
Manesh Samtani is the Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the regional news desk from Hong Kong, directing coverage of critical regulatory developments impacting financial services across APAC. Manesh specialises in analysing how new rules and technologies are reshaping banking, capital markets, and the fight against financial crime, providing finance professionals, compliance leaders, and policymakers with the intelligence they need to navigate risk and understand the impact of regulatory change in the region. manesh@regulationasia.com

Securities / Derivatives
Korea Fines Six Financial Firms Including GIC for Naked Short Selling
20/01/2026
The penalties are the first large-scale enforcement action since short selling resumed, signalling a zero-tolerance stance on illegal trades.

Trending
China Mandates Immediate Asset Freezes in New AML Regulations
20/01/2026
New measures require FIs to freeze assets of designated entities without notice and enhance internal controls for list-based screening.

Fintech / Regtech
Japan's FSA Proposes Stricter Rules on AML Tech and Vendor Oversight
20/01/2026
Draft guidelines elevate previous expectations to firm requirements for financial firms, targeting technology adoption, trade finance, and outsourcing.

Securities / Derivatives
HKMA Issues Guidance on Operational Risk Controls for Trading Activities
19/01/2026
The HKMA is urging banks to adopt advanced surveillance technology and preventative controls, including pre-trade hard blocks and real-time monitoring.

Fintech / Regtech
China's Digital Currency Projects Surge, mBridge Tops $55B
19/01/2026
The cross-border payment platform has seen a 2,500-fold value increase, as China introduces new regulations and interest-bearing features for its domestic e-CNY.

Capital / Liquidity
China Rolls Out Coordinated Measures to Support Property Markets
19/01/2026
Chinese authorities slashed the minimum downpayment for commercial real estate loans and extended a personal income tax rebate for home upgraders.

Securities / Derivatives
Nasdaq Targets APAC Investors With 23-hour Trading Plan
16/01/2026
Proposal for near-continuous trading includes new client risk disclosures and significant operational changes for firms connecting from Asian time zones.

Enforcement
Korea Launches Multi-agency Task Force to Curb Illicit FX Flows
16/01/2026
New six-agency body to target underground banking and asset flight as regulators also lean on banks to curb dollar demand.

Capital / Liquidity
PBOC Rolls Out Lending Support for Private Firms, Tech, Green Projects
16/01/2026
Measures include a new CNY 1 trillion re-lending facility and expanded quotas for tech and green finance, with rate cuts to support uptake.

Securities / Derivatives
Korea Exchange Targets 24-Hour Market by December 2027
16/01/2026
KRX will introduce 12-hour stock trading from as early as June, with plans for 24-hour derivatives trading and a T+1 settlement cycle.
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