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
CSRC Issues New Online Marketing Rules for Futures Firms
25/08/2025
The new rules tighten oversight of online marketing by futures companies, aiming to curb misconduct and enhance investor safeguards.
Structural Regulation
China Proposes Major Overhaul of Interbank FX Market Rules
25/08/2025
New draft regulations aim to strengthen comprehensive supervision, clarify market access for institutions and modernise a framework dating back to 1996.
Payments & Settlements
Australian Banks Challenge RBA Over Card Fee Overhaul
25/08/2025
The RBA is facing resistance from major banks over its proposed payments system reforms, as concerns shift from interchange fees to opaque scheme charges.
Conduct, Culture & Accountability
Korea to Require Disclosure of Preferential Rate Conditions for Mortgages
25/08/2025
Regulators to add housing loan discount criteria to the official comparison portal amid complaints over bundling and opaque pricing.
Structural Regulation
CSRC Finalises Changes to Classification Framework for Securities Firms
25/08/2025
Revised framework adds 'functional performance' to ratings, expands bonus points for smaller firms, and toughens penalties for major violations.
Cybersecurity
India to Introduce New IT Audit Standards for Startups, Fintechs
24/08/2025
ICAI aims to enable chartered accountants to identify and help mitigate critical IT-related risks, such as cybersecurity threats, data breaches and system failures.
Emerging Prudential Risks
Major Taiwan Pension Fund Steers External Managers Away from HK Firms
24/08/2025
Taiwan's Bureau of Labor Funds has reportedly directed its third-party asset managers to avoid using Hong Kong firms for investment mandates.
Emerging Prudential Risks
RBI Shifting to Principle- and Outcome-based Regulatory Framework
23/08/2025
The RBI is moving towards a flexible, outcome-focused framework to grant firms more operational freedom while still achieving its regulatory goals.
Fraud, Scams & Cybercrime
India Reconstitutes and Expands Mandate of Banking Fraud Advisory Board
22/08/2025
The reconstituted Advisory Board for Banking and Financial Frauds will have to review all public sector bank frauds over INR 30 million before criminal probes can begin.
Capital Adequacy
Bangladesh in $62b Distressed Loan Crisis, Capital Ratios Plummet
22/08/2025
A central bank report, mandated by IMF loan terms, shows capital adequacy is now the lowest in South Asia, breaching regulatory minimums.
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