Banks hope for warmer Asean ties to brace anti-trade chill

Singapore

ASIAN banks are hoping for a closer huddle within the region amid the chill of anti-trade sentiment in the wake of Brexit and the US elections, with Indonesia in vogue this year.

As it is, the banks are already tackling a host of tougher regulations, slower global growth, and the continued digital disruption to the industry. Singapore banks, in particular, have also been hurt by their portfolio's oil-and-gas exposure because of the double whammy of the plunge in oil prices, and the leverage borne by several oil-and-gas players.

"2016 has been difficult and we expect further headwinds next year," DBS chief executive officer Piyush Gupta told The Business Times. Still, the bank is no…