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.

Enforcement

Officials Installed at Chinese Securities Firm to Monitor Risks

08/05/2019

The CSRC has installed officials at a troubled securities firm, N-Securities, over concerns about excessive debt and inadequate risk management.

Crypto / Digital Assets

ASX Opens Testing Environment for CHESS Replacement

08/05/2019

ASX has made available the first of seven ‘drops’ of software code, with additional functionality set to be released at eight-week intervals.

Chinese Banks Instructed to Further Limit Foreign Currency Withdrawals

07/05/2019

Chinese banks have reduced the amount of US dollars customers can withdraw and are required to keep a watch list of clients who make frequent foreign currency withdrawals.

Securities / Derivatives

AFMI Issues Guidelines for Funds on Debt Write-Offs, Haircuts

07/05/2019

The Association of Mutual Funds in India has issued new guidelines on how fund managers should write down debt and take haircuts for sub-investment grade securities.

Capital / Liquidity

PBOC Cuts Reserve Requirement Ratios for Smaller Banks

07/05/2019

China’s central bank has cut the reserve requirement ratio for smaller, locally focused banks. This is the sixth RRR cut since the start of 2018.

Fintech / Regtech

Malaysia to Use Blockchain in Securities Borrowing and Lending

07/05/2019

Working with bank stakeholders, Bursa Malaysia is developing Southeast Asia’s first blockchain proof-of-concept for securities borrowing and lending.