Australia

AML / KYC

AUSTRAC Publishes AML/CTF Guidance for Superannuation Sector

By Editors | 17/12/2018

While superannuation is not traditionally associated with financial crime exploitation, AUSTRAC’s risk assessment has rated the sector as medium risk.

Capital / Liquidity

New Zealand Proposes to Nearly Double Bank Capital Requirements

By Editors | 17/12/2018

The proposal would set a Tier 1 capital requirement equal to 16% of risk-weighted assets for the big four banks, and 15% for other banks, up from 8.5% currently.

Fintech / Regtech

NAB to Migrate Core Banking Systems to Cloud

By Manesh Samtani | 12/12/2018

National Australia Bank plans to migrate more than 300 applications, including some core banking systems, to a public cloud by the end of 2019.

Capital / Liquidity

Australia’s Banking Oligopoly Lacks Mortgage Price Transparency – ACCC

By Editors | 11/12/2018

An inquiry by Australia’s competition watchdog found that opaque discretionary mortgage pricing at major banks is stifling competition and disincentivising borrowers from seeking better offers.

Fintech / Regtech

Australia Passes ‘Deeply Flawed’ Anti-Encryption Bill

By Manesh Samtani | 11/12/2018

The powers granted under the bill allow law enforcement agencies to compel access to encrypted messages, which could have broader implications for financial services.

Market Infrastructure

Blockchain: State of Play Among Market Infrastructures

By Matthew Chan | 05/12/2018

Rather than disintermediating centralised market infrastructure, DLT is being used to support centralised ecosystems, says Matthew Chan.

Capital / Liquidity

Financial System Risks Eased, but Higher Capital Necessary – RBNZ

By Manesh Samtani | 30/11/2018

Though domestic financial stability risks have abated, the RBNZ said higher bank capital requirements are necessary, while also easing mortgage lending curbs.

Securities / Derivatives

ASX Consults on Changes to Listing Rules

By Editors | 29/11/2018

The proposals aim to improve market disclosures, simplify the listing rules, increase efficiency in the listing process, and enhance ASX’s powers to monitor and enforce compliance, among other changes.

Enforcement

RBA Discloses A$22.6m in Penalties Paid by its Subsidiaries in 2012

By Manesh Samtani | 29/11/2018

The court-suppressed penalties were paid by the RBA subsidiaries to settle charges of conspiracy to bribe foreign officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business.