China steps up oversight of online asset management sector

China’s central bank has launched a two-month-long examination into online asset managers, Beijing’s latest step to curb financial risk in the 15-trillion-dollar asset management industry, two sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

Authorities across China will conduct checks from April to end-June in a bid to fend off systemic financial risk and protect social stability, the sources said.

A central bank document stated that online asset management businesses without a proper license should clean up their existing businesses by end-June 2018.

The People’s Bank of China in Beijing.

News of the central bank examination comes as the market is waiting for the People’s Bank of China to release the final version of new rules for asset management businesses as part of a widening crackdown on risk in China’s financial system.

The rules are expected to close loopholes that allow regulatory arbitrage, reduce leverage levels to curb asset price bubbles, and rein in shadow banking activity.

Selling asset management products without a license could be deemed as illegal fundraising, illegal acceptance of deposits and illegal issuance of securities, the document stated.

(REUTERS)