Tag: APAC

HKEX plans to launch Sustainable and Green Exchange Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) announced its plans for launching the HKEX Sustainable and Green Exchange, ‘STAGE’. The new information platform will be a central hub for data and information on sustainable and green finance investments in Asia. The new HKEX exchange will promote the visibility, transparency and accessibility of sustainable and green finance across asset class and product type. On STAGE investors will have access to a comprehensive database of sustainable and green investment options, available on Hong Kong’s securities markets. The exchange will also act as a education and advocacy platform, promoting knowledge sharing and stakeholder engagement in sustainable finance. Grace Hui commented: “The launch of STAGE demonstrates HKEX’s strong commitment to sustainability. By encouraging issuers, investors, asset managers, market participants and advisors to play an active role in enhancing the sustainable and green finance ecosystem in Hong Kong and the region, we are in turn reinforcing the sustainability of our own market.” Grace Hui added: “Our goal is to help issuers raise awareness of their sustainable and green financial products, whilst also offering investors and asset managers easy access to information for their due diligence, selection and monitoring.” STAGE will accommodate an archive of information on sustainability, green and social bonds and ESG-related Exchange Traded Products listed on HKEX. Issuers with products in line with the international standards or principles and providing post-issuance reports annually can join STAGE without fees and display their products on the platform. The online archive will be launched later this year. HKEX will keep developing the platform in line with the evolving market landscape. Over time STAGE can expand its coverage with more asset classes and product types, including derivative products linked to relevant sustainability or environmental, social and governance indices, as well as other sustainable and green financial products. The region has seen significant growth of sustainable and green investment funding in recent years. Green bond issuances in Asia-Pacific increased to record levels in 2019, reaching US$18.89 billion, Mainland China’s green bond market alone accounted for US$8.13 billion. Hong Kong played an important part in this development. The increasing amount of green bonds arranged and issued in the local market hit US$26 billion by the end of 2019.
June 18, 2020 BY Steffy Bogdanova

HKEX plans to launch Sustainable and Green Exchange

STAGE will accommodate an archive of information on sustainability, green and social bonds and ESG-related Exchange Traded Products listed on HKEX. Issuers with products in line with the international standards or principles and providing post-issuance reports annually can join STAGE without fees and display their products on the platform. The online archive will be launched…

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AFCA discloses the details of 680 non-compliant firms
June 16, 2020 BY Steffy Bogdanova

AFCA announces the details of non-compliant firms

The AFCA membership ensures financial firms meet their legal obligations when they are operating as an Australian Financial Services Licensee, Australian Credit Licensee, are a Superannuation Trustee or are an Authorised Credit Representative. The Authority attempted to contact the firms in question and to invite them to contact their tram to discuss payment options for…

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BGC Partners’s subsidiary GFI with joint venture company in China
June 15, 2020 BY Steffy Bogdanova

American Express receives China network clearing license

American Express’ joint venture with Chinese fintech services company Lianlian DigiTech Co., Ltd, has already set up a network to clear domestic transactions charged on American Express cards. It is also compatible with the essential mobile wallet players in China. Stephen J. Squeri, CEO of American Express said: We are pleased to be the first…

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Societe Generale
June 15, 2020 BY Steffy Bogdanova

ASIC places new licence conditions on Societe Generale

The Australian regulator has requested that SocGen to appoint an independent expert to assess and test its controls, systems and processes to ensure compliance and identify any deficiencies and set out any remedial action. The additional AFS license conditions also require SocGen to provide attestations from a qualified senior executive and a board member that…

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April payments numbers collapse
June 15, 2020 BY Steffy Bogdanova

April payments numbers collapse

The New Zealand numbers for April are even worse with 52% decline in payments, affecting every Australian company doing business in New Zealand. Reviewing Australian fintech institution Tyro’s weekly statement to the ASX, the volumes have been steady since early April. However, many market participants report  that eCommerce payments have surged to unprecedented levels which…

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