Liquidity Risk

US Fed Indicates Open-ended Commitment to Quantitative Easing

23/03/2020

“Aggressive efforts must be taken across the public and private sectors,” the Fed said, effectively pledging to buy Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities to any extent required

Data Privacy

Singapore, Australia Agree to Promote Data Connectivity, Digital Economy

23/03/2020

Singapore and Australia have committed to allowing financial institutions to choose where their data is stored and prohibiting data localisation, among a raft of other agreements.

Emerging Prudential Risks

APRA, ASIC Recalibrate Regulatory Priorities to Focus on Covid-19

23/03/2020

APRA and ASIC have suspended the majority of their planned policy initiatives and do not plan to recommence consultation on any non-essential matters before 30 September 2020.

Trading & Investment

Bangladesh Introduces Unusual Circuit Breaker Mechanism

23/03/2020

Individual stocks will not be allowed to fall below their average closing prices of the preceding five days, and trading is curtailed to just three hours a day.

Emerging Prudential Risks

Hong Kong Introduces Legislation to Enhance Regulatory Framework for Insurers

23/03/2020

The bills provide a regulatory regime for insurance-linked securities, expand the scope of insurable risks of captive insurers, and empower the IA to regulate insurers at the group level.

Structural Regulation

SC Malaysia Grants Regulatory Flexibilities to Market Participants

23/03/2020

The deadlines for market participants to comply with regulatory requirements relating to submissions and training requirements have been extended.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

EU, US, UK Authorities Grant Relief on Call Recording Rules

23/03/2020

ESMA, the CFTC and the FCA have each indicated that financial firms can consider alternative mitigating steps in circumstances where call recording with clients is not possible.

Trading & Investment

SEBI Tightens Short-selling, Margin Rates to Curb Volatility

23/03/2020

SEBI is hoping to rein in speculation by reducing the position limits and raising margin rates in equity and debt derivatives.

Liquidity Risk

RBNZ Announces Bond Buying Programme, Other Measures

22/03/2020

The latest measures include a NZ$30bn bond-buying programme, a new term lending facility for banks, and additional liquidity to support funding markets.