Mark Johnston
Based in Singapore, Mark is an experienced journalist and editor with over a decade of experience reporting on technology and business trends throughout Asia. Mark got his start as an engineer, graduating from the UK's Queen's University of Belfast with a Master's degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. As senior reporter for Regulation Asia, Mark focuses on regulatory changes impacting financial markets, with particular interest in fintech, cybersecurity and crypto markets.
Articles by Mark Johnston
Structural Regulation
China Details Sweeping New Rules for Outbound Investment
26/08/2026
The NDRC has unveiled draft rules that would impose significant new reporting duties and create direct compliance obligations for overseas investors and their financiers.
PEPs & Sanctions
China's Gold Industry Condemns US Sanctions and LBMA Suspension
26/08/2026
The China Gold Association has urged LBMA to reverse its suspension of Chinese firms, calling US forced-labour allegations a pretext for trade protectionism.
Credit Risk
Korea to Standardise Debt Collection Rules for Vulnerable Consumers
26/08/2026
Regulators are moving to create uniform standards for when financial firms must halt collection activities against recipients of basic livelihood benefits.
Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
Asia's Financial Consumer Protection Failing in Practice, Report Finds
26/08/2026
New Fair Finance Asia report finds a significant gap between consumer protection regulations on paper and their actual implementation, leaving vulnerable customers exposed to harm.
Conduct, Culture & Accountability
China Targets Bank Performance Metrics in New Regulatory Push
25/08/2026
Regulators are penalising banks for setting improper performance indicators, shifting focus from punishing misconduct to tackling its root cause in a bid to curb risky, scale-driven behaviour.
Capital Adequacy
Macau Outlines Financial Sector Overhaul Roadmap in New Five-Year Plan
24/08/2026
New blueprint includes plans for a new securities law, Basel III implementation, and the development of a digital pataca.
Structural Regulation
China Overhauls Housing Fund Rules to Spur Consumption
24/08/2026
New regulations expand withdrawal uses to include renovations and property fees, and extend voluntary coverage to millions of gig workers.
Alternative Markets
Korea’s Proposed PEF Rules Spark ‘Reverse Discrimination’ Fears
22/08/2026
A raft of new regulations targeting private equity funds may handicap domestic players while leaving global competitors largely untouched.
Structural Regulation
CSRC Targets R&D Spending in Annual Accounting Review
21/08/2026
The regulator has highlighted persistent accounting flaws at listed firms, adding R&D expenditure as a new area of focus.
Structural Regulation
Korea Moves to Plug Gaps in New Treasury Share Regime
21/08/2026
Regulators are tightening disclosure after a new law mandating treasury share cancellation saw firms triple their use of an employee compensation loophole.
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