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
Fintech / Regtech
Korea Passes Bill to Regulate Prepaid Business Operators
29/08/2023
The bill was prompted by a scandal at Mergepoint, which sold discount coupons but whose founders were later charged with fraud.
Enforcement
Wells Fargo Fined $35m for Overcharging Advisory Clients
28/08/2023
Wells Fargo and its predecessor firms overcharged clients because the agreed fees were not entered into billing systems.
SEBI Proposes New Fee Collection Mechanism for IAs, RAs
28/08/2023
The new mechanism aims to ensure that investors can only pay fees to investment advisors and research analysts that are registered.
ANZ, Suncorp Challenge ACCC’s Decision to Block Merger Deal
28/08/2023
ANZ and Suncorp filed separate applications to the Australian Competition Tribunal seeking a review of the ACCC’s decision.
Sanctions
Russia Considers Decree to Enable Investors to Unblock Assets
28/08/2023
Under the plan, interested foreign investors would be able to buy Russian assets currently frozen in Europe.
Enforcement
Fed Terminates 2017 Cease-and-desist Order Against HSBC
27/08/2023
HSBC no longer has to provide progress reports on its efforts to improve internal controls or manage risks in connection with its FX trading activities.
Capital / Liquidity
Korea Monitoring Risks Arising from China Property Market
27/08/2023
Korean regulators say it is unlikely that problems in China’s property market will spread to the rest of the Chinese financial system, or to Korea’s economy.
Enforcement
3M Settles SEC Bribery Case Involving Chinese Subsidiary
27/08/2023
3M’s Chinese subsidiary paid nearly $1mn to fund at least 24 trips for Chinese government officials that included tourism activities.
Fintech / Regtech
APRA to Punish Failures to Meet Operational Resilience Expectations
26/08/2023
APRA’s Therese McCarthy Hockey said additional capital requirements will be imposed on entities found to be “significantly wanting” in compliance.
Market Infrastructure
Australian Government Launches Competition Policy Review
25/08/2023
Among other things, the review will consider a tightening of the existing merger clearance regime, as proposed by the ACCC.
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