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China Proposes Fines For Futu, Tiger, Longbridge in Trading Crackdown

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China Proposes Fines For Futu, Tiger, Longbridge in Trading Crackdown

The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) has launched an investigation into three international securities brokers for operating without proper approvals, the regulator announced in a notice on Friday.

The probe is part of China's two-year initiative to crack down on cross-border investment services conducted by overseas financial institutions.

Tiger Brokers (NZ), Futu Securities International (Hong Kong), and Changqiao Securities (Hong Kong), also known as Longbridge, received administrative penalties for conducting securities trading within mainland China without the regulator's approval.

In a statement, Futu disclosed that the CSRC proposed a 1.85 billion yuan fine against the company, along with a 1.25 million yuan penalty for its founder and CEO Li Hua. The broker added that it is cooperating with the regulator.

Futu disclosed in 2022 that mainland Chinese customers accounted for 35% of its customer base, according to 36Kr.

Tiger Brokers' Nasdaq-listed parent company, UP Fintech, said it was handed a potential 308.1 million yuan fine. The firm said it is cooperating with regulatory authorities, pledging to "strictly implement the rectification measures required."

Longbridge also expressed its willingness to comply with rectification measures imposed by the CSRC, but did not disclose the details of its penalties, Reuters reported.

The CSRC said it is partnering with eight other government departments to ban illegal cross-border business activities conducted by foreign entities.

The regulator emphasized that it will enforce strict regulatory requirements that have "teeth and barbs," maintaining clear legal boundaries.

Jefferies said in a note to clients on Friday that the CSRC's announcement provided detailed guidelines on how the crackdown will be implemented, particularly regarding the penalized firms.

"During the rectification period, overseas institutions are prohibited from providing illegal buy trades or fund inflows to existing investors within the mainland," Jefferies said.

"After the rectification period ends, overseas institutions must fully shut down domestic websites, trading software and supporting servers, and are prohibited from providing illegal trading and related services to existing investors within the mainland.

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