Regional/ international

An investor group comprising JC Flowers and Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Government of Singapore Investment Corporation is in negotiations to obtain a stake 15% stake worth $1.5 billion in BTG Pactual, a Brazilian private bank.

The Islamic Financial Services Board, comprising regulators in Muslim countries, will review its rule regarding revise its rules regarding Islamic banks' capital, in line with Basel III stipulations.

JPMorgan Chase is countersuing Lehman Brothers Holdings, claiming that it was misled into lending $70 billion to the bankrupt investment bank with the understanding that the loan would be repaid. Lehman Brothers sued JP Morgan for fraud early this year.

Middle East

Qatar Central Bank has allowed licensed banks and exchange houses to partner with Qatar Telecom and Vodafone Qatar to offer money transfer and payment services to their consumers.

Turkey’s Isbank is planning to open a branch in Bulgaria through its Germany-based subsidiary.

Indochina

Commercial banks in Vietnam are adopting precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their ATMs, including reducing the amount of cash in ATMs and reducing their operational hours.  This comes following a spate of ATM robberies in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietcombank will be issuing around 436.38 million new shares to existing shareholders. This is the second phase of a share issue meant to increase its registered capital by 33% to $902.3 million.

ICBC will be signing a memorandum of understanding with the National Bank of Cambodia, the country’s central bank, in line with the Chinese lender’s intention to set up a branch in the country.

South Asia

The Reserve Bank of India, the country’s central bank, will be providing more liquidity assistance to banks. The central bank will run a second liquidity adjustment facility window for scheduled commercial banks to help ease liquidity concerns.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), the country’s central bank, has revised the minimum capital for microfinance banks. SBP has also given permission to existing microfinance banks to increase their minimum paid-up capital during the next three years.

Bangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, will be sending 50 inspection groups to commercial banks that undertook industrial loans worth about $28 million to investigate the diversion of funds into the share market. Banks that have done so may face punishment.

Australia/New Zealand

ANZ New Zealand will be using a consolidated technology platform for both its operations in New Zealand, namely ANZ and National Bank of New Zealand, to simplify its business and improve flexibility.

The Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority has refuted claims that its regulations has deterred new players from entering the country’s banking sector and has reduced competition between banks. This comes as the government is reviewing banking regulations to help rejuvenate the banking sector.

China

China Construction Bank has opened its first branch in Australia. The Sydney branch will offer commercial banking services including deposits, loans, trade finance and forex services.

Chongqing Rural Commercial Bank is planning to launch an IPO worth $1.78 billion in Hong Kong.

People’s Bank of China, the country’s central bank, may allow more companies to participate in cross-border yuan trade settlement trials with Hong Kong banks. There are 300 export companies currently involved in the trials.

Hong Kong

Dah Sing Banking Group and its parent company Dah Sing Financial Group are planning two rights offers to raise a minimum of $284 million to increase the bank’s capital base.

Indonesia

Bank Indonesia, the country’s central bank, may re-evaluate its foreign currency reserve prerequisites for banks in order to reduce inflation and promote liquidity in the financial system.

Bank Rakyat Indonesia is planning to purchase a mid-size bank to expand its presence in the microfinance sector. This comes as the bank’s shareholders approved the purchase of a 88.65% stake worth $36.7 million in another lender, Bank Agroniaga.

Indonesian securities regulator Bapepam has given Maybank a time extension to comply and complete its sell-down prerequisites regarding the bank’s stake in Bank Internasional Indonesia.

Japan

RBS has signed an MOU with the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ for the sale of a $6 billion project finance assets that include power, infrastructure, and oil and gas assets I the UK, EMEA, APAC and the Middle East.

Mizuho will buy a 2% stake in asset manager BlackRock from Bank of America for $500 million, allowing it to distribute BlackRock products in Japan, and use it to manage investments.

Shinsei will buy back $1.1 billion of preferred shares to boost its capital ratio.

Korea, South

Government-owned Korea Development Bank has purchased an 82.35% stake in RBS’ Uzbekistan business.

Employees of Woori Finance Holdings are planning to bid for a 57% stake in the company inclusive of the Kyungnam and Kwangju Bank units. This comes as Korea Deposit Insurance Corporation plans to sell its stake in the bank to comply with the Korean government’s privatization plans.

Malaysia

Islamic Cooperative Bank of Malaysia, the third cooperative bank in the country, has obtained approval from the Cooperative Commission of Malaysia to commence its operations. The bank will offer Islamic banking services and products.

HSBC Amanah is planning to open 18 more branches by 2013, bringing the total number of branches in the country to 26.  The branches will offer Shariah-compliant products and services to retail and corporate consumers.

Government-owned Employees Provident Fund will be selling a percentage of its stake in RHB Capital, reducing its stake to below 50% from 54%.

Philippines

Philippine regulator Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas has issued a circular advising all financial institutions to conduct money transfers of Filipinos working abroad through the central bank’s Philippine Payments and Settlements System which is safer and more cost effective.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is currently observing eight commercial banks for breaching DOSRI regulations which concern loans to directors, officers, stockholders and related activities. BSP is also monitoring 13 thrift banks and 23 rural banks with total assets exceeding more than $22 million for breaching the same rules. 

Singapore

The Singapore subsidiary of Societe Generale Bank & Trust and two former employees have dismisssed claims that they caused a client to lose almost $6 million through risky forex trades and providing him with false financial statements.

The Bank of Singapore has named Etienne Billaud as executive director, Cedric Stadelmann as director and Stephanie Vite Hao Yen and Elaine Chia as associate directors.

Taiwan

Sixteen branches in Taiwan’s eight government-owned banks are currently involved in a six-month pilot programme, conducted by Taiwan’s Ministry of Finance, to extend their service hours.

First Commercial Bank and Mega International Commercial Bank have signed a memorandum of understanding with China’s Bank of Communications regarding customer data sharing and inter-bank loans.

Thailand 

Thailand's Finance Ministry has denied reports that government-owned Krungthai Bank is planning to raise new equity capital.