Hong Kong

Securities / Derivatives

Hong Kong to Increase Stamp Duty on Stock Transactions

By Manesh Samtani | 24/02/2021

The decision is estimated to raise trading costs by 6-15 percent, depressing trading volumes and squeezing HKEX’s earnings per share by 3-7 percent.

Fintech / Regtech

China, UAE Join HKMA-BOT Initiative to Create CBDC Bridge

By Manesh Samtani | 23/02/2021

The project, now called ‘m-CBDC Bridge’, will seek the development of a prototype to facilitate real-time cross-border transactions using multiple CBDCs.

Enforcement

SFC Fines Asset Manager for Short Position Reporting Errors

By Editors | 23/02/2021

The SFC found that 7,814 short positions held by collective investment schemes managed by Brilliance Asset Management were either misstated or omitted.

Enforcement

HKEX Probes for Rule Violations by Retail IPO Investors

By Editors | 22/02/2021

Brokers involved in the New Horizon Health IPO have been asked to provide information on the retail investors who were allotted stocks.

AML / KYC

HK Banks Used to Launder Over HK$8bn in Scam Proceeds in 2020

By Editors | 21/02/2021

More than 10,000 bank accounts are believed to have been used in 2020 to collect and launder the funds before being channelled out of Hong Kong.

Securities / Derivatives

HK, Singapore on Alert for Social Media Fuelled Manipulation

By Manesh Samtani | 19/02/2021

The SFC has issued restriction notices against 54 more trading accounts. Singapore regulators are guarding against “pump and dump” and “short and distort” scenarios.

Big Picture

Singapore Rated Asia’s Top Regulatory System, Followed by Hong Kong

By Editors | 18/02/2021

Duff & Phelps survey respondents rated the UK as the world’s top regulatory regime, followed by Singapore and the US, which tied for second place.

AML / KYC

Hong Kong: GDF Warns Against Restricting Retail Investment in Crypto

By Manesh Samtani | 16/02/2021

The November FSTB proposal to only allow VASPs to offer services to professional investors could prompt retail investors to move to unlicensed platforms, GDF says.

Market Infrastructure

HKMA Raises Expectations for Bank Codes of Conduct

By Manesh Samtani | 14/02/2021

Codes of Conduct should include provisions to address conflicts of interest, promote a culture of accountability and encourage staff to report unethical practices.