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
Enforcement
SEBI Fines Axis Securities for Multiple Regulatory Violations
25/02/2025
Axis Securities was fined INR 1 million for violating stock broker rules, mishandling client funds, and reporting requirements.
Securities / Derivatives
KRX to Tighten Scrutiny of Contracts of Large Shareholders in IPOs
25/02/2025
The move is seen as a response to a 2020 controversy involving Hybe’s IPO and undisclosed contracts its chairperson had in place with PE funds.
Market Infrastructure
KRX Signs Cooperation MoU With Istanbul Stock Exchange
25/02/2025
The agreement includes cooperation on developing new products, improving IT infrastructure, and enhancing the trading environment for their respective members.
China Opens More Domestic Industries to Foreign Investment
24/02/2025
The government’s 20-point action plan opens more industries to foreign investors and calls on domestic FIs to offer more financing to foreign companies.
AML / KYC
GLEIF Announces First Qualified vLEI Issuer in China
24/02/2025
The China Financial Certification Authority has become the first China-based issuer of fully digitised Legal Entity Identifiers.
Enforcement
China Sentences Ex-ICBC Executive Zhang to Death with Reprieve
24/02/2025
Zhang Hongli was found to have accepted CNY 177 million in bribes in exchange for facilitating loans and securing employment positions for others.
China Allows Hong Kong and Macau Banks to Offer Card Services
24/02/2025
Mainland branches of Hong Kong and Macau banks will be permitted to offer card services to individual customers, government departments, and corporate clients.
Capital / Liquidity
China to Enhance Credit Supply for Private Enterprises
21/02/2025
NFRA seeks to enhance the credit supply and enhance support for small and micro private enterprises.
ESG / Sustainability
China Releases Framework for Sovereign Green Bonds
21/02/2025
The framework will be used as one of China’s key tools to help it achieve peak carbon by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060.
Market Infrastructure
FIA Seeks Longer Implementation Period for CSRC’s Algo Trading Rules
21/02/2025
FIA says firms would face operational hurdles or even scale back in China without sufficient preparation time.
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