Enforcement

The HKMA has reportedly been investigating several Hong Kong lenders for financing large scale overseas asset purchases by Chinese conglomerates.

The SFC and an independent reviewer identified deficiencies across 14 areas of Sincere Securities’ business operations and internal controls, resulting in a fine of HK$5mn.

Woori, KEB Hana and Shinhan are subject to the FSS investigation for selling high-risk private equity investment products and derivative-linked securities.

In September, Westpac admitted to breaching responsible lending laws and agreed to a A$35mn settlement with ASIC. The settlement was rejected and the case has been dismissed.

An inspection last year found that some employees at the digital bank used consumer loans to invest in stock and futures trading.

The current and former directors each face 1MDB-related charges carrying a maximum 10-year jail term and a minimum penalty of 1 million ringgit.

The former chairman of Huarong Investment Stock Corp, Qin Ling, stands accused of using his position to seek benefits for others, accepting bribes, and embezzlement.

The CSRC cited risk management and control deficiencies as reasons for the restrictions, after a hedge fund set up by the broker reported losses of $139mn for 2018.

Westpac and two of its subsidiaries were late in filing monthly and quarterly reports for APRA’s Economic and Financial Statistics programme.

The report says North Korea has amassed $2bn from cyberattacks on banks and crypto exchanges, and that it has about 30 overseas representatives helping it evade sanctions.