Commentary

Bank losses under scrutiny

Since the global financial crisis, tax authorities globally have been carefully monitoring compliance risks from planning activities associated with the use of tax losses by banks.

Bank losses under scrutiny

Since the global financial crisis, tax authorities globally have been carefully monitoring compliance risks from planning activities associated with the use of tax losses by banks.

Foreign-Invested Partnerships: New vehicles for private equity investments in the PRC

Several foreign private equity investors set up their investment vehicles in China in the form of "foreign-invested partnerships".

Social media – an opportunity for transaction banks

The current interest rate environment in many parts of Asia has been forcing the transaction banks to explore way to accelerate growth of their fee based income.

Indonesia issues a Merger Control Regulation

The recently issued "Merger Control Regulation" introduces new notification requirements for mergers, consolidations or acquisitions in Indonesia.

Issues raised by the SPC’s recent judicial interpretation on FIE Disputes

On August 5, 2010, the Supreme People’s Court of the People’s Republic of China issued the Provision on Several Issues on the Trial of Disputes Involving Foreign Invested Enterprises.

Businesses in the Asia-Pacific Region are recovering from the shocks to the Global Economy

The latest ICAEW Global Enterprise Survey suggests businesses in the Asia-Pacific region are recovering from the shocks to the global economy.

Moving towards a tax level playing field for Islamic finance

The review of tax treatment of Islamic Finance products is one of the main tax recommendation of the Report on Australia as a Financial Centre.

The world after the G20 Summit in Seoul

Progress on financial reforms was made in Seoul but diverging national approaches are in evidence.

Basel III and its implications for the world banking system

Financial institutions around the globe watched closely on the G20 Seoul Summit.

South East Asian Economies Must Scale Up for Growth

The South East Asian countries are on a journey from agriculture and industry to value-added services. To reach their destination, they are looking to increase both inward and outward investment. That, in turn, requires a significant increase in finance professionals.

Watch out for Bank Levy

Although Australia has specifically rejected the idea of a global bank levy to help defray the costs of past and future financial sector bailouts, local institutions could still be caught by bank levies imposed elsewhere.

Life insurance sales more attractive to job seekers

According to recruiting experts Hays, a career in life insurance sales is now considered more attractive to job seekers, but employer inflexibility is holding businesses back from securing talented and eager candidates. Chris Mead, General Manager of Hays in Singapore, has this update.

Technology offers banks a path towards global competitiveness

Asia-Pacific a green field for banking technology adoption.

A healthy but tight jobs market

The October-December Hays Quarterly Report confirms that our jobs market is very healthy, but very tight, with a growing list of skills now in short supply in the banking and finance sectors.

Basel Committee announces higher capital ratios

Banking observers had previously suggested that the full Basel III package of capital and liquidity reforms proposed could reduce returns on equity in the sector by up to a third.

Why Standard Chartered bought 15,000 iPhones for its bankers

Right now, enterprise mobility is the new buzzword in business, particularly in consulting and financial services, and organisations are investing heavily in it. In fact, according to a new report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., the global enterprise mobility market may reach US $168 billion next year.

Global tax code for banks to shape behaviours

The OECD’s increasingly influential Forum on Tax Administration recently endorsed a global code of practice on tax for banks (the OECD tax code). The OECD tax code is described as a framework and adoption by OECD member countries is voluntary. However, regardless of the extent to which it is formally adopted by OECD member countries, it is likely to become influential in shaping tax governance standards for banks and relationships between banks and tax authorities globally, including in the Asia Pacific region.