ENFORCEMENT

    AML / KYC

    ICBC’s US Securities Unit Fined $5.3mn for AML Failures

    By Garima Chitkara | 17/05/2018

    US regulator FINRA has fined ICBC Financial Services for failing to have an AML program in place; ICBC FS also settled a case with the US SEC, paying $860,000 for failing to report suspicious transactions in its penny stock trading business.

    Enforcement

    CSRC Hands Out $1.2bn in Penalties in Bumper Year

    By Manesh Samtani | 15/05/2018

    Regulator handed out penalties amounting to $1.19bn in 2017, an 80% increase from 2016; market bans involved 44 persons, the highest in recent years.

    Capital / Liquidity

    UPDATED – RBI Freezes Lending, Hiring at Indian Banks Amid Rising NPAs

    By Garima Chitkara | 14/05/2018

    Central bank imposes lending and hiring freeze on Dena Bank, a public sector bank that reported a four-fold increase in gross NPAs and negative ROA for the quarter ending March 2018.

    Crypto / Digital Assets

    UPDATED – S.Korea Expands Probe into Crypto Exchanges

    By JP Reimann | 14/05/2018

    South Korean prosecutors have raided the country’s largest cryptocurrency exchange UPbit, seizing hard drives and accounting books; second largest exchange Bithumb also on FSC radar.

    AML / KYC

    FSB Asia Members Consider Financial System Vulnerabilities

    By JP Reimann | 13/05/2018

    Members discussed bank resolution regimes, the use of tech to mitigate AML/CTF risk, governance frameworks to reduce misconduct.

    Enforcement

    SFC Signs Enhanced MoU on Cross Border Enforcement Cooperation

    By JP Reimann | 13/05/2018

    Enhanced IOSCO framework enables securities regulators to obtain and share audit working papers, telephone, internet records; compel attendance at interviews; provide guidance on freezing of assets.

    Securities / Derivatives

    S.Korea FSS Expands Inspections at Brokerages

    By Manesh Samtani | 11/05/2018

    The FSS will carry out on-site inspections at 32 brokerages and Koscom, following dividend error which saw Samsung Securities issue $100bn in ‘ghost stocks’ last month.

    Enforcement

    China Fines Three Banks a Combined CNY180 million

    By Editors | 10/05/2018

    China’s banking and insurance regulator has imposed fines on China Merchants Bank, Shanghai Pudong Development Bank and Industrial Bank for various violations.

    AML / KYC

    Australia to Combat ‘Black Economy’ by Restricting Cash Payments

    By Garima Chitkara | 10/05/2018

    Government to impose A$10,000 limit on cash payments to crack down on money laundering and tax evasion; new multi-agency taskforce to be established to facilitate information exchange.

    Enforcement

    CBA Settles Bank Rate Manipulation Charges for A$25mn

    By Editors | 10/05/2018

    The bank acknowledges it manipulated bank bill swap rates on five occasions and indulged in “unconscionable conduct” in its A$25 million settlement with ASIC.

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