JAPAN

Market Infrastructure

BOJ Surpasses GPIF as Largest Holder of Japanese Equities

By Editors | 10/02/2021

In March 2020, the BOJ said it aims to buy at least JPY 6 trillion worth of ETFs a year with an upper limit set at JPY 12 trillion.

Fintech / Regtech

SBI, Sumitomo Mitsui to Launch Digital Stock Exchange in Osaka

By Ranamita Chakraborty | 04/02/2021

The Osaka Digital Exchange, expected to launch in 2022, will provide an alternative to the TSE and strengthen Osaka’s proposition as a financial hub.

Enforcement

CFTC Files Suit Against Nomura Trader for Manipulative Trading

By Editors | 03/02/2021

The former trader manipulated the price of 10-year swap spreads to reflect lower pricing of bonds and a related swap, at the expense of the issuer.

Securities / Derivatives

TOCOM Revises Order Handling Rules to Account for System Failure

By Editors | 31/01/2021

The trading rule revisions clarify that orders entrusted by customers with trading participants remain valid even if bids and offers are cancelled by TOCOM.

Market Infrastructure

Japan, Shanghai, Shenzhen to Expand ETF Connectivity Scheme

By Editors | 27/01/2021

The exchanges agreed to broaden the lineup of products available under the scheme and to collaborate in other areas including sustainable finance.

Fintech / Regtech

JPX to Launch Learning Environment for Data-Driven Trading

By Editors | 26/01/2021

The new project, known as J-Quants, will seek to help individuals learn about data-driven portfolio analysis and investment methods.

Tokyo Bourse to Improve Access to Market Data via API Services

By Editors | 25/01/2021

The TSE expects the new API services to enable financial institutions to digitise their business processes and fintechs to create new investment-related information services.

Big Picture

Regulatory Intervention Needed for JPY LIBOR Transition – Fitch

By Editors | 25/01/2021

Japan’s decision to keep TIBOR may slow the adoption of TONA, lengthening the time needed to generate liquidity in TONA derivatives and establish forward-looking TONA rates.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Tokyo Police Arrest 31 Individuals Over 2018 Coincheck Heist

By Editors | 25/01/2021

The suspects were found to have traded stolen cryptocurrency on an underground exchange that emerged on the dark web following the Coincheck heist.