Mark Johnston
Based in Singapore, Mark is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience reporting on technology and business trends throughout Asia. Mark got his start as an engineer, graduating from the UK's Queen's University of Belfast with a Master's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. As senior reporter for Regulation Asia, Mark focuses on regulatory changes impacting financial markets, with particular interest in fintech, cybersecurity and crypto markets.
Articles by Mark Johnston
Credit Risk
China to Meet Credit Rating Firms Over Quality Concerns
28/04/2026
Regulators have urged rating agencies to address inflated ratings and weak risk warnings, highlighting systemic issues in the domestic bond market.
Trading & Investment
China Expands Southbound ETF Connect with Eight New Funds
28/04/2026
The expansion brings the total number of eligible ETFs to 31 and introduces the first fund offering mainland investors access to Korean technology stocks.
Supervision & Enforcement
Korea Unveils Plan to ‘Expel’ Repeat Cartel Offenders
28/04/2026
The KFTC announced a plan to combat corporate collusion with tougher sanctions, including business suspensions, executive ousters, and significantly increased fines.
Structural Regulation
Taiwan Mandates Digital Filing for Share Buybacks, Issues New Forms
28/04/2026
The FSC is streamlining corporate reporting by mandating electronic filings for treasury stock programmes and issuing revised templates, effective from 1 May.
Anti-Money Laundering
Philippines Convicts Compliance Officer in Bangladesh Bank Heist Case
28/04/2026
A compliance officer at a remittance firm has been found guilty of record-keeping failures linked to the USD 81 million cyber theft.
Market Risk
China Promotes Floating-Rate Bonds to Manage Market Risks
28/04/2026
NAFMII is encouraging greater issuance and trading of floating-rate instruments to manage interest rate volatility and improve policy transmission.
Structural Regulation
China Drafts Rules to Curb Client Control Over Family Trusts
27/04/2026
New regulations would ban wealthy clients and their advisors from directing investments, aiming to shift power from private banks to trust companies.
Structural Regulation
China Overhauls Corporate Governance and Trading Rules Nationwide
27/04/2026
New CSRC rules redefine the board secretary role, creating a hiring wave, while stock exchanges in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing align trading mechanisms.
Structural Regulation
Shenzhen Exchange Releases New Rules for ChiNext Board Reform
27/04/2026
The new rules aim to improve market inclusiveness for innovative companies and strengthen corporate governance standards on the Nasdaq-style board.
Climate Risk
China Rolls Out New Assessment System to Enforce Climate Goals
27/04/2026
The new framework introduces a binding annual evaluation for provincial governments, linking officials’ performance reviews directly to carbon reduction targets.
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