Fintech / Regtech

Taiwan QR Mobile Payment Service Now Available in Korea

01/02/2024

Taiwan travelers with electronic wallets linked to any of 13 financial institutions can pay South Korean merchants by scanning their TWQR code.

China Rolls Out Coordination Mechanism for Real Estate Financing

01/02/2024

Guangxi and Chongqing released “whitelists” of real estate projects that are eligible for financing, with one already receiving a loan from Minsheng Bank.

Securities / Derivatives

Korea to Tighten Rules to Prevent Misuse of Treasury Stock System

01/02/2024

Listed companies will no longer be allowed to receive allocations of treasury shares from corporate spin-offs.

ESG / Sustainability

New Climate Risk Data Platform for FIs Goes Live in Taiwan

01/02/2024

The FSC said the platform will help FIs in developing models, disclosing information, conducting scenario analysis, and performing stress tests.

Big Picture

Transparency International Releases 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index

01/02/2024

New Zealand and Singapore were the only two APAC countries in the top 10. China and Korea improved their scores over last year.

Sanctions

US Marks 3rd Anniversary of Myanmar Coup With Sanctions

01/02/2024

A holding company and shipping company were targeted for supporting the military regime’s activities against civilians and its arms production.

Market Infrastructure

EU, Japan Sign Protocol on Cross-border Data Flows

01/02/2024

The protocol provides legal certainty that data flows between the EU and Japan will not be hampered by data localisation requirements.

Market Infrastructure

New Zealand to Overhaul Financial Services Regulations

01/02/2024

NZ will restructure its twin peaks regulatory framework, simplify licensing requirements, and reform the Companies Act, CoFI, and CCCFA.

AML / KYC

UK Trial Commences in £5bn Bitcoin Money Laundering Case

01/02/2024

Woman is charged for laundering GBP 5 billion stolen from more than 128,000 investors in China on behalf of her former employer.