Markets & Infrastructure

PEPs & Sanctions

Russia-China Business Facing Banking ‘Bottleneck’ – Report

By Editors | 04/04/2024

VTB, the only Russian bank with a fully-fledged branch in China, is dealing with high demand from companies seeking to open accounts to do business with Russia.

Alternative Markets

Korea’s First ATS Platform to Launch in Q1 2025 – Report

By Editors | 04/04/2024

Over 20 securities firms have declared their intention to participate in Nextrade’s new ATS market, which was given preliminary approval last July.

CBDCs

How HKMA Aims to Prevent Fragmented Digital Money Ecosystem

By Nithya Subramanian | 04/04/2024

HKMA aims to ensure that different types of tokenised money issued in the city can interact with each other.

Custody & Infrastructure

UK Sets Out Proposed Approach to Digital Securities Sandbox

By Editors | 04/04/2024

The sandbox will allow experimentation with DLT and “may lead to a new permanent regulatory regime for securities settlement”.

Sustainable Finance

New Zealand to Relax Rules for Green Bond Issuance

By Editors | 04/04/2024

The proposed class exemption would make it easier for listed companies to bring green, social, sustainable, and sustainability-linked bonds to market.

Payments & Settlements

Brunei and Laos Join ASEAN Payment Connectivity Initiative

By Nithya Subramanian | 04/04/2024

The addition of Brunei and Laos brings the ‘Regional Payment Connectivity’ group to a total of eight ASEAN central banks.

Payments & Settlements

Thailand, Laos Launch Cross-border QR Payment Link

By Nithya Subramanian | 04/04/2024

Thailand has implemented cross-border payment linkages with five other ASEAN nations: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Vietnam.

PEPs & Sanctions

More of Central Asia Stops Accepting Russian Mir Cards

By Editors | 04/04/2024

Kyrgyzstan’s national payments operator, and banks in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan, have stopped accepting Mir cards due to sanctions concerns.

Tokenisation

New BIS Project Seeks Overhaul of Global Payment System

By Manesh Samtani | 04/04/2024

Seven central banks will develop common infrastructure that can accommodate tokenised versions of wholesale central bank money and commercial bank deposits.