Market Infrastructure

Australian Banks Agree to Pause Rural Branch Closures

12/02/2025

Banks to pause rural branch closures until 2027 and also make their services available via Australia Post.

Australia Updates Education Requirements for Financial Advisers

11/02/2025

The reforms will create a more sustainable education pathway and help address the current supply shortage of financial advisers.

Enforcement

APRA Accepts Court Enforceable Undertaking from Cbus

11/02/2025

APRA accepted a CEU from Cbus and simultaneously launched a new probe into the firm for possible SIS Act breaches.

Hong Kong FSDC Signs Pact with Kuwait Capital Markets Authority

08/02/2025

The MoU focuses on mutual cooperation, information exchange, and the promotion of innovative financial products and services.

ESG / Sustainability

Hong Kong to Develop Operational Guidance for Transition Finance

07/02/2025

This year, Hong Kong regulators will also launch an official “green fintech map” and a “transition finance knowledge hub”.

AML / KYC

BSP Issues Draft Rules Authorising FIs to Freeze Suspicious Funds  

06/02/2025

FIs will be able to temporarily hold “disputed funds” while they initiate a process to validate the legitimacy of the transaction.

Crypto / Digital Assets

ABA Calls for Swift Passage of Payment System Reforms

05/02/2025

ABA CEO Anna Bligh said the reforms “first flagged over 1,200 days ago” are “urgently needed” and can be passed “this sitting fortnight”.

Securities / Derivatives

SFC to Resume Collecting Annual Licensing Fees in April

05/02/2025

The SFC has fully waived the annual licensing fees for 11 of the last 15 years. The waiver will be allowed to end in March 2025.

Australia to Continue Allowing Virtual Meetings, Digital Documents

04/02/2025

Stephen Jones called on ASIC, ASX and industry bodies to issue guidance on appropriate conduct and use of technology at meetings