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FSA Newsletter (the monthly public relations brochure)

In October 2005, we started to issue the ''FSA Newsletter'', a translated version of the Japanese monthly public relations brochure ''ACCESS FSA''. This explains important measures and policies that the Financial Services Agency announced, clarifies laws and ordinances or financial terms and so on. We hope this will be some help for you to understand what we do.

It would be highly appreciated if you give us your impressions and comments about the ''FSA Newsletter'' by e-mail (foreignpr@fsa.go.jp). We will make good use of them and improve it.

FSA Newsletter No.85 2010 HTML PDF(387KB)NEW

Topics

• Publication of “Misunderstandings about the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS)”
• Regarding “‘Borrowers, Beware’ Campaign: Money Lending Act Will Undergo Significant Change”

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Cabinet Office Ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Order for Enforcement of the Insurance Business Act concerning Revision of Standard of Calculation of Solvency Margin Ratio
• Partial Amendment to “Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Major Banks, etc.,” “Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Regional Financial Institutions” and “Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments Business operators, etc.”

FSA Newsletter No.84 2010 HTML PDF(393KB)

Topics

• Publication of “Opinions on Revision of Audit Standards”
• SESC’s Basic Inspection Policy and Inspection Program for Business Year 2010

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Full Disclosure of Corporate Governance for Listed Companies
• Partial Revision of Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments Business Operators, etc.
• Partial Revision of Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Major Banks, etc.
• Partial Revision of Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Insurance Companies
• Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments Business Operators, etc. (Supplement) Guidelines for Supervision of Credit Rating Agencies

FSA Newsletter No.83 2010 HTML PDF(1,613KB)

Topics

• Development of institutional frameworks pertaining to financial and capital markets
• Regulatory Reform Proposals for Internationally Active Banks (Outline of the BCBS consultative documents)

Featured

• The 6th International Conference on A Perspective of Asian Financial Sector under the Global Financial Crisis

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Results of public comments on the draft government ordinance and draft cabinet office ordinance, etc. on the 2009 partial revision of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act etc., and results of the public comments on the draft cabinet office ordinances, etc. regarding disclosure system of information of corporations, etc. pertaining to those parts of the 2009 partial revision of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, etc.

FSA Newsletter No.82 2010 HTML PDF(582KB)

Topics

• SME Financing Facilitation Act
• Roundtable Committee on Fundamental Issues, Financial System Council
• Overview of major banks' financial results as of end-September, 2009
• Overview of the financial results of regional banks as of end-September 2009
• Exposures of Japanese deposit-taking institutions to subprime-related products and securitized products

FSA Newsletter No.81 2009 HTML PDF(131KB)

Topics

• Comprehensive package of measures for facilitating the financing of small- and medium-sized enterprises
• Exposures of Japanese deposit-taking institutions to subprime-related products and securitized products
• CPAAOB and FSA publish “A Framework for Inspection/Supervision of Foreign Audit Firms, etc.”
• Results of public comments on the “Draft Cabinet Ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Cabinet Ordinances related to Financial Instruments Business, etc.”

FSA Newsletter No.80 2009 HTML PDF(364KB)

Topics

• Publication of the “Collection of Administrative Monetary Penalty Cases”
• Publication of the “Collection of Examples of Issues Pointed out in Financial Inspections”
• Publication of the “Q&A on Stock Tender Offers”

FSA Newsletter July 2009 HTML PDF(241KB)

Topics

• FY2008 financial results of major banks, etc.
• Key points of FY2008 financial results of regional banks
• Exposures of Japanese deposit-taking institutions to subprime-related products and securitized products

International Affairs

• Fifth High-Level Bilateral Dialogue on Securities Markets

FSA Newsletter June 2009 HTML PDF(247KB)

Topics

• SESC's Basic Inspection Policy and Inspection Program for Business Year 2009

International Affairs

• Japan-EU High Level Meeting on Financial Issues
• Tokyo Meeting of IOSCO Standing Committee 3 (SC3)
• The 5th Meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) in Basel

FSA Newsletter May 2009 HTML PDF(272KB)

Topics

• Publication of position paper by Business Accounting Council
• Formulation of the 2009 Basic Plan for Examinations and Basic Plan for Inspections of audit firms

International Affairs

• Monitoring Board meets with the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation (IASCF) Trustees

FSA Newsletter April 2009 HTML PDF(335KB)

Topics

• New Measures for Facilitating Financing
• Exposures of Japanese deposit-taking institutions to subprime-related products and securitized products

FSA Newsletter March 2009 HTML PDF(480KB)

Featured

• The 5th International Conference "Strengthening Payment systems : Facilitating Payment and Vitalizing Money Flow in Asia"

Topics

• The status of banks’ non-performing loans as of end-September 2008
• Public consultation on the Draft Interim Report: Application of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) In Japan

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Partial revision of the Comprehensive Guidelines for supervision of Financial Instruments Business Operators, etc.

FSA Newsletter February 2009 HTML PDF(591KB)

Featured

• Publication of the Report by the Second Subcommittee of the Sectional Committee on the Financial System of the Financial System Council

Topics

• FSA publishes the second progress report on its efforts toward "Better Regulation"

International Affairs

• Japanese GAAPs are found to be equivalent to IFRS by the European Commission

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Results of the Public Comments on the Proposed Cabinet Order and Proposed Cabinet Office Ordinance on the Revamp of Firewall Regulations and the Establishment of Systems for Managing Conflicts of Interest in the Partial Amendment of the Financial Exchange and Instruments Act 2008

FSA Newsletter January 2009 HTML PDF(1,189KB)

Featured

• Publication of Report by the First Subcommittee of the Sectional Committee on Financial System of the Financial System Council: Toward Building Reliable and Vibrant Markets"
• Publication of Report by the Joint Group of the First and Second Subcommittees on Financial System of the Financial System Council

Topics

• FY2008 Interim Financial Results of Major Banks
• FY2008 Interim Financial Results of Regional Banks
• Exposures of Japanese Deposit-Taking Institutions to Subprime-Related Products and Securitized Products
• Distribution of Grades Assigned under the Financial Inspection Rating System

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Cabinet Orders and Cabinet Office Ordinances Concerning Amendment of Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of 2008
• Implementation of Administrative Monetary Penalty System in Relation to Reporting of Large shareholding
• Revision of Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments Business Operators

FSA Newsletter December 2008 HTML PDF(240KB)

Topics

• Partial relaxation of capital adequacy requirement for banks, etc.
• Revision of Basic Policy and Plan for Financial Inspections in Program Year (PY) 2008

International Affairs

• FSA Deputy Commissioner for International Affairs Elected as Vice Chairman of the IAIS Executive Committee

FSA Newsletter November 2008 HTML PDF(449KB)

International Affairs

• FSA takes measures for stabilizing the financial markets and for facilitating financing
• Publication of "Report of the Financial Stability Forum on Enhancing Market and Institutional Resilience: Follow-up on Implementation" by the Financial Stability Forum
• The 4th meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators (IFIAR) in Cape Town

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• FSA relaxes market restrictions regarding purchases of own stocks by listed companies and strengthens restrictions on short selling.

FSA Newsletter October 2008 HTML PDF(496KB)

International Affairs

• Minister for Financial Services Motegi visits the United States

Topics

• "Annual Supervisory Policies for Major Banks, etc. for Program Year 2008"
  "Annual Supervisory Policies for Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institutions for Program Year 2008"
  "Annual Supervisory Policies for Insurance Companies, etc. for Program Year 2008"
  "Annual Supervisory Policies for Financial Instruments Firms, etc. for Program Year 2008"
  ・Requests for FY2009 Tax Revision
• Publication of the Annual Report on the SESC's Activities
• Report on Activities of the Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board (Business Year 2007)

FSA Newsletter September 2008 HTML PDF(522KB)

Topics

• FSA Published the Basic Policy and Plan for Financial Inspections in Program Year 2008
• SESC Published the Basic Inspection Policy and Inspection Program for Business Year 2008

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• FSA Announces Revisions of the “Comprehensive Guidelines for the Supervision of Major Banks etc.,” the “Comprehensive Guidelines for the Supervision of Small- and Medium-Size and Regional Financial Institutions” and the “Comprehensive Guidelines for the Supervision of Trust Companies, etc.”

FSA Newsletter August 2008 HTML PDF(238KB)

Featured

• "Progress of Better Market Initiative (Plan for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Japan's Financial and Capital Markets)
• FSA issues the "Reference Cases" and the "Q&A" regarding the "Independent Agent Exemption" of fund managers

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Measures taken after receipt of public comments on the draft Cabinet Order for Partial Amendment of the Order for Enforcement of the Act on Investment Trust and Investment Corporations, etc.

International Affairs

• FSA and U.S. SEC hold the fourth meeting of the high-Level dialogue
• Authorities responsible for regulation of public companies announce the next steps regarding the creation of a group to interact with the International Accounting Standards Committee Foundation

FSA Newsletter July 2008 HTML PDF(344KB)

Featured

• The Financial Markets Strategy Team releases "Second Report ~Toward an Open Country with Financial Strength~"

Topics

• FSA discloses exposure of Japanese deposit-taking institutions to subprime-related products and securitized products
• FY2007 financial results of major banks, etc. (preliminary basis)
• FY2007 financial results of regional banks

International Affairs

• Minister for Financial Services Watanabe visits Malaysia
• Japan, EU hold Fifth Monitoring Meeting on Developments in Accounting and　Auditing Issues

FSA Newsletter June 2008 HTML PDF(399KB)

Featured

• Outline of Dialogue Meeting Between Minister for Financial Services Watanabe and SME Managers, etc. (in Tottori)
• FSA Publishes "Progress Status of Initiative toward Better Regulation"

Topics

• FSA Publishes Basic Concept Concerning Financial Experts
• Abolition of Expiration Dates of Tax-Free Treatments of Interest Income on Offshore Accounts and Bond Transactions under Repurchase Agreements
• FSA Holds the Fourth Meeting of the Joint Committee on Financial Services Cooperation with MAS
• EC Publishes Working Paper Concerning Equivalence of Accounting Standards

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• FSA Outlines the "Cabinet Office Ordinance on Revision of the Cabinet Office Ordinance on Disclosure of Corporate Information, etc. " and other ordinances

FSA Newsletter May 2008 HTML PDF(189KB)

Features

• The Principles in the Financial Services Industry

Topics

• FSF Announces "Report of the Financial Stability Forum on Enhancing Market and Institutional Resilience"

Explanations of Laws and Regulations

• Outline of Cabinet Office Ordinance Regarding Foreign Audit Firms, etc.

FSA Newsletter April 2008 HTML PDF(654KB)

Topics

• FSA Releases "Our Answers to Your Questions about the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act"
• FSA Launches New EDINET System

International affairs

• FSA, China Banking Regulatory Commission Establish Framework for Regulatory Cooperation concerning QDII (Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor) System
• Issuance of Comment Letter in Response to the Proposed Policy Statement "Guidance Regarding Implementation of PCAOB Rule 4012" of the PCAOB
• FSA Issues Comment Letter in Response to "CESR's advice on the equivalence of Chinese, Japanese and US GAAPs - Consultation Paper"
• Japan and EU Hold Fourth Monitoring Meeting on Developments in Accounting and Auditing Issues

FSA Newsletter March 2008 HTML PDF(514KB)

Topics

• Exposure of Japanese Deposit-Taking Institutions to Subprime-Related Products
• Signing of the IOSCO MMOU (Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding Concerning Consultation and Cooperation and the Exchange of Information)
• Interim Report by the Financial Stability Forum to the G-7
• Working Group for the Improved Operations of EDINET

Minister in His Own Words

FSA Newsletter February 2008 HTML PDF(415KB)

Featured

• Outline of Dialogue Meeting Between Minister for Financial Services Watanabe and SME Managers, (in Niigata)

Topics

• The Fourth International Conference ''Regional Finance in Recent Period and the Way Forward''(held on January 18, 2008)
• Regular Consultations with the Chinese authorities
• Full Liberalization of Insurance Sales by Banks, etc
• "Regarding the Cabinet Order for the Establishment of Relevant Cabinet Orders Following Enforcement of the Act on Establishment of Acts Related to the Improvement of the Securities Market through Reform of the Securities Settlement System, etc., the ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Ordinance for Enforcement of Action Registry of Bonds, etc., the Cabinet Order for Partial Amendment of the Cabinet Order for Enforcement of the Act on Transfer of Bonds, etc. and the Ordinance for Partial Amendment of the Ordinance Concerning the Transfer of Bonds, etc.

FSA Newsletter January 2008 HTML PDF(340KB)

Featured

• Publication of the ''Plan for Strengthening the Competitiveness of Japan's Financial and Capital Markets''

Topics

• Publication of the ''Report by the First Subcommittee of the Sectional Committee on Financial System of the Financial System Council: Towards Strengthening the Competitiveness of Japan's Financial and Capital Markets''
• Publication of the "Report by the Second Subcommittee of the Sectional Committee on Financial System of the Financial System Council: What to Do with Restrictions on the Scope of Businesses of Banking and Insurance Groups"
• Publication of "Interim Summary of Points of Discussion on Payment and Settlement" by the Study Group on Payment and Settlement of the Financial Research and Training Center of the Financial Services Agency
• Third International Conference: ''Financial Stability and Financial Sector Supervision: Lessons from the Past Decade and Way Forward'' (held on December 17, 2007)
• ''Study Group on Financial Experts''
• FY2007 Interim Financial Results of Major Banks
• FY2007 Interim Financial Results of Regional Banks

FSA Newsletter December 2007 HTML PDF(392KB)

Topics

• IOSCO Technical Committee Conference, Tokyo (November 8-9, 2007)
• Market Regulators' Efforts to Enhance Governance of the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASC) Foundation
• Publication of Results of Pilot Program Related to Rebuilding of EDINET
• Publication of the First Report by the Financial Markets Strategy Team

FSA Newsletter November 2007 HTML PDF(184KB)

Topics

• Sales, Solicitation, etc. Related to Funds
• The Financial Markets Strategy Team
• Inspection Manual for Financial Instruments Business Operators
• Publication of Report on Activities of Certified Public Accountants and Auditing Oversight Board
• The Second Meeting of the IFIAR (Toronto Meeting)/

Featured

• Start-up of Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance

FSA Newsletter October 2007 HTML PDF(284KB)

Topics

• Towards Enhanced Market Integrity - Policy Statement of New SESC -
• Annual Report on the SESC's Activity
• Status of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs) as of the end of March 2007 (Key Points)

Guidelines for Supervision

• Guidelines for Supervision of Financial Instruments Firms, etc. for Program Year 2007
• Guidelines for Supervision of Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institutions
• Guidelines for Supervision of Major Banks, etc. for Program Year 2007

FSA Newsletter September 2007 HTML PDF(231KB)

Topics

• Revision of Inspection Manual for Financial Holding Companies
• Outline of the Revision of the Trust Business Act Pertaining to the Revision of the Trust Act
• Basic Policy and Plan for Securities Inspections in Program Year 2007

Featured

• Regarding Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Financial Instruments Business Operators
• Regarding Announcement of Partial Revision of Guideline for Financial Conglomerates Supervision

FSA Newsletter August 2007 HTML PDF(514KB)

Topics

• High-Level Dialogue Between the FSA and the U.S. SEC
• Meeting between Minister of Financial Services Yamamoto and European Commissioner McCreevy
• Visit to Singapore by Minister Yamamoto
• Publication of Position Paper by Business Accounting Council

Featured

• "Interim Summary of Discussions (First Report),"Published by the "Study Group on the Internationalization of Japanese Financial and Capital Markets"

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• Outline of the Electronically Recorded Claims Act

FSA Newsletter July 2007 HTML PDF(166KB)

Topics

• FY2006 Financial Results of Major Banks
• FY2006 Financial Results of Regional Banks

Featured

• Implementation of Basel II

FSA Newsletter May,June 2007 HTML PDF(296KB)

Topics

• Solvency Margin Ratio Calculation Standard
• Amendments to the Comprehensive Guidelines for the Supervision of Major Banks, etc. and Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institutions and the Issuance of Requests Concerning Customer Explanations Including Advertising Representations
• Upon Completion of the program for Further Financial Reform
• The Japan-EU High-Level Meeting on Financial Issues
• Background to the 2nd Japan-EU Monitoring Meeting on Developments in Accounting and Auditing Issues
• Publication of Hedge Fund Survey Results (2006)
• Revision of Inspection Manual for Deposit-Taking Institutions
• 1st Meeting of the International Forum of Independent Audit Regulators(Tokyo Meeting)
• Discussion Held by "Study Group on the Internationalization of Japanese Financial and Capital Markets"

FSA Newsletter April 2007 HTML PDF(217KB)

Topics

• Status of Crime Involving Counterfeit ATM cards
• Partial Revision of the Comprehensive Guideline for the Supervision of Insurance Companies
• Publication of Cabinet Office Ordinance for the Amendment of Part of the Ordinance for the Enforcement of the Banking Act (Draft)

Featured

• Publication of Position Paper by Business Accounting Council

FSA Newsletter March 2007 HTML PDF(341KB)

Topics

• Amendment to Comprehensive Guidelines for the Supervision of Major Banks and Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institutions
• Status of Non-Performing Loans as of the End of September 2006
• Study Group on the Internationalization of Japanese Financial and Capital Markets
• Expert Panel of Task Force for Heavily-Indebted People

Hot Picks from the Financial World

• Anti-Money Laundering efforts taken by Financial Institutions
• Issues on faulty accounting of Nikko Cordial
• G7 discussion on hedge fund
• Selection Process of Acquiring Party of Ashikaga Bank
• Administrative actions against the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ

FSA Newsletter January, February 2007 HTML PDF (473KB)

Topics

• Notes on the Annual Supervisory Policy for Major Banks and the Annual Supervisory Policy for Securities Companies
• Financial Inspections Pursuant to the Implementation of Basel II
• Supervisory Approach to Specific Insurance Businesses
• The Distribution of Rating Results for Financial Inspections
• FY 2006 Interim Financial Results of Major Banks
• Amendment to Regulations on Financial Statements Associated With Publication of New Accounting Standards
• Main Recommendations by Subcommittee on the Certified Public Accountants System of the Financial System Council
• Release of Business Accounting Council Subcommittee on Internal Controls: Draft for Public Comment on standards for the implementation of evaluation by the management and audits by auditors under the internal control-reporting scheme
• Releases of Business Accounting Council Audit Subcommittee: Draft for Public Comment on Quality Review Standards
• Organization, Staffing and Budget for FY2007
• Minister Yuji Yamamoto's visits to China, the UK and the USA

Primer on Financial Literacy

• Small-Claims and Short-Term Insurance Businesses

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• Revision of Enforcement Order of Securities and Exchange Law Associated With Enforcement of Law for Amending Securities and Exchange Law and Other Financial Laws

Featured

• The Working Group on Information Technology Innovations and Financial Systems, Sectional Committee on Financial Systems of Financial System Council ''Towards the Establishment of an Electronically Registered Receivables Law (provisional name): Focusing on Approaches to the Establishment of an Electronically Registered Receivables Management Body''

Hot Picks from the Financial World

Notice

• Beware of Investment Salespersons posing as FSA Staff!
• Relocation of FSA Office (FY2007)

FSA Newsletter December 2006 HTML PDF (246KB)

Topics

• Establishment of Study Group for Revision of Financial Inspection Manual
• Financial Institutions’ Efforts to Improve Customer Satisfaction (FY2005)
• Amendment of Administrative Guidelines (Volume Ⅲ: For Non-bank Financial Companies)
• EDINET Advancement Council: Convocation of Working Group

Featured

• Bill for the Amendment of the Money-Lending Business Control and Regulation Law

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter November 2006 HTML PDF (355KB)

Topics

• New Minister, Senior Vice Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services
• Working Group on the Selection of an Acquiring Party for Ashikaga Bank
• Measures Taken by the FSA against North Korea
• Publication of the pamphlet, the New Legislative Framework for Investor Protection - Financial Instruments and Exchange Law -

Featured

• Overview of ''Financial Instruments and Exchange Law'' (Part 3)
• Amendments of the Enforcement Ordinances and Orders of the Customer Identification Law

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter October 2006 HTML PDF (279KB)

Topics

• The Status of Non Performing Loans as of end-March, 2006
• The Requests for FY2007 Tax Revision
• The Summary of FY2007 Budgetary Request

Supervisory Policies for Administrative Year 2006

• Annual Policies for the Supervision of Securities Companies
• Annual Policies for the Supervision of Major Banks
• Annual Policies for the Supervision of Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institutions

Featured

• Overview of ''Financial Instruments and Exchange Law'' (Part 2)

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter August, September 2006 HTML PDF (388KB)

Topics

• Quality Control of Audits conducted by Big Four Auditing Firms
• Basic Policy and Plan for Financial Inspections in Program Year 2006
• Amendment of Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Trust Companies
• Inspection Manual for Trust and Banking Companies (Supplement to the Financial Inspection Manual for Trust Business)
• Revision of Inspection Manual for Insurance Companies
• Final Report on Appropriate Arrangement for Providing Comparable Information that Contributes to Consumers' Choices of Insurance Products Meeting Their Demands
• Results of Offsite Monitoring of Inspection: Questionnaire Survey to Financial Institutions
• Summary of Issues by the Round Table Conference on the Financial Market Intermediation Function of Securities Companies
• Summary of Issues in Joint Study by Ministry of Finance, Bank of Japan and Financial Services Agency on Development of Financial and Capital Markets in Asia and Japanese Market
• Consultation Requests Received by Counseling Office for Financial Services Users

Featured

• Overview of "Financial Instruments and Exchange Law" (Part 1)

Primer on Financial Literacy

• Hostile Corporate Takeover Bids

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter July 2006 HTML PDF (265KB)

Topics

• Amendment to Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Insurance Companies
• Financial Statements of Major Banks for FY 2005
• FSA Signs MOUs with Financial Intelligence Units of Australia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Canada for Information Exchange on Suspicious Transactions

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• An Overview of the Amendments to Government and Ministerial Ordinances for Establishing Bank Agent Business System and other deregulation measures

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter June 2006 HTML PDF (837KB)

Topics

• Working Group on Information Technology Innovations and Financial System, Sectional Committee on Financial System of Financial System Council: "Issues facing the Development of New Electronic Payment Services (Memorandum of Chairman)"
• Convocation of 5th Meeting of Subcommittee on Certified Public Accountants System of Financial System Council
• Results on "Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Financing Monitoring" Conducted in February 2006
• Consultation Requests Received by Counseling Office for Financial Services Users

Amendments to Laws and Regulations relating to Insurance Business Law

• Revision of Enforcement Regulation of Insurance Business Law, etc. (Draft): Development of Funding Rules, etc. for Policy Reserves for Third-Sector Products
• Establishment of Funding Rules for IBNR Reserves of Non-life Insurance Companies
• Overview of Government Ordinances, Ministerial Ordinances, etc. on Revision of Safety Net for Insurance Companies
• Supervisory Guideline for Small-claims and Short-term Insurance Businesses (So-called Unlicensed Cooperatives)
• Overview of Government Ordinances, etc. for Introduction of Policyholder Protection Rules for Cooperatives Previously Not Governed by Any Laws

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter May 2006 HTML PDF (362KB)

Topics

• Amendments to the ''Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Major Banks, etc.,'' the ''Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institutions'' and the ''Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Insurance Companies''
• Interim Summary of Issues on Sales and Solicitation of Insurance Products in accordance with Suitability Rule
• Inspections to Contractors of Financial Institutions, etc.

Featured

• Overview of Basel II (the New Capital Adequacy Requirements)

From the Office of International Affairs

• Review of the ''Core Principles for Effective Banking Supervision'' (The Basel Core Principles)

Primer on Financial Literacy

• Supervisory Guidelines and Administrative Guidelines

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter April 2006 HTML PDF (155KB)

Topics

• Overview of Cabinet Order to Partially Revise the Enforcement Regulation of the Insurance Business Law
• Partial Amendment of the Comprehensive Guidelines for Supervision of Insurance Companies
• Status of Measures taken by Financial Institutions to Combat the Problems of Counterfeit ATM Cards (as of the End of December 2005)

From the Office of International Affairs

• WTO Financial Services Negotiations (Yasushi Kanzaki, Director, Office of International Affairs, Planning and Coordination Bureau)

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter March 2006 HTML PDF (1,005KB)

Topics

• Launch of Informal Round Table on Operations of Stock Exchanges
• Framework (Terms of Reference) of the High-Level Dialogue between the Financial Services Agency and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
• EU-Japan High Level Meeting on Financial Issues
• Amendment to the Information Sharing Arrangement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission
• Publication of Insurance Buyers' Guides
• Status of Non-performing Loans (as of End of September 2005)
• Request of Efforts to Ensure Appropriateness of Financial Institutions in their Transactions
• Progress of ''the Action Program to Promote Further Enhancement of Region-based Relationship Banking Functions (FY2005 -06)'' in the First Half of FY2005
• Consultation Requests Received by Counseling Office for Financial Services Users
• Results on ''Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Financing Monitoring'' Conducted in November 2005

From the Office of International Affairs

• Current State of Hedge Funds in Japan

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter February 2006 HTML PDF (380KB)

Topics

• Revision of Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision of Small- and Medium- Sized and Regional Financial Institutions
• Financial Results of Regional Banks for First Half ended September 30, 2005 (Based on Preliminary Announcements)
• Summary of Hedge Fund Survey Results and Discussion Points
• Organization, Staffing and Budget for FY2006

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• Revision of Relevant Cabinet Order associated with Enforcement of Act to Amend Part of Certified Public Accountant Law

Financial System Council

• Report by First Subcommittee, Sectional Committee on Financial System, Financial System Council: ''Legislation for Investment Services Law (provisional title)''
• Report by Working Group on Takeover Bid (TOB) System, etc., First Subcommittee, Sectional Committee on Financial System, Financial System Council: ''Takeover Bid (TOB) System, etc.''
• Report by Subcommittee on Internal Controls, Business Accounting Council: ''Evaluation and Auditing Standards for Internal Control Reported in Financial Reports''

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter January 2006 HTML PDF (278KB)

Topics

• Major Banks' Financial Results for First Half ending September 30, 2005
  <<Based on Preliminary Announcements>>
• Implementation Framework of the Second Pillar of Basel II
• Intensive Screening of Securities Reports for Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2005
• Survey on Non-payment of Fringe Claims by Non-life Insurance Companies

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• Cabinet Order and Ordinances of Cabinet Office concerning Enforcement of the Law for the Partial Amendment of Securities and Exchange Law, etc., in December

Primer on Financial Literacy

• ''civil penalty system'' and ''procedures for judgment''

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter December 2005 HTML PDF (955KB)

Topics

• Approaches to the Disposal of the Financial Assets (Preferred Stocks, etc.) Acquired through Capital Injections with Public Funds
• Summary of Results on ''Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise Financing Monitoring (Conducted in August 2005)''
• Joint Lectures with Hiroshima University ''System and Theory of Financial Inspection and Supervision''
• Survey on the Counterfeit ATM Card Problem
• Status of Reception etc. of Consultation Requests at ''Counseling Office for Financial Services Users''
• Amendment to Administrative Guidelines (Volume III: For Non-Bank Financial Companies): Clarification of Moneylenders' Obligation to Disclose Transaction History
• Improvement of No Action Letter System
• Measures to Proper Disclosure and Stringent Accounting Audits
• Results of Rechecking of Claims Payment Management System and Reexamination of Non-payment Cases of Insurance Companies
• Review of Guideline on Restructured Loans and Publication of FAQ
• Overview of the Relationship Banking Promotion Plans under the ''Action Program to Promote Further Enhancement of Region-Based Relationship Banking Functions (FY 2005 - 06)

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• Amendments to the Banking Law, etc.

Primer on Financial Literacy

• ''Accountant's audit quality control''

Hot Picks from the Financial World

Notice

FSA Newsletter November 2005 HTML PDF (1,008KB)

Topics

• Establishing Financial Institution Management with an Emphasis on User Satisfaction
• Requests for FY2006 Tax Reform
• Summary of FY2006 Budgeting Requests
• Establishing the Human Resources Network
• Revision of Business Revitalization Plans
• Progress Report on Business Revitalization Plans
• Public Release of the Summary of May 2005 Small- and Medium- Sized Enterprise Financing Monitoring Results
• (Draft) Comprehensive Guideline for Supervision on Major Banks, etc.
• Childrens Kasumigaseki Visit Day
• Proposed Ministerial Notification concerning a Partial Revision to Capital Adequacy Requirements
• Introduction of the Financial Administration Advisory System
• Summary of the Results of the Survey as for the Status of IT Use by Financial Institutions
• Policy to Review the FSA Operation and System
• Efforts on Promoting the Use of the Electronic Government (e-Gov)

Explanation of Laws and Regulations

• Order to Partially Revise the Enforcement Regulations for the Law concerning the Identity Verification of Customers, etc. by Financial Institutions, etc. and Prevention of Improper Use of Bank Accounts, etc.

Primer on Financial Literacy

• ''Green Sheet and Tier 1 and Tier 2''

Hot Picks from the Financial World

FSA Newsletter October 2005 HTML PDF (495KB)

Topics

• Summary of Discussion on Electronic Receivable Legislation from a Financial System Perspective
• Funding Rules for Policy Reserves and Performance Monitoring etc. for Third-Sector Products
• Interim Summary of Issues: How Information Should be Supplied When Selling and Soliciting Insurance Products
• Basic Guidelines and Plan for Financial Inspections in Program year 2005
• Business Accounting Council Subcommittee on Internal Controls Draft for Public Comment
• Business Accounting Council Audit Subcommittee Draft for Public Comment
• Results etc. of Blanket Inspections of Personal Information Management Systems at Financial Institutions
• Establishment etc. of Financial Services Agency Policy Evaluation Plan for Fiscal Year 2005
• ''Sample findings Issues Raised in Financial Inspections'' and ''Collection of Opinions Submitted''
• Annual Policies for Small- and Medium-Sized and Regional Financial Institution Supervision for the Fiscal Year 2005
• ''Lending Crunch and Oppressive Debt Collection Hotline'' Case Reporting and Information Use Progress
• Status of Non-Performing Loans as of end-March 2005 (Point Summary)
• Meeting of Financial System Council First Subcommittee Working Group on Takeover Bid Procedures etc.

Hot Picks from the Financial World

Primer on Financial Literacy

• Over-the-counter insurance sales by banks