
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
HKMA Directs Banks to Review, Enhance Sales Practices
02/10/2020
A mystery shopping programme has identified product disclosure, risk profiling, and suitability assessment as some of the key areas where improvement is needed.
Securities / Derivatives
SGX RegCo Publishes Regulatory Guide on Algorithmic Trading
02/10/2020
The guide describes the governance, risk controls, and development and testing process that SGX members should have in place when using algorithms in trading.
AML / KYC
FATF Upgrades China on Three Recommendations in Follow-up
01/10/2020
This is to reflect progress on regulating online lending, guidance issued to online lending and other DNFBP sectors, and China’s prohibition on virtual asset activities.
ESG / Sustainability
HKMA Pushes Forward Green & Sustainable Banking Initiatives
01/10/2020
A pilot climate stress testing exercise involving Hong Kong banks will commence early next year. A local green taxonomy is under development.
Fintech / Regtech
Two More Virtual Banks Launch in Hong Kong
01/10/2020
Ant Bank and Ping An OneConnect Bank launched virtual banks in Hong Kong. Fusion Bank is the only virtual bank that has not yet commenced operations.
AML / KYC
HKMA to Enhance AML/CFT Supervision Through Data & Tech
29/09/2020
The HKMA intends to increase its engagement and data collection, make better use of data, and utilise suptech tools to enhance its AML/CFT supervision.
Capital / Liquidity
BNM to Allow Banks to Add-back ECL to CET1 Capital
29/09/2020
Banks which elect to apply the transitional arrangements are allowed to add back a portion of Stage 1 and Stage 2 provisions for ECL to CET1 capital.
AML / KYC
GLEIF Defines New Framework to Simplify, Accelerate LEI Issuance
29/09/2020
Many of the labor intensive and time-consuming procedures performed to obtain an LEI are the same as those performed by the FI during onboarding.
Big Picture
IBOR Phase-out Plans on Track Despite Covid: Moody’s
29/09/2020
But challenges remain, including limited liquidity in ARR markets, uncertainties on term rates and credit spread adjustments, and operational issues.
Market Infrastructure
Australia Prepares to Abolish Responsible Lending Obligations
27/09/2020
Lenders will no longer have to assess borrowers’ earnings and expenses to determine whether they can afford to repay their debt without hardship.
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