China ChiNext reforms will allow pre-profit technology companies to list on Shenzhen’s startup board, as regulators move to support innovation and strengthen domestic capital markets. The China Securities Regulatory Commission said firms in emerging industries with a market value of at least RMB3bn (USD439m) and revenue of no less than RMB200m in the latest financial year can apply for initial public offerings. Authorities will also introduce market makers to improve liquidit

Philippines disclosure rules are under pressure to tighten after a corruption scandal linked to flood-control projects unsettled global bond investors, according to market sources. Asset managers including BNP Paribas Asset Management and Robeco have called for stricter reporting requirements for state-backed infrastructure projects. A group of 11 investors sent a letter to regulators in late March urging greater transparency on the use of proceeds from sustainable debt. Nati

Zhongzhi liquidation marks a major step in China’s efforts to address systemic financial risks, after a Beijing court ordered the winding up of Zhongzhi Enterprise Group and more than 300 affiliated entities. The Beijing No. 1 Intermediate People’s Court accepted the case on April 10 and set a June 10 deadline for creditors to submit claims. Zhongzhi filed for bankruptcy in 2024 after defaulting on multiple investment products and later revealing severe insolvency. The case h

Hong Kong stablecoin licences have been issued for the first time to HSBC and Anchorpoint Financial, marking a key milestone in the city’s regulated digital asset strategy. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority said it received 36 applications last year, though Deputy Chief Executive Daryl Ho noted that further approvals would remain “very limited.” Anchorpoint, a joint venture led by Standard Chartered with Animoca Brands and HKT, plans to expand access through selected distribut

Asia insurers AI adoption and ecosystem partnerships were a central theme as more than 1,000 industry leaders gathered at InsurInnovator Connect Asia 2026 in Hong Kong, highlighting the region’s push to integrate insurance, healthcare and digital innovation. The two-day forum featured over 150 speakers discussing artificial intelligence, advanced analytics, cybersecurity and evolving regulatory frameworks, with a strong focus on embedding AI across underwriting, claims and cu

China short-term trading rules have been tightened by the China Securities Regulatory Commission to sustain momentum in the country’s USD13.5tr equity market. The rules cover stocks, depositary receipts and convertible bonds across major exchanges and the over-the-counter market. Authorities said violators may face lighter penalties if they self-report and return gains. The China short-term trading rules update follows intensified enforcement, with regulators handling 701 mis

ASEAN financial cooperation 2026 discussions are advancing as finance ministers and central bank governors explore ways to strengthen regional resilience at the 13th ASEAN Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors’ Meeting. Talks cover infrastructure finance, taxation, customs integration and climate finance, alongside progress on the ASEAN Single Window and Customs Transit System. Philippine Deputy Finance Minister Joven Balbosa said ASEAN financial cooperation 2026 must

South Korea crypto acquisitions are gathering pace as securities firms pursue purchases and stake investments in cryptocurrency operators while tokenised securities legislation remains delayed. Korea Investment & Securities is reviewing a potential acquisition of Coinone, while Mirae Asset Securities raised its stake in Korbit to 92% in February, securing management control. The shift highlights brokerages’ efforts to find new revenue streams as growth in traditional business

Hong Kong MPF monthly loss is set to exceed HKD100bn(USD12.8bn) for March, the worst monthly decline in dollar terms since the retirement scheme was launched 25 years ago, as global market turmoil linked to the Middle East conflict hit pension assets. MPF Ratings estimated that the city’s 378 MPF funds lost HKD103.3bn in the first three weeks of March, or 6.33%, with each of the scheme’s 4.8 million members losing an average of HKD21,542. The pension regulator urged members t

Indonesia QRIS payment network has officially expanded to South Korea after Bank Indonesia and the Bank of Korea launched a cross-border QRIS payment link under a local currency settlement framework. The linkage allows users to make retail payments directly between the rupiah and South Korean won, reducing reliance on the US dollar. Bank Indonesia said inbound QRIS transactions had reached 5.9 million and outbound transactions 1.7 million as of early April. Officials said the

Digital yuan programme China expansion accelerated after the People’s Bank of China added 12 new banks to the roster of institutions authorised to handle the state-backed currency, taking the total number of operators to 22. Newly approved banks include China CITIC Bank, China Everbright Bank, China Guangfa Bank and Shanghai Pudong Development Bank. The central bank said the move is intended to improve the inclusiveness of digital yuan services and meet demand for safer and m

Hong Kong paperless securities regime is targeted for launch on Nov. 16, 2026, according to the Securities and Futures Commission, which said newly listed securities will have to be issued in paperless form from listing while existing listed securities will be brought into the system gradually over five years. The SFC said investors holding paper certificates could decide when to convert them into electronic form and that a commencement notice would be tabled before the Legis

World Data Organization Beijing was formally established after its first general meeting, where members adopted the charter and elected the first council and board of supervisors, according to the preparatory committee. The newly elected council then chose the organisation’s leadership and approved key rules and systems. The World Data Organization Beijing said it aims to promote global data development and governance, support compliant and secure cross-border data use, and h

Bursa Malaysia HKEX joint index development has advanced as the two exchanges launched a joint large-cap benchmark and signed an agreement to deepen capital market ties. The new HKEX Bursa Malaysia Large Cap Index tracks 60 stocks, split equally between the two markets, and is intended to support products such as exchange-traded funds. The exchanges also agreed to cooperate on dual listings, index development, ETF access, syariah-compliant securities and carbon market opportu

Vietnam digital asset tax rules now impose a 0.1% personal income tax on every digital asset transaction under the Finance Ministry’s Circular 32/2026, while exempting such transactions from value-added tax. The circular, effective from March 27, also sets a 20% corporate income tax for businesses providing digital asset services in Vietnam, while foreign institutional investors trading through those firms will pay the same 0.1% per transaction. The move comes as Vietnam rema

Korea social finance model discussions are gaining momentum as policymakers and industry groups explore how cooperative finance can revive struggling local economies. The National Credit Union Federation of Korea said about 300 officials, industry participants and overseas representatives attended an event on social and solidarity finance. Interior Minister Yun Ho-jung said such initiatives need stronger financial and institutional backing to function effectively. Speakers po

Ba Shusong Hong Kong developments have drawn attention after the former Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing managing director and chief China economist disappeared from public view, according to sources familiar with the matter. Mainland media speculated he had been detained for investigation, though no official confirmation was available. HKEX said Ba was no longer employed by the exchange operator and had left his part-time adviser role in late 2025. Ba, who frequently spoke o

Hong Kong eMPF complaints reached about 11,500 as of end-February, with 76% handled by the eMPF Platform Company in an average of 18 working days, Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary Christopher Hui said. He said some employers and Mandatory Provident Fund members encountered difficulties when schemes first migrated to the platform, including delays in payment tagging and in identifying voluntary contributions, which meant records were not updated promptly. Hui said

Bank of Korea governor Shin nomination marks a significant leadership change as policymakers confront inflation risks from the Iran conflict and uneven domestic growth. President Lee Jae Myung nominated South Korean economist Shin Hyun-song, currently head of the economic department at the Bank for International Settlements, to succeed Governor Rhee Chang-yong when his term ends on April 20. Shin is expected to face a parliamentary hearing but the nomination cannot be blocked

China outbound investment quotas QDII expansion is planned as regulators prepare to raise quotas under the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor programme, allowing approved mainland institutions to channel more money into overseas assets. Zhu Hexin, head of China’s top currency regulator, said the move would better meet domestic institutions’ cross-border investment needs and support progress toward capital-account opening. He added that more than 90% of China’s capital-