Market Infrastructure

New Zealand FMA Gives NZX Top Marks in Latest Review

18/06/2025

Only two recommendations were made, one around testing participant resilience and the other around assessing system recovery arrangements.

APRA Proposes Updates to Naming Exemptions Under Banking Act

18/06/2025

APRA is proposing to remake two instruments under the Banking Act instruments and allow one to subset in October.

AML / KYC

Thailand Announces Five-Year Tax Exemption for Crypto Trading

18/06/2025

Thailand waives capital gains and VAT on crypto transactions for five years to “stimulate the digital asset economy”.

Philippines: New Rural Bank Emerges from Four-Entity Merger

18/06/2025

The BSP said Agribank has started operations, representing the combined entity following a merger of four agricultural rural banks.

Enforcement

SFC Suspends Licensed Rep Over Undisclosed Personal Dealings

18/06/2025

The Rifa Securities representative failed to disclose personal securities trading via another brokerage firm for three years.

Crypto / Digital Assets

HKMA Consults on New Return Templates for Reporting Cryptoassets

17/06/2025

HKMA said the revised return templates will help guide system developments of banks as they prepare to implement the BCBS standard.

AML / KYC

HK and SG Police Dismantle Cross-Border Scam Syndicate

17/06/2025

The joint operation resulted in 8 arrests and seizures of HKD 18 million in SIM cards used for phone scams.

Enforcement

SFC Imposes Restrictions on GA (Int’l) Capital Management

17/06/2025

GCML said the restriction notice has no effect on its global operations, and that the matter stems from a “third-party client violation” rather than misconduct by the firm.

Enforcement

ASIC Launches Inquiry into “Serious” Capability Failures at ASX

16/06/2025

ASIC will examine ASX’s governance capability and risk management frameworks following repeated and serious failures.