Structural Regulation

ESMA Consults on New Standards for Third-Country Investment Firms

03/02/2020

The new Investment Firms Regulation (IFR) and Directive (IRD) will require third-country firms providing investment services and activities in the EU to report granular information to ESMA.

KYC & CDD

BNM Publishes Consultation Response on New AML/CFT Framework

03/02/2020

BNM will publish further guidance on the methods used for verifying customer and beneficial owner information and for authenticating their documents.

Structural Regulation

Australia Drafts Laws on 22 Royal Commission Recommendations

03/02/2020

The draft legislation is aimed at enhancing protections for consumers and small businesses, and strengthening the role of ASIC and APRA.

Structural Regulation

SEHK Proposes to Allow Corporate Beneficiaries of WVR Structures

02/02/2020

Hong Kong’s stock exchange is proposing to allow eligible corporate entities to hold weighted voting rights in listed companies, subject to appropriate safeguards.

Cybersecurity

Japan Prepares Cyber Response Ahead of Tokyo Olympics

01/02/2020

In a September BOJ survey, 60% of banks said they were unable to secure enough staff to oversee cybersecurity, raising concerns of cyber attacks leading up to the Tokyo Olympics.

Credit Risk

Bangladesh to Form ‘Bad Bank’ to Deal with Bad Loans

01/02/2020

A new public asset management company will reportedly be formed to help remove defaulted loans from banks’ books, allowing them to limit bad loan provisioning.

Payments & Settlements

Lao Central Bank Launches QR Code Payment Standard

31/01/2020

The QR code payment standard will minimise the use of cash, drive Laos towards a digital economy,  and boost socio-economic development.

Trading & Investment

IOSCO Highlights Debt Market Concerns in Annual Work Programme

31/01/2020

The 2020 work programme provides an update on five existing priorities and an overview of planned work on a new priority – corporate debt and leveraged loans.

Trading & Investment

SEBI Approves MSE Launch of Weekly Interest Rate Futures

31/01/2020

The Metropolitan Stock Exchange has become the first Indian exchange to receive SEBI’s approval to launch weekly interest rate futures contracts.