Hong Kong

AML / KYC

SFC Grants In-principle Approval to Virtual Asset Trading Platform

By Editors | 23/08/2020

Once conditions for final approval are satisfied, OSL will be able allowed to operate a brokerage and automated trading service for digital assets.

Securities / Derivatives

HKEX Adds Two More Taiwan Futures Contracts to MSCI Suite

By Manesh Samtani | 20/08/2020

HKEX is seeking CFTC certification for the new contracts. The move intensifies competition with SGX, which already has a CFTC-certified futures contract for Taiwan.

Capital / Liquidity

HKMA Eases LTV Rule for Commercial Real Estate Loans

By Editors | 19/08/2020

Effective from 20 August, the loan-to-value ratio cap is being raised from 40 to 50 percent. The 40 percent cap was introduced in 2009 as a market cooling measure.

AML / KYC

Risk and Reward: AI Enables Active Financial Crime Risk Assessment

By Daniel Banes | 18/08/2020

Adverse media is openly available, continually updated, and provides a wealth of information, but it remains underused in financial crime risk assessments, writes Daniel Banes.

Securities / Derivatives

Hang Seng Index to Include Alibaba, Xiaomi from 7 September

By Editors | 16/08/2020

The changes reflect a May decision to allow weighted voting rights and secondary-listed companies from the Mainland to be included as HSI and HSCEI constituents.

Enforcement

SFC Bans Account Exec for 18 Months Over Discretionary Trading

By Editors | 12/08/2020

The former China Tonghai Securities account executive effected over 6,000 trades in a client’s account on a discretionary basis for almost 7 years without authorisation.

Enforcement

ICAC Charges Former Dah Sing Bank Manager with Fraud

By Editors | 12/08/2020

The former financial planning manager falsely represented to a client that taking out an insurance policy was a prerequisite for opening a corporate bank account.

Fintech / Regtech

Livi Bank Announces Launch of Virtual Banking Services

By Manesh Samtani | 11/08/2020

Livi Bank, backed by BOCHK, JD Digits and Jardine Matheson, has become the fourth virtual bank to open to the public in Hong Kong.

AML / KYC

China Imposes Reciprocal Sanctions Against US Officials

By Editors | 10/08/2020

“China has decided to impose sanctions on those individuals who behaved badly on Hong Kong-related issues,” said a spokesperson, without specifying what the sanctions would entail.