FINANCIAL SERVICES AGENCY

Enforcement

SMBC Nikko Securities Under Market Manipulation Probe – Report

By Ranamita Chakraborty | 04/11/2021

Employees are said to have traded several stocks to support their prices to ensure the completion of block deals conducted after market hours.

AML / KYC

Japan to Require Companies to Disclose Major Shareholders

By Editors | 03/11/2021

Banks will be able to ask companies to submit information about their major shareholders when opening accounts or making loans.

Securities / Derivatives

Japan Unifies Licensing System for Financial Services

By Editors | 03/11/2021

The change will allow agents of financial service firms to sell financial products such as loans, investments and insurance under a single license.

Market Infrastructure

Transition Away From JPY LIBOR Making ‘Great Progress’

By Editors | 02/11/2021

More than 85% of loans and over 99% of derivatives that reference JPY LIBOR and mature after 2021 already incorporate fallback provisions.

Securities / Derivatives

Japan FSA Finalises Guidelines on Social Bond Issuance

By Editors | 31/10/2021

Under the guidelines, social bond issuers have to make annual disclosures on the use of the proceeds and the social benefits they yield.

ESG / Sustainability

Japan Developing Certification Framework For ESG Related Bonds

By Mark Johnston | 29/10/2021

Japan’s FSA will also formulate codes of conduct for ESG evaluation organisations, covering transparency, fairness, and good governance.

ESG / Sustainability

Transition Guidance is “Fundamentally Important”, says FSA’s Ikeda

By ESG Investor | 19/10/2021

The FSA’s Satoshi Ikeda said the regulator is “eagerly pushing” for measures to enable more dynamic investing in low-carbon and zero-carbon technologies.

Securities / Derivatives

Tokyo Stock Exchange Plans to Extend Trading Hours – Report

By Editors | 18/10/2021

Japan’s trading day runs for just five hours each day, an outlier among major markets. The bourse will reportedly propose a 30-minute extension.

ESG / Sustainability

Japan to Consider Removal of Quarterly Reporting Requirement

By Editors | 13/10/2021

While some argue quarterly reporting helps investors make more informed judgments, regulators worry it incentivises short term profit seeking behaviour.