Regulatory Compliance

China’s National Administration for Market Regulation (NAMUR) introduced draft guidelines on May 25 to standardize e-commerce platform fees, aiming to enhance equity and compliance. The 28-article proposal focuses on fee transparency, SME support through flexible pricing, institutionalized compliance audits, prohibitions against exploitative practices, and accountability mechanisms. Following public consultation, full implementation is expected by late 2024. The rules align with broader regulatory efforts to balance innovation and fair competition in China’s $6 trillion platform economy, addressing concerns over algorithmic pricing and fostering sustainable governance amid growing digital transaction complexities, analysts noted.

California American Water unveiled its 2024 Consumer Confidence Reports, confirming compliance with EPA and California water quality standards. The reports detail drinking water sources, detected substances, and public health guidance, featuring updated visuals and simplified language to improve accessibility. President Kevin Tilden highlighted the consistent water excellence and educational value of the documents. Residents can access localized data via the company’s online portal using zip codes. As the largest U.S. public water utility, parent company American Water serves over 14 million people nationwide. Its California subsidiary provides water services to 700,000 residents, prioritizing tech innovation and operational transparency.

Nasdaq (NDAQ) and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) have expanded their technology partnership, with PSE adopting Nasdaq’s next-gen Eqlipse Trading platform. The cloud-agnostic system offers real-time risk controls and derivatives pricing, positioning PSE as a Southeast Asian pioneer in advanced exchange infrastructure. This upgrade aims to boost market resilience amid rising volumes and regulatory demands. Nasdaq, which supports 97% of globally systemic banks, strengthens its presence in Asia’s $3.6T financial markets. The deal highlights Nasdaq’s recurring revenue model and cross-selling of compliance tools, despite implementation risks. It reinforces Nasdaq’s strategy to deliver modular, regulation-ready solutions in high-growth regions, countering regional competition from Singapore and Hong Kong.