Australian Banks Offer Emergency Relief to Bushfire Victims

05/01/2020

The services being offered by ABA member banks to help customers include fee waivers, loan repayment deferrals, and additional financing to help cover cash flow shortages.

Market Infrastructure

Shanghai-London Connect Suspended Amid Political Tensions – Reports

05/01/2020

A CSRC spokesperson has denied the suspension after multiple media reports emerged that SSE companies have been temporarily blocked from listing depositary receipts on the LSE.

Securities / Derivatives

TWSE Amends Disclosure Rules to Transition to Bilingual Capital Market

03/01/2020

TWSE listed companies with end-2019 paid-in capital over $500mn will be required to publish informational materials in both Chinese and English from 1 July.

Market Infrastructure

China Issues Implementing Regulation for New Foreign Investment Law

03/01/2020

Effective from 1 January, the regulation emphasises legal protections for foreign investors, prohibits forced technology transfers, and promises equal treatment for foreign-invested enterprises.

Capital / Liquidity

PBOC Announces First Reserve Requirement Cut of 2020

03/01/2020

The RRR cut will release about 800bn yuan of ‘long-term funds’ for financial institutions to lend to the real economy.

Enforcement

SFC Fines RHB Securities for Internal Control Failures

02/01/2020

RHB Securities failed to effectively implement its policy for avoiding conflicts of interest between its research reports and investment banking relationships, among other compliance issues.

SEBI Directs Investment Advisers to Improve Conduct

02/01/2020

SEBI has observed that some investment advisers have been providing advice on a ‘free trial basis’, without performing client risk profiling and product suitability assessments.

China to Move All Floating-Rate Loans to LPR by August

02/01/2020

Banks and borrowers have until 31 August to renegotiate new contracts to convert existing floating-rate loans to either an LPR-based loan or a fixed interest rate.

Securities / Derivatives

SGX RegCo Launches Review of Regulatory Framework for Retail Bonds

02/01/2020

The working group tasked with recommending changes to the framework comprises representatives from the Securities Investors Association Singapore, DBS, OCBC, and UOB, among others.