Talking Points | Financial Services

In today’s talking points, we consider the implications of the lowered Chinese lending rate on the greater Australian economy. The reforms, originally intended to lower corporate borrowing costs, has increased speculation that Beijing will continue to drive lower borrowing costs to maintain current economic activity levels. Economists believe that this minimal reduction in lending rates …

MEMBER NEWS | Significant changes to security of payment regime in Singapore

Written by Out-Law, Pinsent Masons Significant changes to the security of payment regime in Singapore are due to come into force in the near future. The changes contained in the Building and Construction Industry Security of Payment Amendment Bill 2018 are the most extensive changes to the Security of Payment Act (SOP Act) since it became …

MEMBER NEWS | The rise of unsolicited proposals for infrastructure projects in Asia

Written by Out-Law, Pinsent Masons There has been a significant increase in the number of unsolicited proposals (USPs) for greenfield and brownfield public-private partnership (PPP) infrastructure projects in Asia over the past two years. Unlike solicited proposals where a government entity launches a formal public tender, in the case of an unsolicited proposal, it is the …

MEMBER NEWS | US private firms to take part in Philippines’ infrastructure programme

Written by Out-Law, Pinsent Masons US ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim has said that US is supporting the Duterte administration’s ambitious ‘build, build, build’ infrastructure programme and American private companies will take part in major infrastructure projects under this programme, according to CNN. This project has also been financed through Chinese loans and grants. The …

MEMBER NEWS | China to open finance sector up to more foreign investment in 2020

Written by Out-Law, Pinsent Masons China will remove some restrictions on foreign investment in the financial sector in 2020, a year earlier than expected, according to a statement from the China’s Financial Stability and Development Commission. The statement followed the sixth meeting of the financial stability and development committee chaired by China’s vice premier Liu He. …

MEMBER NEWS | Foreign arbitration institutions can establish in new Shanghai FTZ area

Written by Out-Law, Pinsent Masons Foreign arbitration and dispute resolution institutions are allowed to establish business organisations in the new Lingang area of the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, according to plans published by China’s State Council.  The plan said that the new section would compete with leading free trade zones, would open up the …

TALKING POINTS | FINANCIAL SERVICES 03/07/2019

In today’s talking points, the RBA cuts Australia’s interest rates, China is set to allow foreign ownership of domestic securities companies, China implements a new scheme to encourage consumers to buy locally-produced infant formula, and Baoshang Bank enters administration RBA cuts interest rates to a historic low of 1 per cent On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank …

MEMBER NEWS | GHD Pacific Development Projects from the 2019 Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting in Fiji

Written by: GHD.com Invited by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), GHD recently took part in high-profile dialogues between Pacific Island governments and Australian and US businesses at the 2019 Asian Development Bank (ADB) Annual Meeting, in Nadi, Fiji. This is the first time in 52 years that the ADB Annual Meeting was held …

MEMBER NEWS | Minimum Wages in China 2019

Written by Alexander Chipman Koty and Qian Zhou, Asia Briefing, Dezan Shira & Associates   Minimum wages in China continue to grow. Through the first six months of 2019, four regions have increased their minimum wages: Beijing, Chongqing, Shaanxi, and Shanghai. Last year, 15 out of the 31 regions in mainland China increased their minimum wages, while 20 did …