ESG / Sustainability

Climate Change a Major Financial Risk, say APRA, ASIC

09/05/2019

“Ultimately there will only be one form of finance, and that will be green finance,” said APRA head of insurance Geoff Summerhayes at the ACSI annual conference.

Securities / Derivatives

Dalian Exchange to Open More Commodities to Foreign Traders

09/05/2019

The Dalian Commodity Exchange plans to open futures contracts in soybean, soybean meal, soybean oil and palm oil to foreign investors this year.

Fintech / Regtech

Japan FSA Seeks AI Expertise to Examine Securities Reports

09/05/2019

The FSA is looking to conduct an experiment to explore the use of AI to read and analyse the data in annual securities reports published by listed companies.

Enforcement

ASEAN Financial Sector Lacks Personal Accountability – Refinitiv Poll

09/05/2019

61% of the survey respondents said there is too little personal accountability in ASEAN’s financial sector, compared to just 16% who believe there is too much.

AML / KYC

Korean Banks Halt Won Settlement as Iran Sanctions Waiver Expires

09/05/2019

Woori Bank and Industrial Bank of Korea have stopped offering won settlement services that have to date allowed over 2,000 local companies to bypass Iran trade restrictions.

Korea to Ease Rules for Crowdfunding, Fund Management

09/05/2019

The FSC plans to submit the bill easing crowdfunding and fund management regulations to the national legislature later this month, where it will be subject to further deliberation.

Capital / Liquidity

BOT Launches Phase Two of ‘Debt Clinic’ Scheme

09/05/2019

The second phase of the programme is aimed at helping troubled borrowers who owe credit card and personal loan debt to both bank and non-bank lenders.

Market Infrastructure

HKEX, Euroclear to Bring European ETFs to Hong Kong

08/05/2019

HKEX will become the first Asian stock exchange to adopt Euroclear’s international central securities depository ETF settlement model, which allows trades in different markets to be settled in a central location.

Fintech / Regtech

MAS Considers the Value of Allowing Virtual Banks in Singapore

08/05/2019

The regulator says it is engaging relevant stakeholders to ascertain the unique value that such virtual bank entrants could bring to Singapore’s banking landscape.