Securities / Derivatives

Fintech / Regtech

SEC Refusal to Support Crypto-based ETFs Will Influence Asian Regulators

By Bradley Maclean | 22/01/2018

US regulator cited concerns around valuation and liquidity, among other issues; but comments made in rejection letter open path to eventual approval.

Market Infrastructure

LEIs: Asia Following the Rest of the World

By Tony Freeman | 18/01/2018

Firms in the region either embrace, endure or avoid MiFID II’s LEI requirement, but must accept that it’s not just regulations from the US which now have a profound extraterritorial impact.

AML / KYC

Hong Kong SFC Looks to Optimise Enforcement Action

By Editors | 18/01/2018

New guidance removes threat of criminal prosecution in cases of “non-serious” regulatory breaches and cooperation ‘above and beyond’ regulatory obligations.

Securities / Derivatives

China Tightens Rules on Stock Pledges, Repos

By Editors | 17/01/2018

Shenzhen, Shanghai exchanges confirm stock pledges and repos must serve real economy, limit proportion of stock allowed to be pledged.

Market Infrastructure

Korea Announces Measures to Reform Kosdaq Market to Support Startups

By Garima Chitkara | 15/01/2018

Measures include overhauling Kosdaq listing requirements, strengthening competitiveness, and improving market soundness and investor trust.

Enforcement

The Return of ‘Super Alpha’ and Regulatory Arbitrage

By Peter Guy | 15/01/2018

The return of SAC Capital’s founder with a new venture reveals the complicated ethics of a post financial crisis world.

Securities / Derivatives

ESMA Publishes List of Derivatives Subject to MiFID II Trading Rules

By Samuel Riding | 11/01/2018

Listed securities must be traded on regulated markets or organised trading facilities; no APAC venues yet to be granted equivalency.

Securities / Derivatives

Thailand Allows Securities Firms to Offer Bitcoin Futures Locally

By Manesh Samtani | 11/01/2018

The SEC says fraud and money laundering not points of concern as CBOE and CME markets are properly supervised.

Market Infrastructure

Korea’s Reduction in Foreign Shareholder Capital Gains Tax Threshold Arouses Concern

By Garima Chitkara | 10/01/2018

Government to cut threshold from 25% to 5%, ASIFMA says reduction will challenge securities firms, produce no tax revenue.