Commentary

Trade finance woes in emerging Myanmar - Part 1

“Moving forward in unity to a peaceful and prosperous community,” the Myanmar slogan echoed as it chaired the 2014 ASEAN summit. This was the first time Myanmar has chaired ASEAN since joining in 1997 and the latest step in a series of events that Myanmar has taken to join the international community.

Commentary

Trade finance woes in emerging Myanmar - Part 1

Commentary

Applause for the MAS's new securities trading rules

Last October’s penny stock crash that wiped out an estimated S$8 billion and rattled Singaporean investors’ confidence prompted the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Singapore Exchange (SGX) to develop new guidelines designed to bolster the strength of the local stock market.

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Is the fraud strategy of Asian banks ready for the football fever?

As hordes of travelers descend upon Brazil to enjoy the once-in-a-lifetime festivities of the World Cup, many of them will be blissfully unaware that fraudsters are already putting into action new ways to steal their credit card details.

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CNH: Offshore loans set to grow and here's why

Ten years into the internationalisation of the currency, Hong Kong’s yuan loan business has lagged behind other offshore business. Current outstanding yuan loans of Hong Kong banks, for example, total only RMB123 billion, about one-sixth of the RMB704 billion dim sum bond market (including certificates of deposits) (Chart 1).

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Here are the skills in demand in the Asian banking and finance sector

All-round Finance Managers, Regulatory Reporting Analysts, and Financial Planning & Analysis professionals are among the skills in high demand across Asia, according to our latest Hays Quarterly Hotspots list of jobs in demand.

Commentary

Here's why the "through-train" scheme is a win-win

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), on 10 April, approved in principle, the development of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect, a pilot program for establishing mutual stock market access between China and Hong Kong.

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What you need to know about the use of yuan for trade finance

The People’s Bank of China (PBoC) announced its intention to widen the official ±1% trading band on 19 February. Since then, it steadily fixed the official USD/CNY parity rate higher to 6.1475 on 21 March, a level not seen since early November.

Commentary

Rising standards in the funds industry

There is a current trend in offshore fund and deal structuring towards more compliance and corporate governance. This is evident across two strong investment themes in which our clients are involved.

Commentary

When satisfactory is no longer enough for your risk, compliance, and audit function

At a conference in November 2012, Thomas J. Curry, Head of US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) said: “We are no longer willing to accept audit and risk management functions that are simply satisfactory. We are looking for excellence. Our expectation now is that large institutions will meet the standard of ‘strong’ for audit and risk management functions, and that the independent directors will take a strong hand in ensuring compliance.”

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What threat legacy systems pose to financial institutions

In Singapore, the investment management industry and related financial institutions often face the issue of legacy IT systems built in the 1980s or 90s.

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Here's how the global financial investment scenario looks like in 2014

Market experts are saying that the global economy is doing comparatively better than the past few years. It is following the trends of the previous year where there were cautious signs of growth and free liquidity along with the development of financial market.

Commentary

Here's how FX trading has evolved

Wild currency swings can wreak havoc on your vacation. More than that, fluctuating currency rates can have profound impacts on the products you buy at home or abroad.

Commentary

What Singapore banks need to know to implement MAS Notice 643

The Monetary Authority of Singapore issued Notice 643 “Transactions with Related Parties” on 2 April 2013 which sets out the MAS requirements related to transactions between banks in Singapore and their Related Parties.

Commentary

Why Asia-Pac banks smile in the face of Basel III Liquidity Ratios

Bankers everywhere are very familiar, and in one or two cases possibly slightly apprehensive, about the new liquidity and funding requirements that are the new Basel III regime. The acronyms themselves encompass some relatively straightforward arithmetic.

Commentary

Trends in the investment management industry for 2014

In 2013, the finance industry in Asia continued to drive global economic growth, with key markets China and India leading the charge. Moving forward into 2014, Asia Pacific is expected to continue growing as a financial hub with more investment opportunities.

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Trade finance trends and risks in Singapore you should know about

The Financial Stability Review (FSR)(1) report provides financial institutions a good understanding of the global macro economy and its effect on Singapore-based banks. In particular, the MAS highlights “the banking sector needs to guard against credit quality deterioration and liquidity risks”.

Commentary

Why the clock is ticking for trade finance talents

Australia’s success as a trading nation is vitally dependent on the expertise of trade financiers and the quality of their products and services. But within the trade finance discipline is a “doomsday clock” which threatens to count down all the way to midnight.

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