Hong Kong and Switzerland sign mutual fund recognition deal
Switzerland and Hong Kong have signed a deal which will allow eligible mutual funds to be distributed in each other’s markets through a streamlined vetting process.
Tax & Regulation
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France looks to tighten rules for asset managers
France’s markets watchdog has set out rules to limit the repayments asset managers make to investors when markets are stressed, making it the latest regulator to shine a light on the industry.
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UK politicians slam HMRC over lack of tax relief scrutiny
British MPs have criticised HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) over its lack of scrutiny on whether tax reliefs are being used effectively, raising doubts about plans to digitise its services.
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Singapore bans star dealmaker as banks fined £5.3m over 1MDB
An ex-Goldman Sachs banker is facing a ban from Singapore’s securities industry , while Standard Chartered and Coutts have been hit with record fines for their roles in Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal.
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IFA fined £234k for ‘McDonald’s advice’ on doomed Harlequin
The head of a UK IFA firm, which was one of the biggest sellers of the ill-fated Harlequin Property investments, has been fined £233,600 (€274,259, $291,491) for the poor advice he doled out to pension clients.
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Australia passes law to slash upfront life commissions
The Australian government has passed a law that will significantly reduce the upfront commissions paid on life insurance products and cap ongoing charges.
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Industry still fears Trump will veto US adviser reforms
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take the helm in the most powerful job on Earth, the advice industry has continued to raise concerns he may scrap the US Department of Labor’s (DoL) upcoming fiduciary rule, requiring specialist retirement advisers to put their client’s interests first.
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South Africa considering tax changes to offshore pension funds
South African tax authorities may clamp down on the way overseas pension products are taxed, according to Martin Hall, director of Isle of Man-based Optimus.
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Smaller firms likely to bear the brunt of HK fee disclosure
Hong Kong’s enhanced fee disclosure proposals should not have a big impact on banks and fund houses, but may impact smaller intermediaries, according to industry players.
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Singapore’s 55% commission cap ‘good news’ for some advisers
The impact of Singapore’s 55% cap on commission payments may not be as severe or restrictive as once thought, and may even see some advisers slightly better off, an industry source told International Adviser.
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Ireland told a French-style wealth tax will raise just €22m
Ireland’s controversial plans to impose a wealth tax on its super-rich, similar to other European countries such as France and Spain, may yield just €22m (£18.6m, $23.2m), according to a study by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).
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IRS targets virtual currency in tax avoidance probe
As part of its investigation into tax avoidance through the use of virtual currencies, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has filed a petition with a California court requesting personal data from virtual currency exchange firm Coinbase.