On April 28, 2025, the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") fined Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited ("IBHK") $4.2 million for regulatory breaches related to client asset handling.
This article was generated using SAMS, an AI technology by Timothy Loh LLP.
On April 28, 2025, the Securities and Futures Commission ("SFC") levied a $4.2 million fine against Interactive Brokers Hong Kong Limited ("IBHK"). The SFC's investigation uncovered that between December 3, 2017, and October 23, 2020, IBHK operated on expired standing authority for 7,911 clients, engaging in securities lending agreements with the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited. This oversight was attributed to a programming error that precluded IBHK from sending renewal notices for the standing authority.
In light of the findings, the SFC determined that IBHK had violated the Securities and Futures (Client Securities) Rules ("CSR") and the Code of Conduct. The regulatory body took several mitigating factors into consideration before imposing the penalty, including IBHK's prompt remedial actions and self-disclosure, the non-malicious nature of the conduct, the absence of any evidence suggesting client losses, and IBHK's cooperation in addressing the SFC's concerns and accepting the disciplinary action. The $4.2 million fine was deemed appropriate given the gravity of the breach and the specific circumstances surrounding it.
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