On 20 April 2022, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a letter from its chair, Klaas Knot, to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors ahead of their meeting on 20 April. The letter notes that the Russian invasion of Ukraine triggered large price fluctuations in global financial markets. Thus far, the global financial stability … Continue Reading
On 5 April 2022, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) issued a statement welcoming the smooth transition away from LIBOR at the end of last year. The FSB also reminds firms that given the significant use of USD LIBOR globally, they should have plans in place to ensure their preparedness for the cessation of the USD … Continue Reading
On 31 March 2022, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published its work programme for 2022. Priority areas for the FSB include: Supporting international cooperation and coordination on current financial stability issues. Against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and its economic impacts, the FSB is reinforcing its forward-looking monitoring to identify, assess and address new … Continue Reading
This post is updated as of 16 March 2022. Introduction On 5 March 2022, the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs (“MFA”) unveiled specific measures to be imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine.[1] This follows the earlier announcement on 28 February 2022 by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Vivian Balakrishnan, that Singapore would … Continue Reading
We recently published a blog reporting on governance considerations for regulated firms in relation to Russian sanctions. As the sanctions landscape continues to evolve, impacted firms operating in different jurisdictions are grappling with overlapping and differing requirements, and global firms will need to ensure a coordinated approach across their operations. We have set out below … Continue Reading
On 17 February 2022, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a letter from its chair detailing its policy work during 2022. The letter was submitted to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors ahead of their 17-18 February meeting. The letter highlights the current challenges of promoting global financial resilience during the transition to a … Continue Reading
On 18 January 2022, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) issued a final report on lessons learned from the use of global supervisory colleges. The report is based on previous IOSCO work on market fragmentation and provides a framework for securities regulators seeking to create new global supervisory colleges for sectors of financial markets … Continue Reading
On 13 January 2022, the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) issued a consultation report seeking feedback on the lessons learned regarding the operational resilience of trading venues and market intermediaries during the COVID-19 pandemic. The consultation report concludes that these regulated entities largely proved to be operationally resilient and continued to serve their clients … Continue Reading
On 10 December 2021, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) launched an online survey as part of its work under Building Block 6 of the Roadmap for enhancing Cross-border Payments. The FSB intends to use the survey to gather stakeholders’ feedback in order to better understand how requirements applicable to data could affect (either enabling or … Continue Reading
Since the UK Bribery Act 2010 came into force in July 2011, standards and scope of anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) compliance programmes have evolved significantly in many jurisdictions. Norton Rose Fulbright recently carried out a global survey to assess how companies’ ABC compliance programmes compare against current global best practice expectations, as documented in guidance … Continue Reading
On 30 November 2021, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) issued a report on good practices for Crisis Management Groups (CMGs). The report sets out good practices that have helped CMGs to enhance preparedness for the management and resolution of a cross-border financial crisis affecting a global systemically important bank (G-SIB) consistent with the FSB’s Key … Continue Reading
The latest issue of our Global Asset Management Quarterly publication is now available. In this issue we cover: Europe European update EU/UK regulatory roundup United Kingdom The new regime for preferential taxation of qualifying asset holding companies Luxembourg Luxembourg update Australia Australian Federal Government commits to the new corporate collective investment vehicle (CCIV) regime with … Continue Reading
On 4 November 2021, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) issued a progress report on the implementation of its Principles for Sound Compensation Practices (Principles) and their Implementation Standards in financial institutions. The progress report focusses on: The effectiveness of compensation frameworks. While in-year adjustments and malus are commonly used, the use of clawback is not … Continue Reading
On 6 October 2021, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a letter from its chair to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors. The letter focuses on two key areas of the FSB’s work: Developing a more resilient NBFI sector The letter notes that following the market turmoil in March 2020, the FSB agreed on … Continue Reading
On 4 October 2021, the ISDA issued a product table for RFR conventions and IBOR fallbacks. The table is intended to help counterparties understand how the fallbacks would function in their legacy and new derivatives that reference IBORs. It sets out how fallbacks in ISDA’s amended documentation (without reference to the 2021 ISDA Interest Rate … Continue Reading
On 4 October 2021, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published: A report ‘ESG investing and climate transition: Market practices, issues and policy considerations’. The report highlights the main findings from recent OECD research on ESG rating and investing. It offers policy considerations to strengthen ESG practices to foster global interoperability and comparability, … Continue Reading
On 30 September 2021, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a new Financial Stability Surveillance Framework. The new framework will support the comprehensive, methodical and disciplined review of vulnerabilities, helping to identify and address new and emerging risks to financial stability. The FSB will regularly communicate its view on vulnerabilities through its annual reports. John … Continue Reading
On 20 September 2021, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision issued a newsletter calling on banks to improve their resilience to cyber threats. In the newsletter the Basel Committee reminds firms and institutions that remote working arrangements and increased provision of financial services using digital channels have enlarged banks’ attack surfaces. The Basel Committee also … Continue Reading
Key takeaways The Singapore High Court recently confirmed in Mah Kiat Seng v Attorney-General [2021] SGHC 202 (Mah Kiat Seng) that the common law doctrine of public interest immunity remains part of Singapore law and was not superseded by the enactment of the Evidence Act (Cap. 97) (EA) in 1893. The Court also clarified how … Continue Reading
The widely anticipated Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Pilot Scheme (Wealth Management Connect), expected to create a combined funds flow of RMB 300 billion (US$46.5 billion) in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), has formally launched on 10 September 2021. Wealth Management Connect, which will come into operation in October 2021, consists of northbound and … Continue Reading
Introduction The use of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) as an alternative route to access the equity capital markets in the United States of America (US) has fluctuated in popularity over the years as a result of changes in both market conditions and investor appetite. However, US SPAC activity has been buoyant during 2020 and … Continue Reading
On 10 July 2021, the G20 published a communiqué following the third Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting in Venice. Among other things the communiqué: Reiterates the commitment to a timely and effective implementation of the G20 Roadmap to enhance cross-border payments by relevant authorities. In particular, it looks forward to the Financial Stability … Continue Reading
On 7 July 2021, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a letter from its Chair, Randal K. Quarles, to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors ahead of their 9 – 10 July 2021 meeting. Among other things the letter stresses the need for coordinated action to address financial risks posed by climate change, noting … Continue Reading
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) issued a consultation paper on 2 July 2021 seeking views on various proposals, including to introduce powers to enable the MAS to impose requirements on certain financial institutions conducting unregulated business. The MAS recognises that some of its regulated entities may be carrying on unregulated activities (e.g. trading bitcoin … Continue Reading
