On 27 July 2026, the Financial Markets Law Committee published:
FMLC response
CMA issues guidance on unfair contract terms
On 22 July 2026, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) issued new guidance on the unfair contract terms provisions in the Consumer Rights Act 2015 (the Act). The CMA has also issued a technical note supplementing the guidance and updated its webpage on writing a fair contract for customers.
The guidance explains
ASIC and APRA update Statement of Intents
On 16 July 2026, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) both published updated Statements of Intent outlining how they will achieve their objectives, carry out their responsibilities and exercise their powers. APRA’s Statement of Intent also reaffirms APRA’s commitment to being
Government announces first CTP designations
On 10 July 2026, HM Treasury (HMT) announced that four major global cloud services and technology providers will be designated as Critical Third Parties (CTPs) from 13 July 2026.
The Critical Third Parties (Designation) Regulations 2026 have also been made which designate the four entities as CTPs.
The CTPs regime was
HMT Report – The Value of Resilience: Cyber Resilience in Financial Services
On 8 July 2026, HM Treasury issued a report that sets out evidence on the economic and financial benefits of operational resilience, with a particular focus on cyber disruption in the financial sector. It explores how resilience affects financial performance, recovery from disruption and longer-term growth, and how these impacts are felt both within financial
ESMA Compliance Table – Guidelines for the criteria on the assessment of knowledge and competence under MiCA
On 7 July 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a Guidelines Compliance Table setting out which Member State competent authorities comply or intend to comply with ESMA’s guidelines for the criteria on the assessment of knowledge and competence under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation.
Regulation Action Plan Progress Report (July 2026)
On 8 July 2026, HM Treasury published ‘Regulation Action Plan Progress Report (July 2026)’ and ‘Update Against the Regulation Action Plan’s Key Regulator Pledges (May 2026)’.
Regulation Action Plan Progress Report
The executive summary to the Regulation Action Plan Progress Report notes that – “Over the past year, guided by the vision and commitments set
PRA PS17/26 – Regulated fees and levies: Rates proposals 2026/27
On 8 July 2026, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) published Policy Statement 17/26 – Regulated fees and levies: Rates proposals 2026/27 (PS17/26).
PS17/26 is relevant to all firms that currently pay PRA fees or expect to do so in the 2026/27 fee year. It contains the PRA’s final policy, as follows:
ESMA launches CSA with NCAs on the risk management function
On 3 July 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) launched a Common Supervisory Action (CSA) on the risk management function of UCITS management companies and alternative investment fund managers across the EU. The CSA will be conducted throughout this year and next, in close collaboration with Member State competent
ESMA Public Statement on the application of the national product intervention measures on binary options to event contracts
On 3 July 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a Public Statement on the application of national product intervention measures on binary options to event contracts.
ESMA has issued this Public Statement in response the growing popularity of prediction markets – or event contracts – and increasing retail participation globally.