Market Infrastructure

Australia Tightens Foreign Investment Rules, Citing National Interest

02/04/2020

Federal approval is now required for all proposed foreign investments regardless of value or the nature of the foreign investors.

Capital / Liquidity

China: State Council to Bolster Financial Support for SMEs

01/04/2020

The new measures will include another RRR cut, $141bn in re-lending and re-discounting quotas, and new bond issuances to exclusively support SME loans.

AML / KYC

FATF Encourages Technology Use to Address Covid-19 Challenges

01/04/2020

Criminals and terrorists may seek to exploit gaps and weaknesses in national AML/CFT systems, under the assumption that resources are focused elsewhere, the FATF says.

S. Korea: Financial Sector Delivers Relief for Small Business

01/04/2020

Financial institutions are providing loan maturity extensions, interest payment deferment and low-cost loans to small business hit by Covid-19.

Securities / Derivatives

SFC, Stock Exchange Issue Guidance on Holding General Meetings

01/04/2020

Listed issuers should consider adjourning or delaying their general meetings until at least after 11 April, when the prohibition on group gatherings has ended.

Capital / Liquidity

Sri Lanka Central Bank Introduces Measures to Support Financial Sector

01/04/2020

Banks can draw down on capital conservation buffers, defer capital requirements, and avoid classifying borrowers as non-performing.

Fintech / Regtech

S. Korea Tightens P2P Lending Limits to Guard Against Defaults

01/04/2020

P2P lending caps are being lowered to protect investors against potential defaults and delinquencies caused by the Covid-19 crisis.

AML / KYC

BSP Relaxes KYC Norms During Covid-19 Lockdown

01/04/2020

The move will facilitate the delivery of welfare funds to beneficiaries who have no available valid IDs or transactional account with any financial institution.

Securities / Derivatives

HKFE Offers Cash to Market Makers in Mini Metals Futures

01/04/2020

A HKD 30,000 cash stipend is offered per contract per month per trading session upon fulfillment of quoting obligations in aluminium, zinc, copper and nickel mini futures contracts.