
Manesh Samtani is Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the editorial and research teams from Hong Kong. His work examines how regulatory change and technology are reshaping banking and financial markets, with a particular focus on digital assets, financial crime and sanctions. Manesh is a former securities industry practitioner and holds a bachelor's degree in finance and banking. manesh@regulationasia.com

PEPs & Sanctions
New Zealand MFAT Recommends Enhancements to Russia Sanctions Framework
05/11/2025
A statutory review found the Russia Sanctions Act 2022 is fit for purpose but calls for targeted changes to ease compliance burdens on financial institutions.

Trading & Investment
IOSCO Pushes for CDS Transparency, Highlighting Gaps in APAC Hubs
05/11/2025
IOSCO encourages jurisdictions to enhance post-trade transparency after finding no evidence the CDS market caused 2023 banking stress.

Anti-Money Laundering
FATF Issues New Guidance to Improve Asset Recovery Outcomes
04/11/2025
The FATF calls for new tools like non-conviction-based confiscation to tackle the massive failure in seizing criminal proceeds.

Reporting & Disclosures
IOSCO Urges Tougher Application of Principles for ESG Benchmarks
04/11/2025
IOSCO says existing rules are a base, but supplemental guidance is needed to tackle greenwashing and subjective data risks in ESG indices.

Trading & Investment
IOSCO Finalises Global Pre-Hedging Guidance for Dealers
03/11/2025
IOSCO has published ten recommendations focusing on client benefit, consent, disclosure, and conduct risk management for the practice.

Emerging Prudential Risks
China Expands Pension Wealth Pilot Nationwide, Raises Fundraising Caps
03/11/2025
The NFRA has expanded a key retirement product pilot across the country and significantly raised fundraising limits for eligible firms.

Stablecoins
Hong Kong Announces Appointments to New Stablecoin Tribunal
03/11/2025
The new body will hear appeals against regulatory decisions by the HKMA under the city's new stablecoin licensing regime.

AI Risk & Governance
HKMA Details GenAI Banking Success, Launches Project for AI Auditing
03/11/2025
HKMA has shared key findings from its GenAI sandbox, highlighting practical uses and launching a new regulatory project.

Trading & Investment
China Expands Southbound ETF Connect to Include US-Linked Funds
03/11/2025
The expansion follows a relaxation of eligibility rules and marks the first time mainland investors can access US equities via the scheme.
Sustainable Finance
Compliance Markets, Not VCMs, Present Real Opportunity: ICMA
03/11/2025
A new paper from the capital markets body highlights the dominance of regulated systems and opportunities in derivatives as Asian nations develop their own schemes
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