FINANCE GOES HIGH-TECH
The 2019 Asian Financial Forum focuses on innovation, launching the new FinTech Showcase. Finance has been a pillar of Hong Kong’s economy for many years – visitors are always impressed by the glass towers of the Bank of China, HSBC and Bank of East Asia buildings which dominate the Central skyline.
LARGE BANKS CONCERNED ABOUT RAISING CAPITAL
According to the National Financial Supervisory Commission (NFSC), the average capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of the credit institution system in 2018 has reached 11.1 per cent thanks to the 12.2 per cent surge in owner’s equity capital and a 10.8 per cent rise in total risk weighted assets. Regulatory Tier 1 capital to risk weighted assets has thus been calculated at 8.8 per cent for 2018, a higher ratio than 2017’s 7.8 per cent.
CASH WITHDRAWAL LIMIT IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES SET AT VNĐ30 MILLION
Commercial banks have to adjust the limit of cash withdrawals in foreign currency abroad to the maximum equivalent of VNĐ30 million (US$1,280) per day for international credit and debit cards from early this year to meet a central bank regulation.
MORE BANKS PERMITTED TO EXPAND CREDIT GROWTH
The State Bank of Việt Nam (SBV) recently decided to allow more commercial banks to expand their credit growth limits in 2018. The credit quota for Military Bank (MB) has been lifted from 15 per cent allocated at the beginning of the year to its new level of 17 per cent, the Bản Việt Securities Company reported.
MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO REDUCE, SIMPLIFY 176 ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
The Ministry of Finance recently issued Decision 2141/QD-BTC approving the plan for reduction and simplification of administrative procedures within its jurisdiction. Accordingly, the ministry will cut and streamline 176 administrative procedures in 13 fields, of which 148 administrative procedures will be reviewed for elimination and 28 administrative procedures will be simplified.
WORLD BANK PROMISES $200 BN IN 2021-25 CLIMATE CASH
The World Bank on Monday unveiled US$200 billion in climate action investment for 2021-25, adding this amounts to a doubling of its current five-year funding. The World Bank said the move, coinciding with a UN climate summit meeting of some 200 nations in Poland, represented a "significantly ramped up ambition" to tackle climate change, "sending an important signal to the wider global community to do the same."
REFERENCE EXCHANGE RATE TURNS AROUND TO DROP ON NOVEMBER 14
The daily reference exchange rate was adjusted down 2 VND to 22,725 VND per USD on November 14 after two consecutive days rising since November 12.
POSITIVE SIGNS FROM VIETNAM’S BANKS AS CREDIT RANKING RISES
The world’s leading credit rating firms have ranked Vietnamese commercial banks at higher positions this year, reflecting the success of monetary policy and efforts made by commercial banks.
