CME Group Releases ENSO Data Insights

CME Group has released ENSO Data Insights, a benchmarking tool using ENSO’s alternative dataset. ENSO is part of the CME Group. Data Insights gives hedge funds, asset managers and banks access to a diverse pool of global multi-asset class securities to help them compare best execution financing rates, trend analysis for long and short position sector changes, sector breakdown, top position movers and most active stock borrow rate changes as they relate to the ENSO rate. Users can evaluate how market dynamics are driving costs and demands to borrow stock, optimise counterparty management and seize alpha generating opportunities.

Glue42 Adds Apps to Desktop Interoperability Ecosystem

Glue42 has expanded its desktop interoperability ecosystem with the addition of independent software vendors Adaptable Tools and BCC Group, and service provider Norman & Sons. The providers are offering their services via the Glue42 platform that uses the FINOS FDC3 open standard to provide a seamless user interface and data integration between desktop apps. Adaptable Tools adds its Adaptable Blotter DataGrid solution, BCC Group real-time market data sources via its cloud native ONE Solution, and Norman & Sons’ its expertise in ensuring user experience and interface designs, as well as desktop implementations, align with customers’ business goals.

Sequantis Expands RegTech Offering

Sequantis, the French specialist in services and tools to help investors effectively monitor their financial investments within the accounting and regulatory rules framework, has announced the expansion of Sequantis Look-Through (LT), its RegTech company. With expertise in regulations analysis and compliance assistance, Sequantis LT was founded by Sequantis partners Nicolas Fournier and Olivier Durquety.

The company offers a regulatory reporting outsourcing service and currently assists asset management companies and institutional investors in relation to compliance with the various forms of regulation, such as PRIIPS, Solvency II and MIFID II.

Australia To Invest $390m in Financial Regulation

Australia’s new budget will include an additional AUD550 million ($390 million) to boost funding for policing the country’s financial sector, according to Reuters, citing Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

The funds will finance the implementation of recommendations issued earlier this year by a government-appointed Royal Commission enquiry into financial sector greed and malpractice. The recommendations include a new oversight body for corporate regulators and the overhaul of remuneration structures across the industry.

The government will allocate A$400 million in additional funding to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and A$150 million for the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority over the next four years.

SFTR Legislation Enters Official Journal of the EU

The seven delegated regulations and three implementing regulations comprising Securities Financing Transactions Regulation (SFTR) level II legislation were published in the Official Journal of the EU on March 22, 2019, making the regime legally binding.

According to the International Securities Lending Association, the reporting obligations deadlines will be as follows: April 11, 2020, reporting obligation for credit institutions and investment firms as well as all third country regulated firms; July 11, 2020, reporting obligation for CSDs and CCPs; October 11, 2020, reporting obligation for all other financial counterparties; January 11, 2021, reporting obligation for all non-financial counterparties.

Fiorano Partners with Konsentus for PSD2 Compliance

Fiorano Software, a specialist in enterprise middleware, integration and API management, has added Third Party Provider (TPP) Identity & Regulatory checking services from Konsentus, a UK-based Regtech company providing live SaaS-based APIs to check TPP identity and regulatory status, to its ready-to-deploy PSD2 platform to provide enhanced support to institutions working towards PSD2 compliance.

Whilst the first major deadline passed on March 14, whereby institutions had to make their ASPSP interfaces available for external testing, the next major PSD2 deadline is September 14, when banks must demonstrate the effective application of all EBA technology mandates.

Union of Arab Banks Calls for Increased RegTech Investment

FinTech has been enthusiastically adopted by local banks but the Middle East region is lagging behind on Regtech investment, warned Wissam Fattouh, who is also Chairman of the MENA Financial Crime Compliance Group. Speaking at a MENA Regulatory Summit in March, Fattouh urged greater investment in regtech applications, without which he warned that firms would be more exposed to cyber security risks and financial crime.

Sanlam Asset Management Selects AQMetrics to Provide AIFMD Reporting

Sanlam Asset Management (Ireland) has selected AQMetrics to provide AIFMD Annex IV regulatory reporting for its funds. Sanlam will utilise AQMetrics software technology to automate Annex IV reporting, having deemed the AQMetrics platform the most scalable and robust technology best suited to fit the firm’s requirements as the regulatory landscape evolves. The announcement marks the start of a complete digital overhaul for the firm’s operations.

CellTrust SL2 Reports 1900% YOY Revenue Growth

US-based CellTrust Corporation, which provides enterprise mobile communications compliance solutions, on March 25 announced a 1900% growth in revenue for 2018 over 2017. “As the RegTech market rapidly expands around the world, CellTrust is meeting the technology and geographic mobility demands,” explained Sean Moshir, CellTrust’s Chairman and CEO. “The number of financial enterprises and countries our SL2 mobile compliance solution is being used in has grown significantly, as have revenue and market share.”

“We are on track to release the next version of our flagship CellTrust SL2 application mid-2019,” added Sean Moshir, Chairman and CEO.

Binance Partners with IdentityMind to Enhance Compliance

IdentityMind, a risk management and RegTech compliance platform offering KYC and AML service including real-time onboarding, transaction monitoring, and case management solution built for digital currency exchanges, in March announced a new partnership with Binance, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and users. As part of a joint mission to help raise the industry’s standard, Binance and IdentityMind will work together to improve existing data protection and compliance measures for Binance’s global operations.