Sustainable Finance

SGX Leverages Nikkei Partnership to Launch ESG REIT Derivatives

14/06/2021

The new futures contract aims to meet rising demand for integrating ESG considerations into investment portfolios, SGX said.

Anti-Money Laundering

AUSTRAC Seeks Input to Develop New Reporting Systems

14/06/2021

Input is sought as part of a discovery phase of a four-year systems transformation programme to replace ‘AUSTRAC Online’.

Structural Regulation

Shenzhen to Further Open to Foreign Financial Institutions

14/06/2021

Shenzhen’s five-year plan calls for the establishment of foreign-controlled securities firms, investment funds, futures companies and insurers in the city.

Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime

Japan FSA Orders Suspension of SBI Social Lending Unit

14/06/2021

SBI Social Lending Co solicited funds from investors with false or misleading information in lending agreements.

Cloud & Infrastructure

UOB Pilots Digital Signing Capability via SingPass

14/06/2021

UOB is testing the use of GovTech’s ‘Sign with Singpass’ to allow a set of retail and corporate customers to confirm transactions and product applications.

Trading & Investment

ISDA Consults on Fallbacks for GBP & USD LIBOR ICE Swap Rates

14/06/2021

Current fallbacks are not expected to be able to function effectively upon a permanent cessation of the GBP and USD LIBOR ICE Swap Rates.

Cryptocurrency

El Salvador Becomes First Country to Allow Bitcoin as Legal Tender

13/06/2021

El Salvador president Nayib Bukele is inviting bitcoin miners to set up at a state-owned geothermal facility powered by a volcano.

Structural Regulation

Hong Kong Enacts Framework for Uncertificated Securities Market

13/06/2021

The SFC will consult the market on the subsidiary legislation in due course to prescribe the detailed rules and implementation timetable.

PEPs & Sanctions

China Passes Anti-foreign Sanctions Legislation

13/06/2021

Countermeasures can be taken against senior managers and actual controllers of firms included on the anti-sanctions list, as well as their family members.