Standard Chartered completes inaugural QFI investment
28 May 2026 China
Image: chungking/stock.adobe.com
Standard Chartered Bank in China has completed its client’s inaugural Qualified Foreign Investor (QFI) investment in China Government Bond (CGB) futures, following the recent market opening.
The bank acted in dual capacities as both the QFI’s custodian and futures margin depository bank, supporting the end-to-end execution of the trade.
On 24 April 2026, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), together with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), officially permitted QFIs to trade CGB futures for hedging purposes, broadening access to onshore risk management instruments.
Jerry Zhang, global head of Banks and Broker Dealers and head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia, says: “Standard Chartered is the only foreign bank among the initial cohort of six banks approved to participate in CGB futures.
“This development of opening it to QFI represents a further step in the continued opening of China’s capital markets and responds to strong demand from global institutional investors for enhanced risk management and portfolio diversification tools.”
Pierre Mengal, regional head of Financing and Securities Services, Greater China and North Asia, adds: “Completing this inaugural transaction in just over a month after market opening underscores our close and strong collaboration with local regulators and partners, as well as our established expertise across China market access schemes.
“It also reflects the strength and consistency of our services and operations, which has been built over decades of on-the-ground presence. We look forward to enabling more global investors to access China’s capital markets with speed and confidence.”
The bank acted in dual capacities as both the QFI’s custodian and futures margin depository bank, supporting the end-to-end execution of the trade.
On 24 April 2026, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC), together with the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), officially permitted QFIs to trade CGB futures for hedging purposes, broadening access to onshore risk management instruments.
Jerry Zhang, global head of Banks and Broker Dealers and head of Coverage, Greater China and North Asia, says: “Standard Chartered is the only foreign bank among the initial cohort of six banks approved to participate in CGB futures.
“This development of opening it to QFI represents a further step in the continued opening of China’s capital markets and responds to strong demand from global institutional investors for enhanced risk management and portfolio diversification tools.”
Pierre Mengal, regional head of Financing and Securities Services, Greater China and North Asia, adds: “Completing this inaugural transaction in just over a month after market opening underscores our close and strong collaboration with local regulators and partners, as well as our established expertise across China market access schemes.
“It also reflects the strength and consistency of our services and operations, which has been built over decades of on-the-ground presence. We look forward to enabling more global investors to access China’s capital markets with speed and confidence.”
NO FEE, NO RISK
100% ON RETURNS If you invest in only one asset servicing news source this year, make sure it is your free subscription to Asset Servicing Times
100% ON RETURNS If you invest in only one asset servicing news source this year, make sure it is your free subscription to Asset Servicing Times
