News Centre

Bitcoin Bolstered As Amazon Appears To Dip Its Toe Into Crypto World: Susannah Streeter, Senior Investment And Markets Analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown

Date 26/07/2021

‘’When a simple job ad appears to spark resurgence in the value of Bitcoin, it shows how the crypto world is salivating for every nugget of news about the future use case for digital currencies."

Reply To Singapore Parliamentary Question On Unauthorised Bank Transactions

Date 26/07/2021

Question:

To ask the Prime Minister (a) in the last six months, whether there is an increase in successful bank-related cyber scams or unauthorised bank transactions involving victims not divulging their OTPs, IDs or passwords to scammers; (b) who bears the financial loss when the unauthorised transaction is not due to the banks’ lapses or non-compliance with MAS rules and the consumer has not given his login information to a third party; and (c) whether victims who suffer financial loss can be given financial help during the period of investigation and recovery.

Answer by Mr Lawrence Wong, Deputy Chairman of MAS and Minister for Finance, on behalf of Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in charge of MAS:

1. Generally, consumers who have suffered financial losses from fraudulent transactions are protected as long as they have acted responsibly.

Cboe Europe and EuroCCP Receive Dutch Regulatory Approvals For New European Derivatives Market

Date 26/07/2021

• Cboe Europe Derivatives receives approval for trading of equity index derivatives
• EuroCCP, Cboe's pan-European clearing house, also authorized to clear equity derivatives-
• Exchange set for go-live on 6 September, 2021, underscoring Cboe's growth as a global market infrastructure provider

Baton Systems Commits To Updated FX Global Code And Providing Access To PvP Settlement For All Market Participants

Date 26/07/2021

Baton Systems (“Baton”), the market solution transforming asset movements and settlements, today became a signatory to the updated FX Global Code, underscoring its commitment and support to firms keen to eliminate settlement risk by enabling real time, payment-versus-payment (PvP) settlement for all market participants.

EBA: Consultation On Draft RTS On Criteria For The Identification Of Shadow Banking Entities (EBA/CP/2021/30)

Date 26/07/2021

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a public consultation on draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) setting out criteria for the identification of shadow banking entities for the purposes of reporting large exposures. The consultation runs until 26 October 2021.

Reply To Singapore Parliamentary Question On Code Of Corporate Governance

Date 26/07/2021

Question:

To ask the Prime Minister with regard to the Code of Corporate Governance (a) in the past five years, what is the total number and percentage of companies that fail to comply with (i) Provision 8.1(a) and (ii) Provision 8.1(b); and (b) whether MAS has plans to mandate compliance and what are its considerations for doing so and not doing so.

Answer by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in charge of MAS:

1     Let me first explain how the Code of Corporate Governance is designed to be applied on listed companies and Provision 8.1 of the Code. 

2     The Code comprises two layers – Principles and Provisions. Principles set out the characteristics of good corporate governance and compliance is mandatory. The relevant Principle here is providing transparency on the remuneration of directors and key management personnel of a company.

FESE: European Exchange Report 2020

Date 26/07/2021

The European Exchange Report (EER) is the only direct source of integrated information on Europe’s exchange industry. The report includes a one-page statement on each FESE member and outlines:

EBA Consults On Technical Standards To Identify Shadow Banking Entities

Date 26/07/2021

The European Banking Authority (EBA) launched today a public consultation on draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) setting out criteria for the identification of shadow banking entities for the purposes of reporting large exposures. The consultation runs until 26 October 2021.

Reply To New Zealand Parliamentary Question On Digital Payment Token Service Provider Applicants

Date 26/07/2021

Question:

To ask the Prime Minister (a) to date, what is the total number of digital payment token service provider applicants, with a breakdown by applications that are (i) withdrawn (ii) rejected and (iii) approved; (b) what is the number of entities currently exempted from holding a licence under the Payment Services Act for the provision of digital payment token services; and (c) what is the average duration of exemption to date.

Answer by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in charge of MAS:

1     The new Payment Services Act (“PS Act”) commenced on 28 January 2020.  As part of the transitional arrangements, entities that were engaged in regulated activities before the commencement of the Act were exempted from holding a licence if they submitted licence applications before the end of a specified grace period. The specified grace period for digital payment token (DPT) service providers ended in July 2020, six months after the commencement of the PS Act. The exemption remains in force until the applications are approved or rejected by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) or withdrawn by the applicant.

Reply To Singapore Parliamentary Question On Micro-Investment Products

Date 26/07/2021

Question:

To ask the Prime Minister in view of a broader trend of financial institutions and companies selling micro-investment products (a) what is the situation in Singapore; and (b) how will MAS seek to regulate such products and educate Singaporeans about such investments.

Answer by Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and Minister in charge of MAS:

1     Micro-investment products, as their name suggests, require small minimum investment amounts – some as low as $1. The product range largely mirrors those of investment products available for larger minimum investment amounts. Examples of micro-investment products include regular investment savings plans, investments in exchange-traded funds, as well as private equity or debt investments. Given the small minimum investments required, these products are aimed at  retail investors.