
Manesh Samtani is the Editor at Regulation Asia, where he leads the regional news desk from Hong Kong, directing coverage of critical regulatory developments impacting financial services across APAC. Manesh specialises in analysing how new rules and technologies are reshaping banking, capital markets, and the fight against financial crime, providing finance professionals, compliance leaders, and policymakers with the intelligence they need to navigate risk and understand the impact of regulatory change in the region. manesh@regulationasia.com

AML / KYC
Wolfsberg Group Publishes Updated Country Risk FAQs
04/03/2024
FIs must strike a balance in how they assess country risk and apply their consideration in customer and other risk frameworks.

Enforcement
US Secures $661m Settlement from Swiss Oil Trader for FCPA Violations
04/03/2024
Over a nearly a decade, Gunvor Group paid more than $97mn to secure business from Ecuador, generating $384mn in illicit profits.

Market Infrastructure
Bonnie Chan Takes Over as Chief Executive of HKEX
04/03/2024
The CEO-handover took effect just after HKEX reported an 18% jump in its 2023 profits, but a 13% drop in fourth-quarter profits.

Securities / Derivatives
Hong Kong Launches New Immigration Scheme for Investors
04/03/2024
The New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme opened for applicants on Friday, several months earlier than expected.

ESG / Sustainability
Malaysia to Ramp Up Focus on Nature Risk, Transition Finance
04/03/2024
The Joint Committee on Climate Change also pledged continued transition support for SMEs, and to launch new training in Q2 2024.

Crypto / Digital Assets
SFC Stops Accepting Licence Applications from Crypto Platforms
01/03/2024
24 licence applicants are listed on the SFC’s website, including OKX, Crypto.com, Bybit, Bullish, Gate Group, Huobi and Matrixport.

Securities / Derivatives
China: State Backed Investors Continue to Support Stock Market
01/03/2024
UBS says over $57bn of state funds flowed into Chinese ETFs this year. Meanwhile the CSRC pledges to support the capital market and protect investors’ rights.

Securities / Derivatives
China Further Clamps Down on Quantitative Trading Strategies
29/02/2024
Quant funds are asked to stop offering Direct Market Access products to external clients and to reduce their use of leverage for proprietary trades.

Securities / Derivatives
MAS Updates Guidelines for Fund Management Companies
29/02/2024
The main amendment concerns compliance arrangements FMCs should have in place. MAS also reminded auditors of their FMC-related obligations.

AML / KYC
Singapore Issues First Designation Under Foreign Interference Law
28/02/2024
Businessman Philip Chan was designated as a “politically significant person” for his “susceptibility to be influenced by foreign actors.”
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