Securities / Derivatives

SFC Waives Annual Licensing Fees for 2023/24 Financial Year

27/03/2023

The annual licensing fees were first waived for the 2020/21 financial year for a one year period, but it has since been extended each year.

Sanctions

OFAC Adds More Belarus Officials to Sanctions List

27/03/2023

The sanctions target Alexander Lukashenko’s presidential aircraft, two major automotive manufacturers, and election officials.

Sanctions

New US Sanctions Target Myanmar Jet Fuel Supplies

27/03/2023

OFAC published an alert explaining the sanctions risks associated with providing jet fuel to Myanmar’s military regime.

Fintech / Regtech

SWIFT Pilots Blockchain Solution to Tackle Corporate Actions Frictions

27/03/2023

The solution demonstrated the potential to reduce manual effort and errors in corporate action processing and deliver operational efficiencies.

AML / KYC

AUSTRAC Issues Guidance on Employee Due Diligence

27/03/2023

Guidance is provided on screening and re-screening employees and contractors for money laundering and terrorism financing risks.

Market Infrastructure

HKEX Finalises New Listing Rules for Specialist Tech Firms

27/03/2023

HKEX has lowered the threshold for specialist tech firms to list on its exchange and made other refinements. The rules take effect from 31 March.

Capital / Liquidity

US Lender PacWest Facing Lawsuit Despite Securing Lifeline

27/03/2023

Regional bank PacWest secured $1.4bn in additional liquidity via Atlas SP Partners, an investment firm launched out of Credit Suisse’s securitised-products group.

Enforcement

US DOJ Arrests and Charges Founder of Hacker Forum

25/03/2023

BreachForums is one of the world’s largest marketplaces for hacked and stolen data and other contraband.

AML / KYC

Credit Suisse, UBS Under US Sanctions Probe – Report

24/03/2023

Credit Suisse and UBS were included in a wave of subpoenas sent out by the DOJ before their merger agreement was announced.