Innovative Technologies and Their Reshaping of Securities Trade Settlements

Cover Story

Innovative Technologies and Their Reshaping of Securities Trade Settlements

With many of the processes that define securities’ post-trade processing linked to concerns relating to inefficiencies and unnecessary costs, which have an adverse impact on client experiences, our Cover Story examines how the industry is increasingly embracing innovative and disruptive technologies – such as DLT (distributed ledger technology) and digital assets – as a means to improve the operating model and facilitate cost savings.

Special Article

Secure the Future: Cybersecurity Solutions Day 2021 Focused on Hot Topics and Current Issues 

Against a backdrop of far-reaching cybersecurity breaches, working from home protocols and an ever-more digital, mobile and data-driven society, the HKIB Cybersecurity Solutions Day 2021 explored how the banking and finance sector can reshape its security and risk strategies to cope with the new normal of banking operations. The Special Focus article includes details about the recently launched Cybersecurity Fortification Initiative (CFI) 2.0, designed to strengthen the cyber resilience assessment process, incorporate best practices on incident response and recovery, and facilitate the skills development of the Hong Kong cybersecurity talent pool.

China World

Windows of Opportunity: Major Trade and Business Initiatives Play to Hong Kong’s Unique Edge

With Hong Kong as their base, when it comes to where the city's local and international business community should invest, expand or operate, the Greater Bay Area (GBA), the Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) offer a multitude of opportunities. In the China World section of this edition of Banking Today, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) provides useful information and sets out examples of ways that Hong Kong companies are ideally positioned to make full use of their strategic advantages to capture market opportunities.

Fintech 

Transforming Financial Crime Management through Technology in Hong Kong

Times have changed and so have behaviours. The trend towards digitisation, which has been accelerated by the economic landscape and repercussions from the COVID-19 pandemic, is changing the typology of financial crime and the way in which law enforcement and regulated entities seek to detect it.  The Fintech article in this edition looks at the various ways criminals have exploited the COVID-19 pandemic and have evolved their use of technology to identify loopholes in financial systems by leveraging emerging technologies such as new payment platforms and other forms of virtual assets to commit cybercrimes. 

GRC Corner 

Could Increasing Regulatory Focus Realise the Inclusive Potential of Virtual Banks?

Technology, particularly the combination of the internet and smartphones has changed just about every aspect of our lives, including the way virtual banks deliver new consumer choices. While digital technology can promote wider financial inclusion in the community, in this edition of Banking Today,  our GRC Corner article examines the inclusive potential of virtual banks and also highlights potential exclusionary factors which deserve regulatory attention.

Experience for the Future

View from the Top: Perspectives from Senior Banking Executives

As the rapid evolution of what it means to be a banker continues, the Experience for the Future article in this edition of Banking Today offers insightful perspectives from experienced banking professionals that can help to energise and support the talent development of the next generation of banking professionals.