Alternative Markets

SEBI Proposes Mandatory Benchmarking of Alternative Investment Funds

09/12/2019

Alternative investment funds with at least a three-year track record will have to be benchmarked against industry peers and their performance disclosed to investors.

Market Data & Technology

MiFID II Has Not Delivered Lower Market Data Costs: ESMA

09/12/2019

ESMA is calling for a real-time consolidated tape for equity instruments to improve transparency and remedy the fragmentation in European capital markets.

Structural Regulation

HKEX Reviews Listing Regime for Debt Issues to Professional Investors

09/12/2019

HKEX wants to raise the minimum net asset requirement for issuers from HK$100mn to HK$1bn, and to introduce a minimum debt issuance size of HK$100mn, among other proposals.

Payments & Settlements

Japan Probes Barriers Preventing Fintechs Access to Zengin System

09/12/2019

Japan’s antitrust agency is looking into how banks decide fees for using the national interbank funds transfer system and whether they present an entry barrier for fintechs.

Structural Regulation

China Raises Foreign Ownership Limit for Insurers to 51pc

09/12/2019

The move paves the way for a complete scrapping of the foreign ownership restrictions for insurance joint ventures next year.

Credit Risk

Australia Reintroduces Mandatory Comprehensive Credit Reporting Bill

09/12/2019

The revised Bill introduces a new category of credit reporting information, enabling hardship information to be reported alongside repayment history.

Trading & Investment

Shenzhen Exchange Issues Rules for Stock Options Pilot

09/12/2019

The launch of the stock options pilot is part of an initiative to diversify financial products and improve risk management and hedging tools in the Greater Bay Area.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

ASIC Urges Better Conduct from Lead Managers in Mining IPOs

06/12/2019

Among ASIC’s concerns is the prevalence of conflicts of interest, whereby lead managers act for both the company and investing clients while holding direct interests and board seats in the company.

Data Privacy

China to Increase Oversight Over Banking & Finance Mobile Apps

06/12/2019

The National Internet Finance Association has launched a 23-firm pilot scheme to address concerns around risks to user privacy from financial institutions’ mobile apps.