Opinions & Analysis

Cryptocurrency

Shariah Fintech – A Case Study of Indonesia

By Sharifah Nursyafiqah | 25/07/2018

Better support and regulation for Shariah-compliant fintech will serve to boost the Islamic finance industry, increasing the share of Islamic banks in Indonesia’s financial services sector and ultimately making it more competitive.

Cloud & Infrastructure

Technology and Regulation: Rapidly Reforming the Funds Industry

By Leo Chen | 25/07/2018

The Asian funds industry is undergoing a period of fundamental change and challenge. This is a result of shifting investor demographics, rapid technological development, the emergence of technology firms and tightening regulation.

Clearing & Post-Trade

A Different Approach to Accelerating Settlement and Reducing Risk

By Murray Pozmanter | 19/07/2018

Optimising settlement and moving beyond T+2 will enable firms to reduce capital requirements, systemic risk and operational costs while preserving resiliency of existing infrastructure.

Conduct, Culture & Accountability

SFC Fund Manager Code of Conduct – Five Steps to Compliance

By Derek McGibney | 17/07/2018

Investment management firms with operations in Hong Kong must turn their attention to the new SFC Fund Manager Code of Conduct, which comes into force in four months.

Anti-Money Laundering

FATF Evaluation Underlines AML/CTF Urgency for Chinese Banks

By Ben AuYeung | 03/07/2018

AML/CTF will be pushed further into the regulatory spotlight in coming months as China gears up for the fourth round of mutual evaluations led by the FATF and APG. Whatever the results of the exercise, it will serve as a clear reminder that banks need to take proactive steps to meet inevitable regulatory demands.

Structural Regulation

Virtualisation in Banking Sector: A Major Step Forward for Hong Kong

By Philip Keller | 27/06/2018

Hong Kong may have been slow to the game in finalising its framework for virtual banks, but digitisation in the city is now on the move. This is good news and critics should recognise this as a major step forward for Hong Kong.

PEPs & Sanctions

Maximum Pressure: US, HK Act to Firm Up North Korea Sanctions

By Nick Turner | 25/06/2018

Despite the glad-handing between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un in Singapore earlier this month, the legal landscape surrounding North Korea sanctions remains unchanged since March 2018. AML (anti-money laundering) risks will remain a focus of attention in Hong Kong and elsewhere.

Structural Regulation

The End of IBOR – The Asia Take

By Matthieu Sachot | 19/06/2018

Though uncertainty remains on when LIBOR migration is really going to be due, the earlier the banks set this in motion, the lower the execution risk and cost in the long run. This article highlights the local benchmarking effort in Asia and the key areas banks should have on their roadmap, starting now.

Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency in APAC: Opportunity, Challenge, and Risk

By David Liu | 06/06/2018

Financial institutions are at risk from the inherently opaque nature of cryptocurrency transactions, and require robust compliance programs to mitigating legal, financial, reputational, and regulatory risks.