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
Securities / Derivatives
Korea to Tighten Rules on Selling High-Risk Financial Products
31/01/2025
Banks will only be allowed to sell products like equity-linked securities from special counters at certain designated branches.
ESG / Sustainability
Thailand SEC Adds SRI Funds to ESG Product Platform
28/01/2025
The Platform, initially launched in January 2023, now include detailed information on sustainable and responsible investing (SRI) funds.
AML / KYC
UK FCA Calls on Brokers to Enhance AML Systems and Controls
27/01/2025
The FCA offers recommendations to improve risk assessments, KYC/CDD, governance, and transaction monitoring, among other areas.
Market Infrastructure
Switzerland to Transition to T+1 Settlement Cycle in October 2027
26/01/2025
Switzerland has confirmed plans to transition to a shorter settlement cycle in October 2027, aligning with the EU and UK’s ambitions.
AML / KYC
Bangladesh Enlists Big Four Auditors to Trace $17b Missing from Banks
26/01/2025
Bangladesh has enlisted the services of three major audit firms to conduct an asset quality review at six banks to determine where missing assets went.
AML / KYC
UK FCA Calls on Firms to Improve Use of National Fraud Database
25/01/2025
FCA review found that some firms underutilise the NFD and don’t always report cases that meet the standard of proof required.
Crypto / Digital Assets
Taiwan to Consult on New Crypto Law in February
24/01/2025
The FSC will hold an industry public hearing in February and the draft legislation will be presented to the government’s executive branch by June.
Securities / Derivatives
Morgan Stanley Futures Unit Commences Operations in China
24/01/2025
Morgan Stanley is the 2nd major US firm after JPMorgan to have a derivatives unit in China, which scrapped foreign ownership caps for futures companies in 2020.
Securities / Derivatives
FSS Korea Designates LuxSE as ‘Major Overseas Market’
24/01/2025
Korean companies meeting certain conditions don’t have to submit a domestic securities registration statement to issue foreign currency bonds on LuxSE
Capital / Liquidity
EU Launches Stress Test Exercise to Assess Bank Resilience
24/01/2025
Banks submitting “overly optimistic” projections will face “additional scrutiny throughout the quality assurance phase, potentially including on-site visits”.
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