China

The FSDC has given the green light to allow commercial banks to replenish their capital through issuing perpetual bonds. Bank of China likely to be the first to do so.

Up to 22 banks have announced plans to set up new wealth management subsidiaries which could end up taking market share from asset management firms.

The PBOC will boost oversight mechanisms, improve checks and impose penalties to prevent financial institutions' reserves at the central bank from falling below statutory requirements.

The new 'targeted medium-term lending facility' is available to banks that demonstrate support for the real economy by lending to small and private companies.

Chinese regulators have applied a one year income tax exemption for mainland investors buying and selling Hong Kong funds through the mutual recognition of funds scheme.

Launched on 26 September for northbound trading, the investor identification regime will be introduced for southbound trading by the end of Q1 2019.

Trading and settlement issues will require "a very long period of discussion" to resolve, according to SFC chairman Tim Lui, adding that the focus will shift to enabling ETF cross listings.

China's National Audit Office has reportedly found that five financial institutions concealed a combined $189mn in bad loans by misclassifying them as performing.

US officials have asked Hong Kong to bolster sanctions enforcement as Huawei's deputy chairwoman stands accused of violating Iran sanctions through a Hong Kong shell company.

New rules for financial holding companies could include requirements on capital adequacy, caps on non-financial assets, and segregation of business units.