Asia-Pacific
Banking and finance news from China, Japan, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific
Singapore’s MAS issued phased AI risk guidelines for financial institutions
Singapore’s MAS issued AI risk management guidelines covering all financial institutions and AI technologies, with core governance expectations taking effect from 7 October 2027 and remaining provisions from October 2028.
Vietnamese banks planned nearly $7 billion in new share sales
Vietnamese lenders planned almost $7 billion of share sales through 2027, according to Reuters calculations, as rapid credit growth and tighter capital requirements increased funding needs.
MUFG and Danamon proposed new identity for Indonesia’s integrated bank
Danamon and MUFG Indonesia proposed PT Bank MUFG Danamon Tbk as the name of their integrated bank, while keeping completion in 2027 subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals.
India’s RBI raised repo rate to 5.50% as inflation broadened
The Reserve Bank of India unanimously raised its repo rate by 25 basis points to 5.50%, shifted to calibrated tightening and lifted its annual inflation forecast to 5.2%.
Singapore Parliament passed new bank loss-absorbing capacity powers for MAS
Singapore’s Parliament passed legislation allowing MAS to require systemically important banks to maintain total loss-absorbing capacity, with lawmakers debating a 14% risk-weighted-assets benchmark and potential funding-cost effects.
South Korea examined possible AI role in widening bank data breaches
South Korea opened a 28-member police investigation after data breaches struck seven financial companies, while officials said artificial intelligence may have helped attackers exploit vulnerabilities.
Trafigura secured $4.4 billion syndicated facilities from 40 global lenders
Trafigura closed $4.4 billion of revolving and term-loan facilities with 40 banks, increasing the package from an initial $3.5 billion as lenders backed longer maturities.
Hong Kong granted Bakai Bank restricted licence for regional expansion
Hong Kong's monetary authority granted Kyrgyzstan's Bakai Bank a restricted licence, making it the seventeenth institution in that tier and the first Central Asian bank authorised to establish a branch there.
Bank of Japan's Uchida warned AI boom could trigger market correction
Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida said artificial intelligence had eased financial conditions through demand and asset prices, while warning that markets could correct if expected profits fail to emerge.
Commonwealth Bank signed Australian media copyright licence for workplace AI use
Commonwealth Bank agreed to pay Australian creators and publishers when more than 50,000 employees use eligible media content through workplace generative-AI tools under a new Copyright Agency licence.
South Korea ordered wider financial-sector probe after bank data breaches
President Lee Jae Myung ordered a broad investigation after cyberattacks hit major South Korean banks, while regulators demanded immediate system checks and stronger access controls across finance.
Bank Indonesia increased bond purchases to support domestic liquidity in September
Bank Indonesia bought nearly Rp300 trillion of government securities through September, including increased secondary-market purchases, as it sought to maintain ample liquidity in the domestic financial system.