Structural Regulation

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.

Liquidity Risk

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.

Anti-Money Laundering

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.

Credit Risk

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.

Structural Regulation

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 Adequacy

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.

Credit Risk

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.

KYC & CDD

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.

Trading & Investment

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.