Divergent nexus rules threaten reporting chaos in Asia

Asia is pioneering how cross-border trades should be reported when they touch one jurisdiction but are booked elsewhere. However, Australia's rules are diverging from those in Hong Kong and Singapore, causing a headache for foreign banks that value consistency

Asian jurisdictions are accustomed to playing second fiddle to their more established derivatives counterparts in Europe and the US. This has been especially noticeable in post-crisis reforms with the phrase "we are taking a wait-and-see approach" becoming predictably familiar among some regional regulators. However, in a rare move Asia is taking the lead in determining how so-called nexus trades should be reported.

"The nexus issue is unique to Asia," says a compliance source at a global bank