A-Team Insight Brief
CJC Deploys Push’s Diffusion to Stream Real-Time Market Data
Push Technology, a provider of real-time intelligent data streaming and messaging solutions, has announced that CJC, an independent market data technology consulting and services firm, has chosen Diffusion, Push Technology’s Real-Time API Management platform, to help them address customer cloud market data challenges. By deploying Diffusion as part of its Cloud Tools, CJC is now able to reliably stream full tick market data from the cloud in real-time.
PRA Appoints PwC to Investigate Goldman Sachs’ Regulatory Reporting
The UK’s Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) is believed to have appointed PwC to undertake a “skilled person’s report” on Goldman Sachs to scrutinise the quality of its regulatory reporting out of its London offices. The move comes in response to concerns around its lack of oversight, and the quality of information being supplied to the PRA. Morgan Stanley and Bank of America Merrill Lynch are also being assessed, while Citi was fined a record £44 million recently for inadequate internal controls and governance arrangements relating to regulatory reporting obligations.
Nationwide Selects AutoRek for Reconciliation and Data Management
Nationwide Building Society has selected AutoRek, a software solutions provider for financial controls, data management and regulatory reporting, to provide a cloud-based financial controls and data management platform for an initial period of three years, with the option of a two-year extension. The project, a landmark deal for Autorek, will be implemented in a multi-phase approach and will include mortgages, ATMs, payments, cards and substantiation. “After a thorough tender process, we were impressed with the quality of the AutoRek tool, it’s speed, adaptability and robustness. We noted that with its cloud functionality that we could face into future with confidence on scale and volume,” says Ian Williams, Director of Financial Control & Operations at Nationwide.
Genesis Names Oliveira to Head Sales and Marketing
Low-code development enabler Genesis has named Felipe Oliveira as global head of sales and marketing. Genesis’ platform supports the development of microservices in capital markets. Oliveira previously held senior roles at Amber Capital Management, a risk arbitrage hedge fund, and Agora Senior Securities, acquired since by Banco Bradesco. More recently, he has held commercial strategy roles at Costa Coffee and LRS Suntory.
Aegon UK Goes Live with thinkFolio Managed Service from IHS Markit
Aegon UK, a global provider of life insurance, pensions and asset management, has gone live with the thinkFolio Managed Service platform from IHS Markit. The front-office team at Aegon UK is using the service to manage the firm’s investments following the launch of a range of multi-asset funds last year, developed for Nationwide customers. “thinkFolio is a core part of our new technology infrastructure as it is supporting investment management for our entire front office across order management, portfolio modeling, cash management, trading and compliance,” says Tim Orton, Managing Director of Investment Solutions at Aegon UK.
Singapore Bank Selects NICE Actimize’s AML Essentials to Launch Digital Platform
TONIK, a Singapore-based pure play licensed digital bank, has selected the Essentials Anti-Money Laundering solutions suite from NICE Actimize to support the development of a secure banking environment for its new customer base following approval to establish a regulated bank in the Philippines. One of the first digital-only banks in the region in the Southeast Asian region, TONIK will use AML Essentials (a cloud-based offering that is built upon NICE Actimize’s end-to-end anti-money laundering platform) to address the challenges of digital transformation. The product suite includes Transaction Monitoring, Customer Due Diligence, and Sanctions Screening capabilities.
US SEC Seeks Fairer Market Data Access, Deeper Data in SIP Feeds
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is calling for reforms that would level the playing field for access to market data. In a bid to narrow the differential between those with access to high-cost data feeds that contain a greater depth of information, and other investors in the marketplace, the SEC proposals would subject ‘competing consolidators’ of market data to Regulation Systems Compliance & Integrity (Regulation SCI). They would also require enhancement of the core data contained in SIP data feeds, and other changes designed to enhance best execution. The proposals follow on from the SEC’s announcement of a radical overhaul to the governance of the consolidated tape.
IOSCO Calls for Parity on Crypto-Asset Trading Platform Scrutiny
Crypto-asset trading platforms (CTPs) such should be subject to the same kinds of standards that other types of trading platforms are, according to a new report from the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO). The report – Issues, Risks and Regulatory Considerations Relating to Crypto-Asset Trading Platforms – suggests that regulators look at: access to CTPs and the on-boarding processes associated with their use; how assets held by CTPs are safeguarded; prudential mechanisms in place to support CTP operations; how conflicts of interest, market abuse and operational resiliency are managed; and how price discovery is achieved, among other issues.
HKMA Invites RegTech Tenders
The HKMA (Hong Kong Monetary Authority) is inviting tenders for the provision of professional services to help it facilitate the adoption of RegTech by the banking industry, with services expected to commence in May 2020. Submission details can be found in the tender document, which can be obtained upon request by email to regtech@hkma.gov.hk.
ESMA Consults on New MiFIR and MiFID II Regimes for Third-Country Firms
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s securities markets’ regulator, has launched a consultation on draft technical standards on the provision of investment services and activities in the European Union (EU) by third-country firms under MiFIR and MiFID II, which will specify the information that third-country firms must provide to ESMA for the registration of third-country firms and for the information that third-country firms have to report annually. The closing date for responses from stakeholders is 31 March 2020.