HKMA Extends Corporate Loan Support Scheme

19/09/2022

The Pre-approved Principal Payment Holiday Scheme has been in effect since May 2020. The HKMA says some corporates are still facing cash-flow pressures.

Market Infrastructure

Chinese State Banks Coordinate Cut in Deposit Rates

18/09/2022

The coordinated move suggests the PBOC may have directed lenders to lower their deposit rates, which reduces bank funding costs and enables more lending.

Crypto / Digital Assets

ECB Selects Five Firms to Develop CBDC User Interfaces

18/09/2022

CaixaBank, Worldline, EPI, Nexi and Amazon will each focus on one specific use case of a digital euro in the prototyping exercise, the ECB said.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Thai SEC Proposes to Ban Crypto Lending, Staking Services

18/09/2022

A minimum investment amount is also proposed for each digital asset transaction.  Meanwhile, the SEC is considering allowing asset managers to set up digital asset funds.

ESG / Sustainability

New Zealand to Issue First Sovereign Green Bonds This Year

18/09/2022

New Zealand’s Treasury has appointed BNZ and Deutsche Bank (Sydney) as joint structuring advisors to help establish the sovereign green bond programme.

Crypto / Digital Assets

BIS, HKMA to Explore Use of DeFi Tools for SME Finance

18/09/2022

Project Dynamo will study whether and how DeFi tools such as blockchain and smart contracts can improve access to finance for SMEs.

Securities / Derivatives

CSRC Approves First Batch of Shanghai STAR Market Makers

18/09/2022

The first batch of market makers includes Huatai Securities, Guosen Securities, Orient Securities and China Securities.

Securities / Derivatives

SEBI Issues Directions on Circulation of Market Rumours

18/09/2022

Intermediaries are required to prevent rumours and unverified information from being circulated via blogs, chat forums, and messenger sites.

AML / KYC

OFAC Issues Guidance on Transacting With Tornado Cash

18/09/2022

US persons may request a specific licence from OFAC to complete transactions involving sanctioned crypto mixer Tornado Cash.