Asia-Pacific
Banking and finance news from China, Japan, India, Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific
Australia's BNPL Sector Brought Under Consumer Credit Law as Afterpay Regulation Takes Effect
Australia's Treasury Laws Amendment (Responsible Buy Now Pay Later and Other Measures) Act 2024 took effect on 10 June 2025, requiring Afterpay and peers to hold credit licences and conduct affordability checks.
Reserve Bank of India Cuts Repo Rate by 50 Basis Points to 5.50%, Accelerating 2025 Easing Cycle
The Reserve Bank of India delivered a larger-than-usual 50 basis point cut on 6 June 2025, lowering the repo rate to 5.50% as inflation fell to around 3.2%, bringing total 2025 easing to 100bp.
SEBI Issues ESG Debt Securities Framework Requiring Independent Verification and Anti-Greenwashing Safeguards
India's SEBI published a formal ESG debt securities framework on 5 June 2025, mandating use-of-proceeds disclosure, independent verification, and anti-greenwashing provisions.
South Korea's ESG Bond Issuance Reaches KRW 47.2 Trillion in 2024 as Issuer Numbers Fall
South Korea's ESG bond market rose to KRW 47.2 trillion in 2024, up 12.2% year-on-year, though the number of issuers fell to 91 from a peak of 154 in 2021, per Korea Investors Service.
Bank Central Asia Names Gregory Hendra Lembong as President Director, Succeeding Jahja Setiaatmadja
BCA has appointed Gregory Hendra Lembong as President Director effective 1 June 2025, with Jahja Setiaatmadja moving to President Commissioner.
RBI Levies 353 Penalties Totalling ₹54.78 Crore on Regulated Entities in FY2024-25
The Reserve Bank of India imposed 353 monetary penalties totalling ₹54.78 crore on regulated entities in FY2024-25, with cooperative banks accounting for the largest share of individual fines.
Islamic Finance Regulatory Standards: The AAOIFI and IFSB Frameworks Explained — TGB Regulatory & Policy Brief May 2025
Islamic finance assets reached USD3.38 trillion in 2023, yet the completion rate for key IFSB banking standards was 42% across 46 regulators surveyed, and AAOIFI's draft sukuk standard was still being amended in April 2025.
Maybank Reports MYR 2.59 Billion Q1 2025 Net Profit Up 4%
Malaysia's Maybank posted Q1 2025 net profit of MYR 2.59 billion, up 4% year-on-year, with net interest margin at 2.04% and annualised ROE at 11.3%.
IndusInd Bank Posts Q4 FY2025 Net Loss of INR 2,329 Crore After Accounting Lapses and Provisions Surge
IndusInd Bank posted a Q4 FY2025 net loss of INR 2,329 crore as provisions surged 165% following derivative and microfinance accounting lapses and suspected fraud, with full-year profit falling 71%.
Airwallex Raises $300 Million Series F at $6.2 Billion Valuation
Australian fintech Airwallex secured $300m in a Series F round at a $6.2bn valuation, with total funding now exceeding $1.2bn and annualised revenue reaching $720m.
Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel Appointed 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank
Nepal has appointed Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel as the 18th Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, succeeding Maha Prasad Adhikari who completed his term in office.
People's Bank of China Cuts Benchmark Lending Rates to Counter US Tariff Shock
The PBoC reduced the 1-year LPR to 3.00% and the 5-year LPR to 3.50% following the PBoC's 7 May package of monetary easing measures to offset the impact of US tariffs.