Market Infrastructure

New Zealand Takes Step Towards New Financial Conduct Regime

19/02/2020

New legislation to establish an effective fair conduct regime for the financial sector has passed its first reading in New Zealand.

Securities / Derivatives

SEBI Forms Municipal Bonds Development Committee

18/02/2020

The committee will advise on regulation to develop the primary and secondary markets for municipal bonds.

ESG / Sustainability

TWSE Amends Listed Company Guidelines to Enhance Governance, CSR

18/02/2020

The amendments include stock trading controls to prevent insider trading, ethical management units at listed companies, and disclosures of governance practices for managing climate risk.

Capital / Liquidity

SEBI Bars Portfolio Managers from Charging Upfront Fees

18/02/2020

SEBI has barred portfolio managers from charging upfront fees from clients and imposed caps on annual management fees and exit loads.

Fintech / Regtech

AUSTRAC, Home Affairs Dept Highlight Benefits of Blockchain

18/02/2020

The Department of Home Affairs and AUSTRAC say blockchain has the potential to significantly reduce compliance costs and the regulatory burden imposed on reporting entities.

Fintech / Regtech

SEBI Approves Live Sandbox Testing for Regulated Entities

18/02/2020

SEBI-registered entities can test new products, services and business models on a limited set of customers, for a specified period of time, with certain regulatory relaxations.

Securities / Derivatives

China: Fees Hinder Entry of Foreign Distressed Debt Funds – Report

18/02/2020

Offshore funds have to rely on accounting and law firms throughout the three- to four-year life cycle of a transaction in China, at cost of up to 15% of the transaction’s value.

PBOC Injects Funds, Sterlises Bills to Contain Virus Epidemic

18/02/2020

The PBOC has lowered the interest rate on its medium-term lending facility, injected 100bn yuan in liquidity via reverse repos, and ordered banks to disinfect yuan bills.

Securities / Derivatives

Whistleblowing Policy to Become Mandatory for SGX Listed Companies

18/02/2020

SGX RegCo chief Tan Boon Gin wants to hardcode a whistleblowing policy into the Listing Rules to make compliance mandatory. A consultation will be launched in June.