On 16 April 2026, the Bank for International Settlements’ Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) announced that it had completed its assessment of the United Kingdom’s implementation of the framework for systemically important payment systems and central securities depositories (CSDs)
2026
External MRELS – 2026
On 16 April 2026, the Bank of England (BoE) published its approach to external minimum requirements for own funds and eligible liabilities (MRELs).
The publication contains the 2026 external MRELs for all firms with a resolution entity incorporated in the UK for which an MREL above minimum capital requirements (MCR…
AIFMD & UCITS Directive — New obligations for fund managers from 16 April 2026
16 April 2026 marks the transposition deadline for AIFMD II (Directive (EU) 2024/927) which amends both the existing AIFMD (Directive 2011/61/EU) and the UCITS Directive (Directive 2009/65/EC) and harmonises rules across the EU in a number of key areas.
This news flash summarises the principal measures that local legislators shall implement as from 16 April…
Ofgem – Publication of inside information under REMIT Article 4: use of thresholds and related practices
On 15 April 2026, Ofgem published a letter to all wholesale energy market participants and other interested parties setting out its concerns regarding the use of thresholds for the determination
of inside information under Article 4 of the Regulation on Wholesale Energy Market Transparency and Integrity (REMIT).
In particular, Ofgem is concerned with…
FCA CP26/13: Cryptoasset Perimeter Guidance
On 15 April 2026, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) published Consultation Paper 26/13: Cryptoasset Perimeter Guidance (CP26/13).
Background
From 25 October 2027, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Regulations 2026 (Cryptoasset Regulations) will introduce new regulated activities for cryptoassets into the FCA’s perimeter. To promote the understanding…
OFSI Strategy: 2026 – 2029
On 15 April 2026, the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) published its strategy for 2026 – 2029 to ensure UK financial sanctions remain effective, resilient and impactful.
The aim of the strategy is to deliver three key outcomes: an enhanced understanding of threats grounded in data; high quality licensing, enforcement and compliance…
Podcast | Future of Payments series – Episode 2 Modernising Australia’s Payment Services Regime
In In the latest edition of our global podcast series, Future of Payments, James Morris, Shen Low and Simon Lovegrove take us through some very significant reforms to Australia’s payment services regulatory framework following the publication of four new Bills, including the Treasury Laws Amendment Bill 2026: Payments System Modernisation, and what firms can do…
Protecting genetic information is no joke – Australian Parliament bans use of genetic test results in life insurance
On 1 April 2026, an inauspicious date given the gravity of the subject matter, the Australian Parliament passed the Treasury Laws Amendment (Genetic Testing Protections in Life Insurance and Other Measures) Act 2026 (the Act). The Act received Royal Assent on 8 April 2026. The amendments to the Insurance Contracts Act 1984 (Cth) (…
ESMA guidelines on the submission of periodic information
On 14 April 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority published the official translations of its guidelines on the submission of periodic information by benchmark administrators, credit rating agencies (CRAs) and market transparency infrastructures. The guidelines have applied since 1 January 2026.
The guidelines repeal and replace the guidelines on the submission of…
Draft Delegated Regulation specifying the criteria for establishing and assessing the effectiveness of investment firms’ order execution policies
On 14 April 2026, the European Commission (Commission) published a draft Commission Delegated Regulation supplementing the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) with regard to regulatory technical standards (RTS) specifying the criteria to be taken into account in establishing and assessing the effectiveness of order execution policies…