
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
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.

Securities / Derivatives
Bangladesh Revamps IPO Framework to Prioritise Market-Driven Pricing
16/01/2026
The securities regulator has finalised new rules emphasising book-building to boost transparency after an 18-month IPO drought.

Fintech / Regtech
ADB Urges Policy Action to Address APAC's Trade Finance Gap
16/01/2026
New report recommends accelerated digitalisation, expanded supply chain finance, and better data to unlock trade potential in the region.

Enforcement
China Details Use of AI, Crypto-Tracing in New Anti-Graft Campaign
16/01/2026
A state television series reveals how investigators are tracking officials' spending and using big data to uncover bribes paid in cryptocurrency.

Securities / Derivatives
IOSCO Chief Outlines 2026 Agenda, Flags Gaps in Private Finance Data
16/01/2026
IOSCO to focus on market resilience, fintech risks and targeted reporting increases for hedge funds and private finance.

ESG / Sustainability
World Bank, BNM Urge Reforms to Unlock Islamic Climate Finance
15/01/2026
A new report finds a massive climate funding gap in OIC nations, calling for targeted reforms to mainstream Islamic finance instruments.

Capital / Liquidity
BIS Paper Questions Net Benefit of Liquidity Coverage Ratio
15/01/2026
A decade since its implementation, a BIS paper finds the LCR rule has unintended side effects and its overall effectiveness remains unclear.
JOIN OUR NEWSLETTER
A daily selection of top stories from the Regulation Asia editorial team