ESG / Sustainability

IOSCO Forms Task Force to Address Sustainable Finance Issues

15/04/2020

The Task Force will work on sustainability and ESG disclosure challenges for investors, including to enhance transparency and address investor protection issues.

G7 Nations Back Debt Relief for Vulnerable Emerging Markets

14/04/2020

The G7 has declared its support for a temporary suspension of debt service payments due on official bilateral claims for all countries eligible for World Bank concessional financing.

AML / KYC

Westpac Expects to Pay A$900m Over AML Breaches

14/04/2020

While the bank expects to make a provision of A$900mn over AUSTRAC’s claim, it says the actual penalty may be materially higher or lower than this amount.

Market Infrastructure

FSB Updates G20 on Coordinated Response to Covid-19

14/04/2020

Since mid-March, FSB members have reported about 850 discrete actions to address the financial and economic fallout related to Covid-19.

Securities / Derivatives

China’s Top Two Brokerage Firms Explore Merger – Report

14/04/2020

A merger between Citic Securities and CSC Financial would create a $67bn investment bank, surpassing the market cao of most other foreign competitors.

Enforcement

ASIC Shifts Focus to Ensure Market Integrity, Protect Consumers

14/04/2020

Covid-19 has raised the risk of significant consumer harm and serious breaches of financial services laws, says ASIC chair James Shipton.

Big Picture

FSB Offers Recommendations on Regulating Global Stablecoins

14/04/2020

The consultative report proposes 10 high-level recommendations for jurisdictional authorities to advance consistent and effective regulation and supervision of global stablecoin arrangements.

Market Infrastructure

China Opens Treasury Bond Futures Market to ICBC, BOC, BoCom

13/04/2020

Participation by the three banks in the treasury bond futures market will improve liquidity, enhance price discovery, and create a more meaningful yield curve.

Market Infrastructure

ISDA, IIF Warn G20 of Acute USD Shortage in Emerging Markets

13/04/2020

US dollar shortages could constrain policy responses aimed at cushioning emerging market economies from the Covid-19 shock.