Other Asia Pacific

Thai Banks to Give Borrowers One-year Grace on Loan Repayment

By Editors | 04/03/2020

A yearlong grace period on loan repayments is reportedly being offered by banks to companies in the tourism sector, exporters, importers and retailers.

Big Picture

ASIFMA Calls for Global Coordination of Sustainability Efforts

By Manesh Samtani | 03/03/2020

Fragmented approaches to sustainable finance may ultimately undermine the development of sustainable finance through increased complexity and lack of coordination.

Securities / Derivatives

Indonesia Halts Short Selling, Cuts Reserve Requirements

By Editors | 03/03/2020

Short selling was halted to stop panic selling after the first two cases of Covid-19 were detected in the country. Separately, the central bank has introduced 5 new policy measures.

Market Infrastructure

Thailand Raises Currency Repatriation Threshold Five-Fold to $1m

By Editors | 02/03/2020

The move is aimed at achieving more balanced capital flows and at easing the strength of the Thai baht, which hurt the domestic economy last year.

Capital / Liquidity

Philippine Banks to Get Covid-19 Regulatory Relief

By Editors | 01/03/2020

The relief measures may include grace periods for rediscounting loans, staggered booking of credit losses, non-imposition of penalties for reserve deficiencies, and non-recognition of loan defaults.

Fintech / Regtech

Indonesia Halts Fintech Registrations Amid Lack of Supervisory Capacity

By Editors | 01/03/2020

The OJK has temporarily halted new registrations from fintech firms to dedicate its supervisory resources on ensuring the quality of existing firms.

Crypto / Digital Assets

Thailand SEC Sets Out Three Year Strategic Plan for Capital Market

By Editors | 28/02/2020

The strategic plan includes greater integration of ESG factors in the market, enhancing SME and startup access to capital, promoting the use of digital and e-KYC technologies, among others.

Market Infrastructure

Indonesia CSD Goes Live with Nasdaq Technology

By Editors | 28/02/2020

The new CSD platform operates at a rate 40 times faster than the previous system, with the ability to manage up to 80,000 settlement instructions per minute.

Capital / Liquidity

BSP Approves ‘Enhanced’ Capital Requirements for Smaller Banks

By Editors | 27/02/2020

The higher capital standards for stand-alone thrifts, rural and cooperative banks include a 6% minimum CET1 ratio, a 7.5% Tier 1 ratio, and a 2.5% capital conservation buffer.