Enforcement

AML / KYC

Australia Consults on Cash Payment Limits

By Garima Chitkara | 28/05/2018

Government proposes limit of A$10,000 for cash payments to stamp out illegal payments and black economy; transactions exceeding limit must use electronic payments systems or cheques.

Enforcement

Australia Introduces Final Phase of ASIC Industry Funding Legislation

By Manesh Samtani | 28/05/2018

Final phase involves fees ASIC charges for specific activities such as licence or registration applications; industry funding model to commence 1 July 2018.

Enforcement

Mirae Chairman Steps Back from Management Amid Antitrust Probe

By Garima Chitkara | 28/05/2018

Park Hyeon-joo will head up the group’s global investment strategy even as the firm is under investigation for unfair trading practices.

Crypto / Digital Assets

MAS Warns Eight Crypto Exchanges, Halts ICO Issuer

By JP Reimann | 28/05/2018

Exchanges warned against facilitating trading in digital tokens which constitute securities or futures contracts without MAS authorisation; ICO representing equity ownership halted.

AML / KYC

S. Korean Banks’ AML Programmes Under US Regulatory Scrutiny

By JP Reimann | 23/05/2018

New York State Department of Financial Services to conduct inspections at South Korean bank branches for compliance with AML regulations.

Enforcement

SFC Fines Citigroup $7.3mn For IPO Sponsor Failures

By Manesh Samtani | 21/05/2018

The regulator fined Citigroup for due diligence and staff supervision failures relating to IPO work in 2009; no constraints placed on its business activities.

Market Infrastructure

Hong Kong SFC Releases Further Details on Licensing Regime

By Garima Chitkara | 17/05/2018

SFC bulletin highlights areas of concern the regulator considers in granting and rejecting licenses as well as updates to MIC regime; SFC also announced a forthcoming thematic review of MIC regime compliance.

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.