Coronavirus

This is not the beginning of some outré joke but the context for one of the most important insurance decisions of the year.

On 8 October 2021, the Federal Court handed down its long-awaited decision in Swiss Re International Se v LCA Marrickville Pty Limited (Second COVID-19 insurance test cases) [2021] FCA 1206 (Second

On 6 July 2021, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision published a report that gives a preliminary assessment of the impact of the implemented Basel reforms during the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a broader review of their effectiveness.

Overall, the report finds that the increased quality and higher levels of capital and liquidity in

The European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) has launched a consultation on the Interbank Offered Rates (IBOR) transitions. Across markets, IBOR is being replaced by risk-free rates.

The consultation considers adjustments to EIOPA’s risk-free rate (RFR) methodology and production, in light of If the EU Benchmark Regulation (which

The month of October 2020 has seen ASIC use its product intervention powers by imposing conditions on the issue and distribution of contracts for difference (CFDs) to retail clients as well as releasing updated guidance on unfair contract terms laws for insurance. The Federal Government has announced a number of key reforms, including

On 21 to 23 October 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) held its final quarterly plenary of 2020 as a virtual event. The discussions over three days mostly focussed on Strategic Initiatives reacting to the Covid-19 pandemic and progress made on country specific processes. The FATF also provided an update on their

Financial institutions have had to deal with two challenges in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. The first challenge is financial – how to address and mitigate the sharp drop in the value of financial assets or loss of liquidity. The second challenge is operational – how to address the risk of failure of resources

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to provide uncertainty and challenges for all industry sectors, the funds and financial industry has remained in the spotlight for August 2020. In particular, ASIC has reminded responsible entities of their requirements with respect to valuing managed fund assets and APRA has assessed the management of superannuation fund liquidity due

In April 2020, the financial services industry has been actively engaging with the Federal Government and regulators in order to address key issues and mitigate risks as a consequence of COVID-19. While regulators have changed certain priorities, with a number of initiatives and consultations put on hold, focus has primarily been on ensuring financial stability