Securities / Derivatives

US SEC Consults on ‘Holding Foreign Companies Accountable’ Rules

25/03/2021

The SEC is seeking public comments on its process for identifying companies that fail to meet the new standards, as well as submission and disclosure requirements.

Fintech / Regtech

Internet-only LINE Bank Commences Trial Operations in Taiwan

25/03/2021

Only LINE Bank employees will participate in the trial operations. Depending on the results, full operations could commence by late April.

Enforcement

SFC Fines GEO Securities for Breaching Licence Conditions

25/03/2021

The firm also did not have effective controls in place for product due diligence, client risk tolerance assessment, and record-keeping.

Market Infrastructure

PBOC, SWIFT to Establish Cross-border Payment Stability

25/03/2021

The PBOC’s joint venture with SWIFT will build a localised messaging network to provide Chinese FIs with a more stable connection to the main SWIFT network.

Group of Seven Agrees to ‘Sizeable’ Increase in IMF Reserves

24/03/2021

The G7 has also agreed to work with the IMF to enhance transparency and accountability around the usage of SDRs.

Capital / Liquidity

Bangladesh Bank Eases Dividend Caps for Banks, NBFIs

24/03/2021

Banks can pay up to 35 percent in dividends and NBFIs up to 30 percent, provided half of the dividend is paid in stock.

MAS, ABS Publish Guidance on Workplace Design Strategies

24/03/2021

Strategies and good practices presented in a newly published study are aimed at supporting FIs in building pandemic-resilient workplaces.

ASIC to Adopt ‘No-Action’ Position to Facilitate Virtual AGMs

24/03/2021

ASIC supports the holding of meetings using appropriate technology and the electronic dispatch of notices of meetings including supplementary notices.

Crypto / Digital Assets

CFTC Penalises Coinbase for False Reporting, Wash Trading

23/03/2021

The settlement requires Coinbase to pay $6.5mn, and desist from any further violations of the Commodity Exchange Act or CFTC regulations.