RegTech Insight Brief
BNP Paribas Adds IHS Markit as Calculator for Uncleared Margin Rules
BNP Paribas Securities Services has added IHS Markit as an initial margin calculation source to its existing service for clients that are in-scope for Uncleared Margin Rules (UMR) in derivatives markets. The expanded collaboration complements the valuations services that IHS Markit has provided BNP Paribas Securities Services since 2012. BNP Paribas offers a full end-to-end solution for Regulatory Initial Margin (IM) with IM Calculation, Exposure Management and IM Segregation in Triparty.
BidFX Links to Osttra for FX Clearing Under UMR Phase 6
BidFX, a provider of cloud-based foreign exchange trading solutions, has integrated Osttra’s clearing connectivity service, allowing investment managers to submit trades directly to leading CCPs. The development, which gives BidFX clients wishing to clear trades access to an established community of more than 30 executing bank clearing counterparties, is aimed at helping investment managers who choose to clear more of their FX flow under Phase 6 of the Uncleared Margin Rules (UMR), which comes into force in September. Osttra is a joint venture between IHS Markit and CME Group and combines the MarkitServ, Traiana, TriOptima and Reset businesses.
SteelEye Gains SOC 2 Certification
Compliance and data analytics provider SteelEye has secured System and Organisation Controls (SOC) 2 certification. Defined by the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA), and covering the principles of Security, Availability, Confidentiality, Processing Integrity and Privacy, SOC 2 assesses firms’ safeguarding of customer data. The accreditation underpins SteelEye’s efforts to ensure robust data security.
Dow Jones Launches New ESG Data Service Covering 6,000 Companies
Dow Jones has begun offering sustainability scores on 6,000 companies in data sets that are aligned with Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) standards. The new service combines company-disclosed information and sentiment scores gathered from global news outlets. Companies assessed will be gauged across 26 sustainability categories and the data backtested an analysed using machine learning, the New York-based financial markets and information provider said.
ISS Tool Aims to Tame Labels and Standards Tangle
ISS ESG has launched a tool that the data provider hopes will help asset managers and owners navigate the complex field of sustainability reporting labels and standards. The new product, which became operational this month, will enable clients to comply with the reporting frameworks of standards setters the world over. In its initial iteration, the ISS ESG Labels and Standards Solutions will cover AMF, GreenFin, AFG, Nordic Swan, UNGC, Label SRI, Label Relance and Towards Sustainability (Febelfin) frameworks. Others will be rolled out later.
EDM Council Highlights Challenges to ESG Data Delivery
Data management industry group the EDM Council has outlined proposals it says will make delivering ESG data easier for rating providers and data aggregators (RPDAs). In the New York-based council’s second report into managing ESG data it said that RPDAs were experiencing specific challenges with ESG data that were not present in their other activities. In the report, the EDM Council identifies 11 challenges that need to be overcome, including a lack of harmonisation in reporting standards and gaps in the data record.
More Firms Submit Data for Bloomberg Gender Equality Index
A record number of companies offered data on gender equality for a key reference index, data giant Bloomberg said. The New York-based company’s Gender-Equality Index (GEI) now features 418 companies with a total market capitalisation of US$16 trillion. Constituents must file their data according to a GEI Framework, which scores companies on female leadership roles, equal pay, inclusivity, anti-sexual harassment policies and pro-women brands, Bloomberg said.
Arabesque Deal Seeks to Bring Sustainability to Property Sector
ABG Real Estate Group has bought a minority stake in data vendor and asset manager Arabesque as part of a strategy to create ESG solutions for the property market. Together the companies hope to introduce ESG measures and benchmarks for the construction and real estate sectors. Building firm Goldbeck has also invested into the partnership. By establishing criteria for sustainable projects, Germany-based ABG hopes to launch sector-based ESG funds, the company said.
Numis Extends Use of Torstone Platform for CSDR Compliance
UK investment bank Numis has extended its use of Torstone Technology’s Torstone Post Trade platform to manage its obligations under the Central Securities Depositories Regulation (CSDR). The Torstone Post Trade platform is a multi-asset, multi-entity cloud-based SaaS solution, covering electronic trade capture, allocation, confirmation, settlement, accounting, risk, corporate actions, reconciliation and regulatory reporting. Tim Valmas, Head of Technology at Numis says: “As CSDR implementation approaches, having a best-in-class solution that meets our obligations and gives us the flexibility to adapt to the regulation as it evolves is vital. As an existing user of Torstone Post-Trade, extending our use of the platform was a natural choice as it suits our needs, ensuring we are fully prepared for the incoming regulation.”
Dow Jones, ADC Unveil New ESG Data Services
The universe of ESG data services has expanded with Dow Jones and Amsterdam Data Collective (ADC) announcing the creation of new offerings for financial institutions. New York-based Down Jones will sell data sets comprising sustainability scores on more than 6,000 listed companies. The company said the service would also provide “uniquely news driven” data to supplement self-reported corporate information. Dutch data consultancy ADC said it has opened a new analytics practice that will focus solely on sustainability and climate change. The unit will be led by former Bank of England and ING consultant Julia van Huizen.