
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

Fintech / Regtech
SFC Consults on New Regulatory Requirements for Securities Registrars
31/10/2023
General principles on outsourcing, systems integrity and security, and disclosure obligations are being added to the code of conduct.

Enforcement
Korea FSS to Probe Illegal Short-selling by Foreign Investment Banks
31/10/2023
A special team will launch next week to investigate whether more global investment banks engaged in illegal short-selling, and whether local securities firms helped them.

Crypto / Digital Assets
ANNA Issues First Set of ISINs for Crypto Assets
31/10/2023
Crypto assets with a registered DTI can now also be issued an ISIN. Currently, there are already 108 ISIN–DTI pairs.

Crypto / Digital Assets
HKMA Unveils Findings from 1st Phase of e-HKD Pilot
30/10/2023
Another pilot will take place next year, potentially exploring corporate payments, cross-border payments, and blockchain interoperability.

AML / KYC
FATF Adds Bulgaria to Grey List, Removes Four Others
30/10/2023
The FATF also agreed to revise its asset recovery and NPO-related recommendations, besides publishing three new reports.

Securities / Derivatives
HKEX to Allow Listed Issuers to Hold Treasury Shares
29/10/2023
Hong Kong listed companies will be allowed to buy back, hold and resell their shares, subject to the laws where they are incorporated.

ESG / Sustainability
ASIFMA Issues Recommendations on Carbon Market Development
27/10/2023
A new paper from ASIFMA and King & Wood Mallesons offers recommendations on establishing, regulating and scaling up carbon markets.

ESG / Sustainability
Hong Kong’s Chief Unveils Series of Measures to Boost City
26/10/2023
Stamp duties on property purchases and securities transactions were reduced. A new fund distribution platform will be developed.

Fintech / Regtech
AI-based SupTech Can Improve Market Integrity: Study
25/10/2023
The study highlights the benefits of using AI-based SupTech to improve market integrity, detect misconduct and forecast crises.

AML / KYC
MAS, IMDA Propose Loss Sharing Framework for Phishing Scams
25/10/2023
The framework assigns FIs and telcos duties to mitigate phishing scams, requiring them to bear full losses where these duties are breached.
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