ASIC sets standard for margin lenders
Any providers of margin loans not already regulated by APRA (which may be very few) will have to meet financial requirements published, in draft form, yesterday by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.ASIC said margin lenders will need to have a minimum of $5 million in asset backing. Lenders will also have to hold net assets of at least 0.5 per cent of the secured property, with a minimum of $50,000 and a maximum of $5 million.Margin lending is one of the first groups of products covered by the transfer of regulation to the federal sphere, with ASIC publishing two consultation papers yesterday on financial requirements and training requirements for margin lenders.