
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
Market Infrastructure
Russian Banks Moving to China UnionPay for Card Issuance
08/03/2022
Visa, Mastercard and American Express have all announced decisions to suspend their operations in Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.
Securities / Derivatives
Best Execution Requirements Come into Force in Singapore
08/03/2022
MAS finalised the best execution requirements in September 2020, giving firms an 18-month transitional period for compliance.
AML / KYC
SGX Issues Directions to Listed Issuers on Sanctions Compliance
08/03/2022
Gazprom’s GDR listing on SGX has been suspended. Issuers are directed to suspend trading if they are subject to sanctions or engaging in sanctioned business dealings with Russia.
AML / KYC
New Zealand to Pass Russia Sanctions Bill This Week
08/03/2022
The bill will pass “under urgency” this week, to provide further, extensive sanctions on Russia and individuals and companies connected to the Russian government.
AML / KYC
Russia Lays Out Three Exit Options for Foreign Firms
07/03/2022
One option is for foreign shareholders to transfer their shares to be managed by Russian partners until they return to the market at a later date.
AML / KYC
Singapore Sanctions Four Russian Banks, Imposes Other Restrictions
06/03/2022
FIs that have relationships with the four banks must freeze their assets. DPT service providers are prohibited from facilitating sanctions evasion with crypto and NFTs.
AML / KYC
FATF Plenary Finalises New Beneficial Ownership Requirements
06/03/2022
Plenary adopts amendments to Recommendation 24, approves revised methodology for mutual evaluations, publishes draft guidance for real estate sector.
AML / KYC
GCFFC Offers Recommendations on Improving FATF Mutual Evaluations
03/03/2022
Mutual evaluations also do not adequately take into account threat, materiality, and contextual factors. The FATF should promote the use of PPPs and data sharing.
AML / KYC
SWIFT Ban Spares Russian Banks Facilitating EU Energy Trade
03/03/2022
Sberbank and Gazprombank not included in ban; Global banks demonstrating “extreme caution”; Crypto exchanges under pressure to Russia-linked transactions.
AML / KYC
Russia SWIFT Ban Still Being Finalised; China Urges Dialogue
02/03/2022
Seven Russian banks will likely be cut off from SWIFT; Japan will freeze Russia’s yen reserves; Korea will suspend transactions with seven Russian banks and their subsidiaries.
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