United States

IOSCO report on liquidity provision in the secondary markets for equity securities

On 11 August 2020, the International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) published a report, Liquidity provision in the secondary markets for equity securities. The report identifies some of the key elements of market making programs that may help promote the provision of liquidity, strengthen investor confidence and foster fair and efficient markets. The report focuses … Continue Reading

SEC and CFTC issue Settlement and Order against Abra simultaneously

By Andrew Lom (US), Rachael Browndorf (US) and Peyton Craig (US) on August 10, 2020 Posted in Commodities & Derivatives, Fintech, General, Regulation and compliance, Securities, United States

In what appears to be a coordinated effort, the Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) both issued orders relating to Plutus Financial—doing business as Abra—and its Philippines-centered partner, Plutus Technologies Philippine Corporation (Plutus Tech). The July 13, 2020 orders found Abra and Plutus Tech had violated sections of the Securities Act … Continue Reading

Wolsfsberg Group publishes new AML guidance to support source of wealth and source of funds due diligence

By Clarinda Grundy on August 10, 2020 Posted in Asia, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

On 7 August 2020, the Wolfsberg Group, published new guidance targeted at private banking and wealth management divisions within financial institutions (FIs) to support the undertaking of source of wealth (SoW) and source of funds (SoF) checks. Based on the principles of the application of a risk-based approach (RBA), different customers will require a different … Continue Reading

A little less privacy: cryptocurrency transactions under the Fourth Amendment

By Kathleen Scott (US) on August 9, 2020 Posted in Fintech, General, United States

For some people, the appeal of using cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin includes the perception that they may offer greater privacy protections for financial transactions, including shielding them from law enforcement scrutiny. A recent federal appellate ruling in a Fourth Amendment case suggests this perception may not align with current legal reality. In his latest column in … Continue Reading

Basel Committee releases consultative documents on Principles for operational risk and operational resilience

On 6 August 2020, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) published a consultative document seeking comments on proposed Principles for operational resilience. Given the natural relationship between operational resilience and operational risk, the Basel Committee is also proposing to update its Principles for the sound management of operational risk (PSMOR). The Basel Committee … Continue Reading

Global Asset Management Quarterly – 15th edition now available online

By Simon Lovegrove (UK), Richard Sheen (UK) and Imogen Garner (UK) on August 7, 2020 Posted in Africa, Asia, Asset management, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

The latest issue of Global Asset Management Quarterly is now available here. This issue contains the following articles: Europe • European update • EU/UK regulatory roundup United Kingdom • Climate Financial Risk Forum publishes guide on climate-related financial risk management • Heightened risk of market abuse in a remote working context? • Observations on the … Continue Reading

FINRA (and selected SEC) regulatory matters at a glance: What compliance officers need to know

By Glen Barrentine (US) on August 7, 2020 Posted in Brokers and Intermediaries, Regulation and compliance, United States

Access the July issue for an overview of FINRA and SEC regulatory developments of interest to broker-dealers. Glen Barrentine is Of Counsel in the New York office of Norton Rose Fulbright. His practice focuses broadly on SEC regulated financial service clients, including broker-dealers, securities exchanges, municipal advisors and investment advisers. Glen frequency represents clients in … Continue Reading

US Banking Regulators Finalize Volcker Rule Covered Funds Revision

By Kathleen Scott (US) on August 1, 2020 Posted in Asset management, Banking, Brokers and Intermediaries, Commodities & Derivatives, Dodd-Frank, General, Regulation and compliance, United States

On July 31, 2020, the Federal Register published the final Volcker Rule covered funds amendments promulgated in June by the federal financial services regulators (the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission). In her latest … Continue Reading

OCC issues groundbreaking interpretive letter on cryptocurrency custody services

By Andrew Lom (US), Ronald Smith (US), Kathleen Scott (US), Glen Barrentine (US), Richard Potomac (US) and Rachael Browndorf (US) on July 31, 2020 Posted in Banking, Fintech, General, Regulation and compliance, United States

On July 22, 2020, the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued an interpretive letter concluding that national banks and federal savings associations have the authority to provide cryptocurrency custody services for customers. The letter, which uses the term “cryptocurrency” to encompass digital currencies, virtual currencies, and “digital assets that are not … Continue Reading

ISDA board statement on adherence to the IBOR Fallback Protocol

By Hannah Meakin (UK) on July 31, 2020 Posted in Asia, Clearing and settlement, Clearing and Settlement, Clearing and settlement, Clearing and settlement, Clearing and settlement, Clearing and settlement, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, United States

On 29 July 2020, the ISDA issued a statement on adherence to the IBOR Fallback Protocol. Among other things the statement provides: “As part of its work, ISDA will soon publish the IBOR Fallback Protocol to facilitate inclusion of the new fallbacks in existing non-cleared IBOR derivatives transactions between counterparties that both adhere to the … Continue Reading

The LIBOR Transition — US banking regulators caution banks on LIBOR transition risks

By Patrick Dolan (US) and Kathleen Scott (US) on July 25, 2020 Posted in Asset management, Banking, General, LIBOR, Regulation and compliance, United States

As noted in previous LIBOR Transition posts, the availability of LIBOR as a reference rate is not guaranteed beyond the end of 2021. On July 1, 2020, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC), which consists of US federal and state banking regulators and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, issued a Joint Statement highlighting the … Continue Reading

FINRA issues guidance on retail communications relating to private placements

By Andrew Lom (US), Glen Barrentine (US) and Rachael Browndorf (US) on July 24, 2020 Posted in Brokers and Intermediaries, General, Regulation and compliance, Retail, Securities, United States

On July 1, 2020, FINRA issued guidance to member firms on compliance with FINRA Rule 2210 (“Rule 2210”)) on the marketing of private placements to retail investors. These private placements are typically conducted under Rules 504, 506(b) or 506(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, as “safe harbors” that permit … Continue Reading

SEC Proposes Amendments to Increase Reporting Threshold for Institutional Investment Managers

By Andrew Lom (US) and Rachael Browndorf (US) on July 24, 2020 Posted in Asset management, General, Regulation and compliance, United States

On July 10, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) proposed amendments to amend Form 13F to update the reporting threshold for institutional investment managers and certain other changes. This marks the first time that the reporting threshold would be updated since its introduction more than 40 years ago. Pursuant to Section 13(f) of the … Continue Reading

Monthly Global FinTech regulatory updater

Every month we provide the Global Blockchain Business Council’s Post-Trade Distributed Ledger group with a global regulatory FinTech updater, the latest version of which can be found here. Post Trade Distributed Ledger (PTDL) Group is composed of over 40 prominent market infrastructure stakeholders whose shared vision of the use of distributed ledger technology has brought … Continue Reading

FSB report : Financial stability implications and policy measures taken

On 15 July 2020, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) published a report that provides an update on financial stability developments and risks relating to COVID-19, the policy actions taken to date and how they relate to the FSB principles, the factors that affect the effectiveness of policies and their implementation and the way forward. The … Continue Reading

CPMI report identifies steps to enhance cross-border payments

By Albert Weatherill (UK) on July 15, 2020 Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Payment Services, Payment services, Payment services, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

On 13 July 2020, the Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) issued a report, ‘Enhancing cross-border payments: building blocks of a global roadmap’. The report presents the output of stage 2 of a three stage process to develop a global roadmap for enhancing cross-border payment. The report identifies a set of building blocks where … Continue Reading

The SFA files court brief in bankruptcy court opposing Hertz’s attempt to alter an ABS arrangement

By Patrick Dolan (US), Kathleen Scott (US) and Luke Donahue (US) on July 13, 2020 Posted in General, Securities, Securitization, United States

The US Structured Finance Association (the “SFA”), the securitization industry group, has filed an amicus brief in support of a challenge and objection to the Motion for Order Rejecting Certain Unexpired Vehicle Leases Effective Nunc Pro Tunc to June 11, 2020 Pursuant to Sections 105 and 365(A) of the Bankruptcy Code (the “Motion”) filed by … Continue Reading

FSB and Basel Committee set out supervisory recommendations for benchmark transition

On 9 July 2020, the Financial Stability Board (FSB) and the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) issued a report on supervisory issues associated with benchmark transition. The report includes insights on remaining challenges to LIBOR transition based on surveys undertaken by the FSB, the Basel Committee and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors. … Continue Reading

Basel Committee publication: Targeted revisions to the CVA risk framework

On 8 July 2020, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (Basel Committee) published a paper setting out the final targeted revisions to the credit valuation adjustment (CVA) risk framework. In January 2019 the Basel Committee published the revised market risk framework. In November 2019 the Basel Committee consulted on a set of targeted final revisions … Continue Reading

Last chance to take part – Global operational resilience survey

Operational resilience, which has risen to increased prominence over recent years, has been brought into even sharper focus following the outbreak of COVID-19. Our risk consulting team is carrying out a survey to explore how financial institutions are managing their crisis response planning and preparedness in the event of severe operational disruption, particularly leading up … Continue Reading

FATF reports on stablecoins and virtual assets

By Simon Lovegrove (UK) on July 8, 2020 Posted in Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, Money laundering, The Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States

On 7 July 2020, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) issued a report to G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors regarding stablecoins. The June 2019 revisions to the FATF Standards place anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT) requirements on virtual assets and virtual asset service providers (VASPs). The FATF report finds that stablecoins share … Continue Reading

FINRA (and selected SEC) regulatory matters at a glance: What compliance officers need to know

By Glen Barrentine (US) on July 8, 2020 Posted in Brokers and Intermediaries, Regulation and compliance, Uncategorized, United States

Glen Barrentine is Of Counsel in the New York office of Norton Rose Fulbright. His practice focuses broadly on SEC regulated financial service clients, including broker-dealers, securities exchanges, municipal advisors and investment advisers. Glen frequency represents clients in connection with SEC and FINRA enforcement proceedings and other contentious regulatory inquiries, purchases and sales, and the … Continue Reading

European Commission’s High-Level Forum on Capital Markets Union issues final report

By Patrick Dolan (US) and Kathleen Scott (US) on July 3, 2020 Posted in Asset management, General, Regulation and compliance, Securitization, United States

On June 10, 2020, the European Commission’s High-Level Forum (HLF) issued its final report on the Capital Markets Union (CMU), which proposes detailed recommendations for improving and enhancing the capital markets of the European Union (EU). The report’s 17 recommendations are grouped under four larger themes: (i) creating a vibrant and competitive business environment; (ii) … Continue Reading

Singapore company discloses potential US sanctions violations

By NRF Digital Team, Wilson Ang (SG), Kim Caine (US) and Ian Cheong on June 30, 2020 Posted in Asia, Financial Services, Financial Services, United Kingdom, United States

On 28 May 2020, Flex Ltd (“Flex”), a Singapore-based electronics manufacturer listed on the NASDAQ, disclosed in its 2020 US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filing that it had initiated a voluntary self-disclosure to the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) on 14 February 2019. The initial disclosure related to possible non-compliance with US … Continue Reading