing competition with Singapore and questions from US firms about expanding in the region, he said: “Hong Kong is a lot more entrepreneurial. When it comes to the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, I think you’ll find it more interesting … Hong Kong is [also] more open and diverse. On lifestyle, Hong Kong is a lot more interesting too.
“Come talk to us. Depending on the scale of the investment, the size of operation, the stage of the technology that you’re bringing, we can tailor-make specific packages for you.”
He said the city was an ideal destination for businesses planning to expand into North Asia and the mainland, citing the connectivity that allowed travellers to reach more than half of the world’s population within five hours’ flight time.
Chan also highlighted the strengths of Hong Kong’s stock market, touting its advantages over Singapore’s, which he described as being “no comparison in terms of depth and breadth”.
The market capitalisation of companies listed on Hong Kong’s stock exchange stood at HK$32.1 trillion, compared with HK$7.4 trillion on Singapore’s bourse. But the city state has a larger economy that is considered more diversified.
The lunch event was co-organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco and the Bay Area Council, a California-based business association with more than 300 member companies. It was held in the dining hall of a luxury hotel in downtown San Francisco.
Attendees included about 100 representatives from California-based businesses, start-ups and trade associations, but no US officials were present.
In his speech, titled “Hong Kong’s New Chapter: Empowering Growth through Innovation and Sustainability”, Chan said Hong Kong remained attractive as “a springboard” for accessing the mainland and Asian markets.
“Coming to Hong Kong, on one hand you will have convenience and sometimes priority access to the mainland,” he said. “At the same time, from there, your international character and your international facets will be preserved. Talent, goods and data are movable.”
The memorandum of understanding signed between InvestHK and the Bay Area Council covered joint promotion investment with a focus on green finance and sustainable development.
San Francisco and Berkeley were the final destinations of the first-ever joint delegation composed of senior officials from Hong Kong, Macau and Guangdong province to promote business opportunities in the Greater Bay Area, a plan by Beijing to turn Hong Kong, Macau and nine Guangdong cities into a hi-tech economic powerhouse by 2025.
The joint delegation, which concluded a four-day visit in Paris before heading to the US, will stay in California until Friday to attend the US-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action. It is also expected to take part in the Bay to Bay Dialogue event with Californian businesses.
The visit is Chan’s second to San Francisco in six months, after he attended the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November last year on behalf of city leader John Lee Ka-chiu.
Lee, who is sanctioned by the US, had cited a pre-scheduled agenda clash and turned down the invitation.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met his US counterpart, Joe Biden, during the summit, with both sides agreeing to work together to cooperate on risks posed by artificial intelligence.
Before their meeting, California Governor Gavin Newsom visited the mainland and made a brief stop in Hong Kong as part of a week-long trip last October, partly to “advance climate action”, according to his office.
The San Francisco Bay Area has reigned as a global hub for technological innovation, notable for the vast number of tech giants headquartered there, including Apple, Google and Facebook.
The Hong Kong delegation’s lobbying efforts come as the mainland also seeks foreign investment to revitalise its sluggish economy, which has been hampered by weak business confidence, partly due to a property market downturn.
Harley-Davidson’s new CEO wants to transform how people think about the iconic motorcycle brand, so the company is trying something different.
This week, Harley announced a new strategy that focuses on lower-priced bikes, rather than relying on older, more affluent customers to buy its higher-margin touring models.
“Back to the Bricks builds on our core strengths and competitive advantages, harnessing the passion of our riders to deliver profitable growth for the Company and both our dealers and shareholders,” Harley CEO Artie Starrs said this week. “As we drive towards this new phase of growth, we remain committed to the craftsmanship and dedication that define our brand.”
Entry-level Harley-Davidsons cost about $13,000, while the higher-end Adventure Touring models average about $23,250, and the Premium Range &CVO models cost about $38,500, according to Reuters.
Harley’s new strategy targets a core profit of over $350 million from its motorcycle business by 2027 and over $150 million in cost reductions.
To kick off the new strategy, Harley is introducing Sprint, a new entry-level model powered by a smaller 440cc engine, later in the year.
What is Harley-Davidson’s “Back to the Bricks” strategy?
Harley’s new strategy relies on more than just pushing buyers toward cheaper vehicles to increase volume. The 123-year-old company has a set of five pillars on which it is building its future.
Harley-Davidson “Back to the Bricks” 5-point plan
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Deep appreciation of Harley-Davidson’s competitive advantages and legacy: The Company’s iconic brand, diversified and powerful revenue channels, and best-in-class dealer network provide a powerful foundation for growth.
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Renewed commitment to exclusive dealer network to drive enterprise profitability: Harley-Davidson’s dealers are a competitive advantage. The Company is planning actions to enable dealers to double profitability in 2026 and then double it again by 2029.
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Immediate actions to recapture share in areas where Harley-Davidson has right to win: Harley-Davidson has strong legacy equity in existing markets including new motorcycles, used motorcycles, Parts & Accessories, and Apparel & Licensing. The Company’s new strategy is focused on positioning the Company to regain share and drive meaningful volume growth in categories where it benefits from credibility, scale, and deep rider connection.
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Strong financial position with a path to stronger free cash flow and EBITDA margin: Cost and restructuring actions already underway support a path to stronger free cash flow and EBITDA margin over time.
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Bolstered management team with balance of fresh perspectives and institutional knowledge: Harley-Davidson has made a number of leadership appointments that support the Company as it leverages its innate strengths.
Written by Jitendra Parashar at The Motley Fool Canada
Dividend investing can be one of the simplest ways to build long-term wealth while creating a steady stream of passive income. But in my opinion, a good dividend stock is about much more than just a high yield. Beyond dividend yield, investors should also look for companies with durable businesses, reliable cash flows, and a history of rewarding shareholders consistently over time.
That’s exactly why many investors turn to financial stocks. Banks and asset managers often generate recurring earnings through lending, investing, and wealth management activities, allowing them to support stable dividend payments even during uncertain market conditions.
Two Canadian financial stocks that stand out right now are AGF Management (TSX:AGF.B) and Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSX:TD). Both companies offer attractive dividends backed by solid financial performance and long-term growth strategies. In this article, I’ll explain why these two financial stocks could be worth considering for income-focused investors right now.
AGF Management stock continues to reward shareholders
AGF Management is a Toronto-based asset manager with businesses across investments, private markets, and wealth management. Through these divisions, the company offers equity, fixed income, alternative, and multi-asset investment strategies to retail, institutional, and private wealth clients.
Following a 59% rally over the last 12 months, AGF stock currently trades at $16.67 per share with a market cap of roughly $1.1 billion. At current levels, the stock offers a quarterly dividend yield of 3.3%.
One reason behind AGF’s strong recent performance is its increasingly diversified business model. The company has expanded its investment capabilities and broadened its geographic reach, helping it perform well across varying market environments.
In the first quarter of its fiscal 2026 (ended in February), AGF posted free cash flow of $36 million, up 14% year over year (YoY), driven mainly by higher management, advisory, and administration fees. These fees climbed to $92.5 million as demand for the company’s investment offerings strengthened.
AGF has also been focusing on expanding its alternative investment business and introducing new investment products. With strong cash generation and growing demand for alternative investments, AGF Management looks well-positioned to continue rewarding investors over the long term.
TD Bank stock remains a dependable dividend giant
Toronto-Dominion Bank, or TD Bank, is one of North America’s largest banks, serving millions of customers through its Canadian banking, U.S. retail banking, wealth management and insurance, and wholesale banking operations.
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