Australia

Capital / Liquidity

RBNZ Announces Bond Buying Programme, Other Measures

By Editors | 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.

Australia Adjusts Regulatory Settings on Responsible Lending

By Editors | 22/03/2020

Six-month exemptions from responsible lending obligations are available to lenders that provide credit to existing small business customers.

Securities / Derivatives

ASIC Grants Two Month Extension for Holding AGMs

By Editors | 22/03/2020

ASIC will take no action if AGMs of listed companies are postponed for two months, and supports the use of technology to hold virtual or hybrid meetings.

APRA, RBA Ask Financial Firms to Continue Parallel Reporting of EFS data

By Editors | 20/03/2020

The agencies explain that they wish to ensure a consistent data source for March and June 2020, in order to capture the impact of the coronavirus.

Capital / Liquidity

Australian Banks Announce Small Business, Home Loan Relief

By Editors | 20/03/2020

Australia’s big four banks have each announced reductions in their lending rates, as well as the availability of deferrals of small business and home loan repayments.

Market Infrastructure

Fed Establishes FX Swap Lines with Nine Central Banks

By Editors | 19/03/2020

Temporary currency swap lines will be established with 9 central banks – including BOK, RBA, MAS and RBNZ – to lessen the strain on US dollar funding markets.

Capital / Liquidity

RBA, APRA Free Up Liquidity, Capital Buffers for Banks

By Editors | 19/03/2020

New measures include an interest rate cut, a bond-buying programme, a term lending facility for banks, and relaxed expectations on bank capital ratios.

Securities / Derivatives

FMA, NZX Announce Support Measures for Listed Companies

By Editors | 19/03/2020

The measures include higher capital raising capacity for issuers, a two month extension for financial reporting, and delays for some regulatory work.

Enforcement

Australia: SocGen Securities Unit Charged for Client Money Rule Breaches

By Editors | 19/03/2020

Societe Generale Securities Australia self-reported three matters over 2017 and 2018, and has completed all remediation actions in relation to its operational set-up.