Capital / Liquidity

China Expands Access to Bank Loans for Property Developers

27/01/2024

Developers can use bank loans pledged against commercial properties to repay other loans and bonds and cover operating expenses until end 2024.

AML / KYC

Japan FSA Proposes to Add Jurisdictions to Travel Rule

27/01/2024

Eight countries were added, including the UAE, India, Indonesia, the UK, Estonia, Nigeria, Bahrain, and Portugal.

Sanctions

US, UK Announce Sanctions on Four Houthi Officials

26/01/2024

Four officials were sanctions for attacks on ships that “threaten to disrupt international supply chains and the freedom of navigation”.

ESG / Sustainability

Taiwan to Launch Certification System for Sustainable Finance

26/01/2024

The certification is divided into two stages, the first for obtaining “basic abilities” and the second for “advanced abilities” in sustainable finance.

Market Infrastructure

China Consults on Expanding Foreign Access to Repo Market

26/01/2024

All foreign institutional investors that have already conducted spot trading in the interbank bond market will be allowed to participate in the repo market.

Crypto / Digital Assets

SFC Grants Licence Upgrade Allowing Tiger Brokers to Offer Crypto

26/01/2024

Tiger Brokers said it is one of the first mainstream online brokerage firms in Hong Kong to receive approval for such a licence upgrade.

Fintech / Regtech

US Fintech EquiLend Suffers Ransomware Attack

26/01/2024

Ransomware gang LockBit claimed responsibility for the attack, which has forced Wall Street banks to manual processing of certain securities lending transactions.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Value Partners, VSFG Partnering to Launch Spot Bitcoin ETF

24/01/2024

Value Partners Hong Kong and Venture Smart Financial Holdings have signed an MoU to collaborate on the launch of a spot Bitcoin ETF in Hong Kong this year.

Securities / Derivatives

US SEC Adopts Rules to Enhance Protections for SPAC Investors

24/01/2024

The new rules will help address information asymmetries, misleading information, and conflicts of interest in SPAC and de-SPAC transactions.