Regional

ESG / Sustainability

ASEAN+3 Must Move from Climate Frameworks to Enforcement

By Blake Evans-Pritchard | 26/02/2026

As climate risks rise, regulators need to turn supervisory frameworks into real incentives and penalties for banks and investors.

Fintech / Regtech

Claws of Crime: Local AI Agents Pose Fresh Threat for AML/CTF Teams

By Nathan Lynch | 17/02/2026

Locally run AI agents like OpenClaw, operating beyond cloud guardrails on cheap hardware, risk unleashing a cottage industry of sophisticated financial crime.

ESG / Sustainability

IEEFA Urges Policy Action to Fill Southeast Asia's Adaptation Finance Gap

By Manesh Samtani | 12/02/2026

Report says clearer rules for green finance and strategic use of capital markets are vital for the region's climate resilience.

ESG / Sustainability

APAC Anti-Corruption Efforts Stall, Transparency International Warns

By Manesh Samtani | 12/02/2026

The 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index shows a stagnant regional average, with declining scores in established democracies.

Fintech / Regtech

AMRO Chief Urges Policy Action to Address AI, Tokenization Risks

By Manesh Samtani | 30/01/2026

The head of the ASEAN+3 research office calls for sustained policy attention to manage risks from faster, AI-driven finance.

Sanctions

Silver’s Surge Demands a New Approach to Managing Laundering Risks

By Nathan Lynch | 28/01/2026

With silver reaching all-time highs, financial crime experts warn that the metal’s growing “value density” and lower regulatory scrutiny are making it an attractive alternative for illicit transactions.

Fintech / Regtech

ADB Urges Policy Action to Address APAC's Trade Finance Gap

By Manesh Samtani | 16/01/2026

New report recommends accelerated digitalisation, expanded supply chain finance, and better data to unlock trade potential in the region.

ESG / Sustainability

Asian Transition Activities at Risk as Taxonomy Standards Diverge: Report

By Nithya Subramanian | 14/01/2026

New report says growing regulatory fragmentation across Asian transition finance frameworks exposes FIs to significant transition-washing risks and impedes cross-border decarbonisation capital flows.

Securities / Derivatives

SGX Explores Launch of Asian Government Bond Futures

By Nithya Subramanian | 13/01/2026

The exchange has held preliminary talks with global banks on contracts linked to sovereign debt from India and Southeast Asia, targeting a possible rollout in 2026.