JAPAN

Market Infrastructure

BOJ, FSA Direct Financial Firms to Take Action on LIBOR Transition

By Editors | 01/06/2020

FIs are asked to take specific actions to prepare for the cessation of LIBOR, and to submit materials allowing the BOJ and FSA to review preparedness at individual firms.

Japan Banks Asked to Continue Lending as Stimulus Gets Green Light

By Editors | 31/05/2020

Finance Minister Taro Aso is asking banks to continue supporting SMEs and to actively make use of hybrid lending, in light of a new 117tr yen stimulus package.

Capital / Liquidity

Japanese FIs to Be Granted Easier Access to State Aid

By Editors | 27/05/2020

Applicant financial institutions will no longer have to set profit targets as a condition for receiving state aid, and the 15-year repayment deadline will be scrapped.

Market Infrastructure

More Protectionist Regulatory Intervention on the Cards, Experts Warn

By Daniel Flatt | 25/05/2020

The raft of government measures designed to stave off corporate raiders is unlikely to abate soon, compliance practitioners say.

Capital / Liquidity

BOJ Targets Small Businesses with New Lending Facility

By Editors | 24/05/2020

The 30tr yen facility will provide lending to businesses with interest-free funding, while paying a positive 0.1% interest on the amounts they lend to businesses.

Securities / Derivatives

Japan’s New Foreign Investment Rules Take Effect

By Manesh Samtani | 10/05/2020

While a series of exemptions for foreign financial institutions have been granted, the new requirements only allow 30 days for full implementation on 7 June.

Fintech / Regtech

Japan to Propose Easier Fintech Investment Rules for Banks – Report

By Editors | 07/05/2020

The proposal includes scrapping a requirement for bank holding companies to obtain FSA approval to acquire more than 15% of nonfinancial companies.

Market Infrastructure

EU Benchmark Equivalence Regime Not Scalable: ISDA, FIA

By Manesh Samtani | 07/05/2020

While the Associations welcome the legal approach taken, they highlight that the draft equivalence decision excludes the widely referenced Nikkei and JPX benchmarks.

Crypto / Digital Assets

FSA Japan Certifies Two SROs as New Crypto Laws Take Effect

By Editors | 04/05/2020

The certifications took effect from 1 May, the same day the FSA said it would start enforcing new laws on crypto assets.