Managers of Wealth Asia Pacific

Softbank in talks to take over KPMG’s private members’ club

The Big Four audit firm is now planning to write to all of the club’s 6,000 members to tell them their membership will end on 1 March, the FT reported.

Ant May Join Race for Singapore Virtual Bank Licenses

Singapore’s efforts to open up the banking industry to technology companies comes on the heels of a similar move in Hong Kong

Askari Bank Selects Finastra to Power its Trade Finance Business

Fusion Trade Innovation to automate end-to-end trade finance operations and generate new revenue streams

Thailand trials blockchain to boost cross-border trade

The tech aims to increase the efficiency of trades by reducing processing cost and time.

Westpac faces fines over 'serious and systemic' anti-money laundering breaches, AUSTRAC says

Among the serious breaches alleged, AUSTRAC says Westpac failed to "carry out appropriate due diligence on customers sending money to the Philippines and South East Asia for known child exploitation risks".

Fund managers outside Asia starting to rethink positions

The protests in Hong Kong have taken a very violent turn, and talking to my colleagues out there gives me a sense that we are seeing a radicalisation of the protest movement, which is not widely supported.

National Australia Bank joins Marco Polo blockchain trade finance network

Cathryn Carver from NAB said: “With trade practices evolving rapidly, NAB is focused on increasing efficiencies through trade process digitization.”

Wells Fargo AM readies five products in Hong Kong

Despite Hong Kong sliding into recession amid ongoing social unrest, firms continue to launch products to the SAR’s retail investors.

Asian Development Bank to hike lending rates for China

Beijing's financial clout in Asia and Africa spurs calls for higher contributions

Harneys named Best Offshore Law Firm – Client Service by HFM Asia

The award affirms the strength and reputation of Harneys’ Asia funds practice, which is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing offshore funds teams in the region.

AUSTRAC Commences Legal Action Against Westpac for AML Breaches

These AML/CTF laws are in place to protect Australia’s financial system

Allahabad Bank gets govt's in-principle nod for merger with Indian Bank

The government in August had announced four major mergers of public sector banks, a move aimed at making state-owned lenders global sized banks.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission announces licensing framework for crypto exchanges

In addition, licensed operators will be required to be in the SFC’s regulatory sandbox and subject to close supervision and monitoring by the SFC.

Factual Announces Strategic Partnership With Mitsui

Factuals location data platform helps leading global companies use data to better understand and acquire new customers, measure the effectiveness of their investment in data, enrich their data offerings and improve the customer experience.

Asia Pacific Tax Weekly Newsletter

The KPMG Asia Pacific Tax Centre publishes a weekly Tax newsletter covering tax systems of countries across the Asia Pacific region.

BOK chief calls for bank's preemptive, practical changes

Lee's remarks came as the BOK is moving to create a new policy road map to mark the 70th anniversary of its foundation in June 2020.

China central bank to maintain prudent policy to prevent inflation from spreading

China’s consumer inflation has quickened to a near eight-year high of 3.8 percent,

Remediation bill tops $10b: ASIC

Our interim tally of $10 billion plus is perhaps not out of step when adjusted for the size of our economy.

Competition Authority probes FNZ / GBST merger

This date is the current statutory deadline by when the decision will be announced.

NAB faces ‘significant’ penalties for money laundering breaches

The bank said it self-reported “a number of issues” to the financial intelligence regulator and peer authorities after discovering the problems.

Legal, Regulation & Compliance